SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Peruggi (Source: KCC Digest)

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: After nine years of serving as the first female leader of Kingsborough Community College, Dr. Regina Peruggi will retire at the end of the summer.

Peruggi, 65, announced her retirement in an April 5 letter to the school’s staff and faculty, in which she reflected on her time at the Manhattan Beach-based institution.

“These past nine years have been extraordinary ones for me. They have been challenging, creative, exciting, productive, and a great deal of fun,” Peruggi wrote in the letter. “I have met incredible individuals who have taught me a great deal and whose memory will be with me for years to come. Kingsborough faculty, staff, and students are the best in the country, and it has been a true privilege to work with each of you.”

Peruggi is expected to hand over the reigns to the school in August, although the school’s press office could not provide an exact date. The school’s spokespeople declined to comment on Peruggi’s retirement, as there has not yet been a public announcement.

Keep reading and see the farewell letter Peruggi sent to staff and faculty.

Commuters might bemoan this week’s chilly weather, but students of Kingsborough Community College’s culinary arts program took it as an opportunity to hit the beach and chisel some ice.

We went down to the school (2001 Oriental Boulevard) yesterday to pick up some papers at Community Board 15′s office – which, by the way, is temporarily without phone or internet service – and had the good luck of running into Chef Thomas Smyth, one of the head professors with their culinary arts program.

Smyth told us the 16 students of his cold-kitchen class spent four hours on the beach, chiseling away at the giant blocks of ice. Smyth himself wielded the chainsaw to bring the blocks down to size, and the blocks were sculpted into a penguin, a whale and two items that the students jokingly described as ashtrays.

“They get a survey of everything they could do in a cold kitchen,” including creating these decorations, Smyth said.

It’s the first time Smyth and the culinary arts program have been able to do ice sculptures at the school, since the ice supply has been an ongoing problem.

“Actually, this is the first year we managed to get the bloody ice,” Smyth said. “Just to get somebody to deliver a couple of blocks of ice to Kingsborough was a big deal, but now we’ve got that figured out.”

Next year, we demand the class make an ice sculpture of a Sheepshead fish. You hear me, Smyth?

View photos of all the sculptures and the class.

This is a paid announcement from Touro College’s Graduate School of Technology, a Jewish-sponsored non-sectarian independent institution of higher and professional education.

Touro College - Graduate School of Technology
Recognized internationally for excellence in teaching, service, and professional studies, Touro College enrolls over 19,000 students across the United States and on campuses in Berlin, Jerusalem, Moscow, and Paris.

The Graduate School of Technology’s mission is to educate “tomorrow’s technology leaders today,” through industry-driven programs that position students for the frontline of technology opportunities.

The Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program features concentrations in Database Systems, Data Communications, Technology Leadership, and Web and Application Development. Current professionals, as well as newcomers to the field, are given the tools to upgrade and fine-tune their technology and managerial skills to transition into highly desirable information systems positions.

The Master of Arts in Web and Multimedia Design (WMM) program creatively fuses aesthetic sensitivity with digital programming savvy, and provides students with the skills needed to excel in such diverse fields as e-commerce, computer illustration, interface design, animation, gaming, and wireless communications.

The Master of Science in Instructional Technology program prepares educators and industry professionals to effectively use instructional technology in schools (Pre K-12), colleges, universities, or in business/industry settings.

The Touro College Graduate School of Technology Career Center offers a wide range of programs and resources to its students and alumni, which include:

• Learning job search techniques, and identifying potential full-time, part-time employment and internship opportunities
• Preparing resumes, assisting with job related correspondence, and developing interview skills

The Graduate School of Technology fosters small classes with individualized attention to students! For further information, visit us online. Call us to find out about our competitive scholarships and affordable tuition at (212) 463-0400 x5250.

