NEWS RELEASE

Immediate: June 28, 2012 Media Contact: Alicia Steger516.572.9634Email: alicia.steger@ncc.eduncc.edu/newsreleases

NCC Student & Veteran Andrew Kaelin to Attend Columbia University

 

Garden City, NY – Nassau Community College is proud to announce that Andrew Kaelin, one of its students and a veteran, has been accepted into Columbia University. He begins studies there this fall.

Kaelin, who grew up in Oceanside and still lives with his family there, served in Afghanistan. Injured twice, he earned two Purple Hearts and an army commendation medal for combat valor. He began taking online college courses through American Military University while still in service. Discharged in 2011, Kaelin—who had originally taken courses at NCC in 2005, without, by his own admission, much motivation—came back to the College on a mission. "I came out of the army much more mature and disciplined," he said.

"I have never met such a modest young man in my life. I knew nothing about him except that he was in the military and wanted to attend Columbia University," said Prof. Michael Anzalone, who had Kaelin as a student in an English course. "I have no doubt he'll do well at Columbia."

Kaelin, who finished up his last two courses this summer, has a 3.82 grade point average.

Dr. Donald P. Astrab, Nassau Community College President, is very pleased with Kaelin's academic accomplishments. "The NCC community is grateful to our student veterans, past and present and to all military veterans who have served our country," said Dr. Astrab. He added, "Andrew's dedication to our country coupled with his commitment to pursuing his educational and career goals with excellence have indeed made us proud."

Nassau Community College is committed to providing our military veterans who enroll at NCC with the very best possible specialized services. NCC's Center for Veterans Affairs serves as an advocate and a resource center for the College's veteran students who seek its services. According to Director Evangeline Manjares, the Center worked with 289 student veterans this year. Some of NCC's students who are veterans formed a support club that meets at the Center every other week. "The Center has been very helpful to me," said Kaelin, "It was Dr. Manjares who urged me to apply to Columbia."

After he graduates from Columbia, Kaelin's intent is to go on to law school and then become a practicing attorney.

About Nassau Community CollegeNassau Community College, part of the State University of New York, is an institution where nearly 24,000 full- and part-time students and almost 15,000 continuing and professional students start and continue their successful journey through higher education.  More than 70 fields of study are offered on a 225-acre campus located in the center of Long Island.  As the largest single-campus two-year college in New York State, Nassau Community College maintains a national reputation for excellence.

Ref: 1612.6/20/11.5