linkedBronx Admission Counselor, Maggie Gonzalez ‘13, met her boyfriend, Gilbert Rodriguez ‘12 on May 31st, 2011 in Professor Young’s Psychology class in King Hall’s room 205. Maggie recalls the day and moment well. She was sitting two rows in front of Gilbert and during a bathroom break, she had her friend report to him that she thought he was cute! Unbeknownst to Gilbert that Maggie even spent any time thinking about him, he was immediately interested. They obviously used the psychological principals taught to navigate their relationship because 3.5 years later, they are still going strong! They are the newly proud parents of a 3 month old baby girl. Whenever Maggie needs a pick me up, she can walk by room 205 while at work and reminisce about their first encounter.

We are ecstatic to report that a Monroe love connection made it across the globe. Who would have thought when International student, Sayaka Mitsui, decided to enroll at our New Rochelle campus that she would one day move back to Japan, not only with a 2010 BBA degree in Hospitality Management but also with future husband, 2011 graduate, Juan Gonzalez. Sayaka and Juan met during the flag ceremony practice before graduation! Every flag holder was asked to turn around and say hello to the person who was carrying the flag behind them. Juan, carrying the flag for Puerto Rico and Sayaka, carrying the one for Japan turned and it was as if, love at first sight! They started dating a few months later and now are married, employed and living in Japan! This is a true Monroe love story!

Richard Torres, ’85 graduate, has a wonderful story as to how he met his wife, Daisy ‘85. Richard originally met Daisy in the Bronx lounge, but was nervous and awkward, even to the point that his voice cracked, when he said hi. Obviously, Daisy did not give him another thought. Richard on the other hand knew this was the woman for him and although unsuccessful, he tried for two semesters to find her on campus! Finally, Richard saw her across Jerome Avenue immediately following a huge snow storm and just as he went to run across the street, a bus drove past him, soaking him head to toe with dirty slush. He finally got her full attention in the spring of 1984 at the end of semester TGIF party at Eastwood Manor when he asked her to dance and risked kissing her as well! Again time passed, but Richard was lucky to run into her on campus and the two headed to Edgar Allan Poe’s Cottage on the Grand Concourse where they sat into the night talking and realizing that they were true soul mates. They now share the successes of their two grown daughters and recently celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary in Paris and Rome! Congratulations to a wonderful couple.

Our favorite St. Lucia-based couple, Keija and Neil Nichols, met in January 2002 at the New Rochelle campus. Neil was working as a student tutor. Keija, a recent transfer from Trinidad, was very new on campus and felt most comfortable hanging around the Learning Center. Neil thought Keija resembled his personal friend which instigated him to keep looking at her, plus he harbored an obvious attraction. In their very first exchange Keija bluntly asked, “Why do you keep staring at me?!” Unfortunately he now felt

Monroe Alumni Association News • Winter 2015

Matches Made at MonroeSome say finding the right college is a lot like finding the right relationship. Can you imagine if you were able to find the RIGHT relationship at the RIGHT college? How lucky! In honor of February, the month of love, the Office of Alumni Relations would like to report on just some of the matches made the old fashioned way right here on our very own campuses.

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like a pseudo-stalker and the two had very little interaction thereafter. Finally, Keija asked him for help with her mailbox and although Neil did not have a clue, he made sure to get it right! Poking fun, he asserts that Keija could have asked anyone in the mailroom for help but she made sure to seek his. Using tickets from Res Life, the two went on their first date to the movies. Now, 12 years later and married for 8, they have 3 beautiful boys and work at our St. Lucia campus. Neil says that their time spent together on Monroe’s campus definitely set the groundwork for their marriage today.

A great example of making sure the Admissions and Financial Aid Offices work together is in Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions and National Outreach, Oragan Rungruangviechakul and Financial Aid Counselor, Piraphong Pettong’s

relationship! We are happy to report that Oragan and Piraphong are the excited new parents of baby Lucas born on January 9th! We know Lucas will grow up to have great sales and financial sense. Congratulations to the happy trio.

Financial Aid Counselor, LaToya Cruz ’04, started Monroe in January 2002 as an international student from Jamaica. She traveled from Queens every day and would have breakfast in Main Hall. One day she forgot her wallet but a nice man working in the cafeteria, told her not to worry about it. He admitted to seeing her every day and said she could just pay tomorrow. LaToya came the next morning, paid for her unpaid meal and went off to the Library to study. This very sweet man came running after her with a rose. It was going to be Valentine’s Day and he introduced himself and asked if he could be her valentine. Roberto and LaToya are now married for 8 years and parents of two children, living in New Rochelle, with a short commute to campus where they both work. Happy Valentine’s Day Cruzes!

We all know that now the dating world has been irrevocably touched by technology. Hopefully these stories will inspire you to turn back to the organic steps of meeting in person, allowing time and place to shape a budding relationship so you, too, one day can think back to the nostalgic senses of meeting the love of your life. Good luck!

4 March 7th Defensive Driving Class4 March 14th Florida Alumni Reunion — Delray Beach4 Monroe College Toastmasters Club every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the Month in Milavec Hall – Room 112 / NR

LIFELONG LEARNING CLASSES4 Advanced Excel • Saturdays, Feb, 14th, 21st, 28th, Mar 7th • 9:00 am to 1:00 pm • Gaddy Hall Rm 402 / NR4 Certified Coding Exam Prep (CCA) • Tuesdays and Thursdays, Mar 3rd, 5th, 10th, 12th, 17th, 19th

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm • West Hall / BX4 Computerized Accounting(Quickbooks) • Saturdays, Feb 21st, 28th, Mar 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, April 4th, 11th

9:00 am to 12:00 pm • Ustin Hall / BX 4 Sharp (Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention) • Saturdays, Mar 14th, 21st, 28th and Apr 2nd

9:00 am to 11:00 am 8 King Hall / Bronx Campus4 Personal Finance Series • Tuesdays, Feb 24th, Mar 3rd, 10th • 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm • King Hall / BX Bronx

To register for Alumni events go to our Events Calendar at www.monroecollege.edu.

upcoming events

Matches Made at Monroe (continued)

The office of Alumni Relations and New Rochelle’s Business Graduate Department teamed up to host our own Alumni version of the American reality competition television series, Shark Tank, as part of the Homecoming festivities in October. Monroe’s Alumni Shark Tank featured aspiring alumni entrepreneur-contestants making business presentations to a panel of “shark” panel members. Richard Harris pitched his just recently opened juice bar, Island Blends, and validated the need for a new juicer to eliminate long lines. Camille Forde pitched her high style customized dress design business, Camille Couture, and discussed her marketing and labor processes with the sharks. Vinette Perez from Kiddy Kitchen, explained her personalized approach to teaching

kids how to cook and discussed promotions and cost structure. The sharks attempted to find weaknesses and faults in the entrepreneur’s plans, however, all alumni participants demonstrated very strong business models. In the end there could only be 1 winner. The winner, Island Blends Juice Bar, now open on 875 East 241 Street in the Bronx received a monetary prize to help the business grow successfully. All participants received prizes so everyone benefited from the exposure and experience. If you are interested in participating in our next Shark Tank event, please contact rharris@monroecollege.edu.