News

Team ‘VISTA Wearable’ Wins for Hands-Free System to Help Visually Impaired A hands-free system to help visually impaired people sense their surroundings won $50,000 for a team of five City College of New York students in the Second Annual Kaylie Prize for Entrepreneurship competition. The team, "VISTA Wearable," includes four senior computer engineering majors – Daniel Zuleta, Frank Palmer, Cindy Rodriguez, and Javier Montesino – and doctoral student in psychology, Lei Ai. Professor of Computer Science Zhigang Zhu advised the team. A judging panel of industry professionals selected the winning

Lisa Brandt and Julian Flores, members of The City College of New York Class of 2012, and Alexa Mieses, a 2011 graduate, have been selected to receive the 2012 Jonas E. Salk Scholarship awarded by The City University of New York. The awards recognize the high ability and scholarship of students who plan careers in medicine and the biological sciences and who are judged likely to make significant contributions to medicine and research. They are selected on the basis of original research papers undertaken with prominent scientist/mentors. “Congratulations to Lisa, Julian, Alexa and the winners

The City College of New York announced today that Dr. Eric Weitz, an internationally recognized scholar of modern European history, has been appointed Dean of Humanities and the Arts and that Dr. Mary Erina Driscoll, currently chair of the Department of Administration, Leadership and Technology at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, will become Dean of the School of Education. CCNY Provost Martin Moskovits announced the appointments. “Both Dr. Weitz and Dr. Driscoll are accomplished academics with outstanding track records in research and leadership,” said

Ever since he began making films eight years ago as a teen living in the suburbs of Tokyo, Yosuke Hosoi has dreamt of going to the Cannes Film Festival. Next week, The City College of New York alumnus, who earned a BFA in film and video production in 2011, will fly to France today to fulfill that dream, exhibiting his thesis film, “Man of the House,” in the festival’s Short Film Corner. The festival runs May 16 – 27. “He’s been planning to do this for a few years,” said CCNY Professor of Film Campbell Dalglish, who taught Yosuke in three classes. “He came in saying he wanted to do this and now

College to Confer Honorary Degrees on Suarez, soprano Kathleen Battle, philanthropist Harvey Kaylie, ’60EE, and Professor Emeritus Sheldon Weinbaum Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for “PBS NewsHour,” will be the guest speaker at The City College of New York’s 166th Commencement Exercises, 10 a.m., Friday, June 1, on the CCNY campus. Mr. Suarez will also receive the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, Laws, from the College. In addition, CCNY will confer honorary degrees on: operatic soprano Kathleen Battle, engineer and philanthropist Harvey Kaylie, ’60EE, and Distinguished Professor

Proceeds to Benefit New Ray Santos Scholarship Fund for City College Music Students An all-star tribute and benefit concert honoring Ray Santos, a living legend of the Mambo era and long-time leader of The City College of New York’s Latin Band, will be presented 7 p.m. Monday, May 21 in the Marian Anderson Theatre of Aaron Davis Hall on the CCNY campus. Proceeds from ticket sales will be used to support the newly formed Ray Santos Scholarship Fund to benefit City College music students. Among the performers scheduled to appear are Latin music greats: Candido Camero, Xiomara Laugart, Lalo

Harlem-Based Artist Known for Photographing West Indian Carnivals Captures Contemporary City Life on Film in “On a Roll” Ray A. Llanos, the Harlem-based visual artist best known for his lively and dynamic images of Carnival celebrations throughout the West Indies, will present his latest exhibition, “On A Roll,” in The City College of New York’s Aaron Davis Hall Gallery, May 15 through June 23. “On A Roll” is a series of captivating and enduring photographs of contemporary life in New York and other cities. Llanos diverts from today’s digital age, where camera settings can be adjusted and

Researchers with City College-based Center Devise Method to Control Dendrite Formation in Safe, Low-Cost Zinc Anode Batteries The CUNY Energy Institute, which has been developing innovative low-cost batteries that are safe, non-toxic, and reliable with fast discharge rates and high energy densities, announced that it has built an operating prototype zinc anode battery system. The Institute said large-scale commercialization of the battery would start later this year. Zinc anode batteries offer an environmentally friendlier and less costly alternative to nickel cadmium batteries. In the longer

The 12th Annual CUNY Jazz Festival, a gathering of bands and ensembles from across the CUNY system, takes place May 3-4 in Shepard Hall, Rooms 306 and 190, at The City College of New York at 140th Street and Convent Avenue in Manhattan. Saxophonist Steve Wilson, hailed by “The Wall Street Journal” as “essential to this city’s jazz landscape,” will be the festival’s guest artist. ? The festival opens 12 Noon Thursday, May 3, with a performance by the CCNY Jazz faculty ensemble, comprising Professors John Patitucci on bass, Dan Carillo on guitar, Mike Holober on piano and Paolo Orlandi on drums

Leading Award for Graduate Study in STEM Disciplines Awards up to $121,500 Over Three Years Nine City College of New York students – eight recent graduates and a graduating senior – are recipients of 2012 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships. The Fellowships are the most prestigious awards a graduate student in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) can receive. They provide $121,500 over three years and are given to recognize and support exceptional students who have proposed graduate-level research projects in their fields. “This is a tremendous achievement that