NEW ROCHELLE, NY — When The College of New Rochelle recognized students for embodying the spirit of service at home and beyond during the annual Founder’s Day luncheon Friday, October 24, two Blue Angel student-athletes were among the honorees.
Established by the Ursuline Institute and continued by the College, the annual awards honor those students who best embody the Ursuline philosophy of Serviam (I will serve) and support the College’s mission of education for service.
This year’s Serviam Awards were given to Claudia Benitez (White Plains, NY/White Plains) of the School of Arts & Sciences and Marie Gomez (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle), School of Nursing, members of the swimming and tennis teams, respectively. The duo was the traditional undergraduate recipients of this annual award.
Benitez, a member of the Class of 2016, is an active member of the Student Government Association, Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and the Strawberry Festival Committee.
A regular participant of the Midnight Run, which brings food and clothing to the homeless in New York City, she helps coordinate the Special Olympics event that brings students from the area to the Wellness Center, and is a student ambassador with the Office of Admission.
Benitez is an active parishioner at St. Bernard Catholic Church in White Plains, where she helps organize the annual fundraiser, and does the same at Mount Carmel Catholic Church, also in White Plains.
In the pool she has received Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference and All-Academic accolades.
Gomez, Class of 2015, took part in the Plunge mission trip to Haiti in March 2014, where she helped established the first library at College Pierre Toussaint in Sassier. This involved cleaning and cataloging English, French, and Spanish books into subject areas, working with students and administrators.
A member of the Student Nurses Association, Gomez moved to the United States from the Philippines at the age of 15, and said that experience of living in a poor country helped her understand and show compassion toward the Haitians she met during her mission.
Gomez also used her skills to document her trip and create videos for the Plunge and the Study Abroad Program.
On the court, Gomez held down the #5 singles spot for the Blue Angels this season, helping the team to a 3-1 HVIAC record. She advanced to the semifinal of the #2 doubles flight at the HVIAC Championships.
Also during the luncheon, the College celebrated the service anniversaries of faculty and staff that have been with CNR for 10 years or more. Director of Athletics and the Wellness Center Harold Crocker was recognized for his 15 years of service to the College.
Prior to the luncheon, members of the College Community celebrated a Mass at Holy Family Chapel.