The above is a paid announcement by The Graduate School of Technology at Touro College. Sheepshead Bites has not verified the claims made in this advertisement. If you own a business and would like to announce a special offer to tens of thousands of locals, e-mail us at advertising [at] sheepsheadbites [dot] com.

It didn’t take long after Hurricane Sandy’s tidal surge pummeled our coastline for the rumor mill to start churning out destruction anecdotes. According to the mill, Kinsgborough Community College was washed away. Its T buildings were in shambles, its iconic lighthouse-crowned MAC building toppled over and parking lots torn asunder.

We’re glad to report that’s not the case, but in the early aftermath, it was hard to say what was going on.

Continue Reading »

Kingsborough Community College (2001 Oriental Boulevard) was named one of the 10 best community colleges in the nation, and is in the running to win $1 million if they take home the number one ranking from The Aspen Institute.

The Aspen Institute put Kingsborough on their top 10 list after examining such factors as graduation rate, diversity, job placement and a variety of other criteria.

“I’m so excited,” said Kingsborough President Regina Peruggi, who told the New York Daily News that it is “recognition for the kind of hard work that’s been done at this institution for years.”

Kingsborough was the only school from New York State to make the list. In October, Aspen officials will visit each campus of the selected schools to determine which of the institutions will have an extra $1 million added to their budgets.

Peruggi stated that, if Kingsborough wins, she’ll spend the money on student scholarships and teacher development.

Coach Fred Synder. Source: sheepsheadfootball.stackvarsity.com

Sheepshead Bay High School head football coach Fred Snyder doesn’t spare kind sentiments when reflecting on this year’s team.

“They’re reliable, they’re personable, they’re good students, good citizens all the way down the line,” he told the New York Post. “I think our strength can be teamwork and leadership.”

With just 30 kids on his Sharks roster, he doesn’t feel like the low number is any type of detractor from gaining a coveted playoff spot for the 16th straight season this fall. After all, his 29-person team won the city title in 2001.

Snyder is especially counting on his three captains, Rashaad Coward, David Sharpton and Artem Artemyev, to lead the Sharks.

Coward, who has been working hard academically and athletically to improve himself, has seen his work payoff. He has already been recruited by some of the top colleges in the country to play for them.

Coward worked with a tutor all summer and took summer classes in order to bolster his academic record.

As for the rest of the team, Snyder has faith in each of their individual abilities.

“He’ll find a way to get something done,” Snyder said of Artemyev. “If he has to throw, he’ll throw; he’ll run. He’s got a good balance.”

Sheepshead Bay players have been successful in reaching the players the last 15 years in a row. Snyder is careful not to start the sports season with playoffs on his mind. He doesn’t pressure them to win the title, but to play well in each upcoming game.

“We’re not trying to be that team to end the streak,” Coward said. “So we have to keep working harder and harder and harder and hopefully get further than the first round.”

Source: Fox Sports via Scout.com

After a rising senior and football player at Sheepshead Bay High School spent much of his summer gaining weight and speed, he has achieved recognition from several universities, some of which are attempting to recruit him to their college team.

Rashaad Coward has passed his summer vacation in the weight room and running in order to to increase his speed. This time spent training turned Coward into a faster runner, despite the fact that he has gained 20 pounds, bringing his weight up to a grand total of 270. Weight and speed will give Coward more physical dominance as a defensive end, and provide him with the power to ward off offensive tackles.

“I’m going to be an all-purpose defensive end,” Coward told Scout.com. “I can contain, rush the passer or whatever. I think the weight will help me to not get moved off the ball as much.”

According to Scout.com, Coward has already received offers from University of Albany and Wagner College, and has visited and been in contact with many other colleges, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Syracuse and, a school that’s recruited several Sheepshead Bay High School players already, Rutgers University. Coward feels that many college football programs are waiting to see him play this upcoming season as a senior before presenting him with solid offers.

“They’re mostly all waiting to see me the first three games of the season,” he said. “They want to see more explosiveness and more awareness from me.”

