Oluwadamilola “Lola” Moses
For the first time in the College’s history, two outstanding students have been selected as Valedictorians of the Guttman Community College Class of 2021. Oluwadamilola Moses and Rena Safy have been exemplary scholars and leaders, and achieved perfect cumulative GPAs during their years at Guttman. Ms. Moses and Ms. Safy were honored for their achievements during the June 17th, 2021 virtual Salute to Graduates ceremony. The dual Valedictorians both majored in business administration.
Oluwadamilola “Lola” Moses was born in Nigeria. She immigrated to the United States at the age of sixteen. Of her time at Guttman, Ms. Moses said she “never felt alone,” and she is truly appreciative of the sense of community the faculty, staff, and students have created, especially in light of the pandemic. She is also grateful to her professors. “I was constantly challenged to get out of my comfort zone” thanks to her teachers, Ms. Moses said. She has been driven to succeed to make her mom proud. “My mum is always motivated about education but did not get a chance to be educated. Now, her greatest wish is to see all her kids get that opportunity. I know it is possible, so I am setting the example,” she said. Ms. Moses will be continuing her education at Brooklyn College.
Rena Safy came to the United States from Hungary, and has lived in the Bronx for the last nine years. “It was an honor to be one of the valedictorians this year,” said Ms. Safy. She appreciates that the College chose both her and Ms. Moses for the distinction. She enjoyed her time at
Rena Safy
Guttman and credits her professors and Guttman staff for being accessible outside of class time. In her speech during the Salute to Graduates ceremony, Ms. Safy cites her fellow students as her inspiration for her success during the pandemic. “This [graduation] is an amazing accomplishment. Every single one of you went from having a regular freshman year to switching to online learning during our last year, while also dealing with social distancing from family and friends,” she said. In September, Ms. Safy will start her studies at Baruch College.
Ms. Moses and Ms. Safy are two of the many amazing Guttman graduates. This year, more than one-third of the class is graduating with honors. The June ceremony celebrated thirty-one students who completed their coursework in Fall 1 and had their degrees conferred on January 8, 2021; twenty-seven students who graduated in Fall 2 with conferral on March 5, 2021; and ninety-one Spring 1 students whose degrees were conferred on June 25, 2021. One hundred twenty-four students are expected to have completed their requirements for graduation by the end of Spring 2, and will have their degrees conferred on August 23, 2021. They now join the community of over 1000 Guttman alumni.
To send your congratulations to the graduating class and view student profiles, visit guttmanccgraduation.com. Watch the recorded Salute to Graduates ceremony on the College’s YouTube channel.
