Sue Ellyn Cortez

Image of Sue Ellyn Cortez

Sue Ellyn Cortez

03/31/2022 | AuthorNCC 

Reprinted from Winter 2022 EOP Newsletter

Sue Ellyn Cortez and her four-year old daughter were both headed to the classroom last fall.  For Cortez, who graduated from high school in 2012, the time was finally right to go to college.  And thanks to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which provides intensive counseling, tutoring, skill development workshops, supplemental instruction and other services, Sue Ellyn is receiving the support she needs to be successful at Nassau Community College.

“My goal was always to continue my education…I want to be a role model to my daughter,” said Cortez, who plans to major in theatre arts.  “I want to give it my all.”

Sue Ellyn is one of three moms who juggled parenthood and jobs while participating in NCC’s EOP Pre-Freshman Summer Program.  Helping these busy student mothers overcome obstacles and reach their academic goals is a priority for Nassau EOP Director William Clyde Jr. and his counselors, who champion the needs of parenting students.

According to data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, more than one in five college students are parents.  Of the nearly four million students who are raising children while in college, more than 70 percent are mothers.  The largest share of student parents are enrolled in community colleges.

Akeema Morton, a radiation therapy major, already had a full plate before enrolling at NCC.  A married mother of three who works full-time and is a volunteer board member at the MLK Center, Akeema is an experienced multi-tasker.   She was interviewed for this story while waiting in the checkout line at the local Stop & Shop.  Adding classes, homework and studying to her daily responsibilities is daunting.

“For me, the EOP summer program was a blueprint for what’s to come,” said Morton.  “There are things I had forgotten about school life.”  She particularly enjoyed working in a group because she found she could feed off the energy of other students.

Though she has taken some ribbing from her children for returning to school at age 30, Morton wants her kids to see the importance of education.

Recent Posts

Gabriel Mejia Moreno

I am a Liberal Arts major in my second year at NCC. The biggest reason why I chose Nassau Community College is that I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life after high school and saw NCC as the perfect place to explore that.

Jul 18, 2023 | NCC

Justin Hernandez

I am a Business Administration major in my second year at Nassau Community College. I chose to come to NCC mainly because of the value it offers. It provides a high-quality education at an affordable price.

Jul 18, 2023 | NCC

Axel Cardona-Olivero

I am a marketing major and will graduate in 2025. After a rough start at a large four-year university, I chose to attend Nassau Community College. It has a nice campus, a great community, and besides — my mom went here! My best experience so far has been my in-class presentations.

Jul 18, 2023 | NCC

Anton Malyshev

I transferred to NCC to pursue a degree in Nursing. After some sudden life-changing events I needed to be back home with my family. Nassau was the best educational opportunity for me, especially considering my chosen career path. One of my favorite experiences at the College so far has been forming a sense of community with my peers.

Jul 17, 2023 | NCC

Zach Dumelle

For my first semester of college, I attended a large university out of state. As the semester went on, I was feeling more and more detached from the experience. After some contemplation I decided that coming back home for college would be my best choice.

Jul 17, 2023 | NCC

Abdullah Saleh

My major is Biology and I am in my second year at NCC. I originally came to Nassau Community College because of the smaller class sizes and proximity to my home but the terrific faculty and flexible class schedules are great as well. As a science major, I would have to say one of my favorite experiences at Nassau has been the hands-on work that we do in the labs during biology classes.

Jul 17, 2023 | NCC

Top of page