Coward is excited about his final year in high school, and says he will focus on his football games while maintaining a decent GPA. He would like to attend a college with a safe campus close to his family, so they can be involved and watch him play.

Congratulations to Coward on his achievements! Good luck in the future!

Source: WKRB's Facebook

WKRB, the radio station that operates out of Kingsborough Community College (2001 Oriental Boulevard) finally completed their renovations and are ready to return to live broadcasting this September!

Check out some of the photos of their new digs that were posted to their Facebook page earlier today. Like Sheepshead Bites, WKRB 90.3 serves the local community. They broadcast news, music and local sports, and is fully staffed by the students of KBCC.

They’ve been around since the 70′s and churning out media professionals ever since. Now they are coming back with a vengeance. Right now you can hear their live stream at their homepage, or this link. Until live DJ’s return to air this September you can still tune in to 90.3 FM and listen to an automated broadcast.

If you’re interested in radio as a profession then you should head on over to Kingsborough and visit the radio station for a tour, or if you’re already a KBCC student, sign up to be DJ. From personal experience, I can say it’s a lot of fun.

Over 60 years old and never received the college degree you always dreamed of because you couldn’t afford it? Want to start a new career or obtain knowledge in a new field, but don’t possess the funds necessary for a college education? Take advantage of Kingsborough Community College’s “My Turn” Program!

“My Turn,” is a tuition-free college program which offers senior citizens the opportunity to join regular college classes, and enjoy KBCC’s beautiful campus in Manhattan Beach. The program offers over 400 classes in a broad range of fields, including art, fashion, literature, health, and business. Participants can also join other exciting events, to help enhance their educational experience.

“We also have trips, fundraisers and discussion groups,” said Dr. Barbara Ginsberg, who founded the program in 1981, in a press release. “In our discussions we talk about timely documents, politics and several mentoring programs.”

Keep reading for the details.

Five Kingsborough Community College (2001 Oriental Boulevard) athletes were presented with awards from the National Junior College Athletic Association this year for excellence on and off the field.

The athletes not only demonstrated excellent sportsmanship, but have also shown outstanding academic abilities and dedication to their studies.

The NJCAA awards are separated into three categories. First, the Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence, which is presented to student-athletes who have sustained a GPA of a 4.0 for at least three semesters. Also awarded is the Superior Academic Achievement Award, which credits student-athletes who have maintained an overall GPA between 3.8 and 3.99. Finally, the Exemplary Academic Achievement Award, which is awarded to student-athletes with a GPA between 3.6 and 3.79.

These five students were included on the NJCAA Academic student athlete’s awards list:

Zenia George: While at Kingsborough, George has maintained a 3.67 grade point average, in addition to partaking in athletics, and various other extracurricular activities. This June is the seventh time in which her name appears on the NJCAA awards. George just obtained her degree in Community Health and Gerontology, and will attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, with a full scholarship for Track and Field.

Daniel Rabinovich: Rabinovich was leader of the tennis team, and has portrayed excellent athletic abilities. He will graduate from Kingsborough with a 3.88 GPA and a degree in Liberal Arts.

Andre Doeman: Doeman received his degree in Liberal Arts with an average of 3.66. Throughout his experience with KCC Athletics, Doeman was a strong track runner. He has helped the college team reach the nationals for both Indoors and Outdoors Track and Field, a knee injury notwithstanding.

Taras Frankisvkyy: Frankivskyy became the KCC men’s soccer team captain after only one season on the team, and emerged as a great leader. He graduated in January 2012 in Biology with a 3.63 GPA and has now completed a semester at Brooklyn College.

Chi Choi: Choi has been a prized KCC soccer played with a great positive attitude, despite injuries during his second season.  He graduated in June 2012 with a 3.88 GPA in Business Administration.

Balancing excellence in athletics alongside excellence in academics is extremely difficult. Kudos to the athletes who received these awards!