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In his home in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Roland Nzima was working as a technical engineer and a project manager. While he experienced some level of success, Nzima knew he had to make a choice between his career and his future—a future that would be significantly improved by coming to the United States. Nzima explained that even though Congo is among one of the richest countries in the world due to its immense natural resources, the majority of citizens are impoverished due to a poorly run political system. His dream of coming to the United States was realized when he won the Diversity Visa Lottery, a program that attracts millions of applicants worldwide and provides about 50,000 immigrants a legal route to permanent residency in the United States each year.

Nzima has been living in the United States for 18 months and says that while he is now living his dream, his new life is not without challenges. “French is my first language and it was difficult to find a job, and even to communicate with people,” he says. “I used body language [to communicate] and wondered why I came to this country. Then I remembered something that the former president of the United States, John Kennedy, said: ‘Change is hard but it is the law of life. And only those people who look in the past are certain to miss the future.’” Inspired by that quote, Nzima started learning English online before hearing about the services available at the West Side Learning Center (WSLC) on Gifford Street in Syracuse. There, the staff introduced him to a training and certification program available through the Center for Workforce Education and Development at Syracuse University.

The Center for Workforce Education and Development, administered by University College, is dedicated to improving the quality of the existing and emerging workforce in the Central New York region by bringing the regional education, economic development and workforce development sectors into closer alignment. Their goal is to ensure that the education and training delivered to students, incumbent workers and career changers provide them with the skills they need to achieve economic self sufficiency.

Theresa Pagano, program facilitator for Partners in Learning, Inc., at WSLC, said that Nzima’s motivation and diligence helped him move through the certification program quickly. Nzima began the program at level one and quickly worked his way up to a level three, the bronze-certificate level, with the assistance of a coach mentor provided through a training grant. He was then accepted into the Industry Certification Training Program—a partnership between WSLC, the Westcott Community Center, Manufacturers Association of Central New York, and Onondaga Community College. “This was a logical pathway for Roland, given his background knowledge and experience as a telecommunications engineer,” says Pagano. “We accessed the training program and he worked independently in order to improve his skills. He passed all of the Industry Certification Training modules and was hired by Marquardt Switches, Inc.”

Nzima finished the required courses and exams and is now a certified production technician. When the grant concluded, Nzima continued to work independently and advanced to the silver-certificate level. He has earned certifications in maintenance, production, and safety and quality control. “I realize that learning is power,” says Nzima. “I have dreams—not in the same way as Martin Luther King, but about my life—to get a degree in telecommunications, become a business owner, and one day go back to the Congo to help other people.” Nzima says that he would like to open a free school and a small hospital in his country, but realizes that he has to continue to improve his English skills in order for others to understand his ideas.

What advice does he have for other immigrant students? “People say that the USA is the land of opportunity and they are right. Try to do your best and the best will come back to you. Don’t get confused between language and knowledge. You have the knowledge; you only need the English language,” he says.

Nzima carries with him the advice of his father. “He told me, ‘worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but gets you nowhere.’”

He is grateful to all who have helped him on his journey, especially the West Side Learning Center and the Center for Workforce Education and Development. He welcomes the opportunity to give back to those who have helped him succeed by painting rooms at the West Side Learning Center and transporting other students to appointments.

Nzima was recently invited to be the keynote speaker at the WSLC Adult Learner Achievement Awards. He addressed the audience in his new language and shared his appreciation. “Thanks for everything you are doing and all you have done for us. Keep up the good work. God bless America. Thank you. Merci.”

The Summer Festival Orchestra will perform a free public concert at Syracuse University on Monday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m., at the Goldstein Auditorium in the Schine Student Center. The following works will be performed: William Tell Overture by Rossini; Waltz from Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky; and Elgar Variations for Orchestra “Enigma.” 

The performance will be under the direction of James R. Tapia, director of orchestral activities at SU’s Setnor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. 

The Summer Festival Orchestra has a history of success in bringing together a diverse mix of musicians from the community to create a talented, all-volunteer ensemble. The musicians include students from SU and other area schools, as well as members of the Symphony Syracuse Orchestra. 

For more information about the performance, contact Tapia at 443-5892. The program is sponsored by University College (UC). University College provides access to Syracuse University to part-time and international students and offers valuable summer programs for high school students. UC enhances the Syracuse community through continuing education, outreach, public forums, and by administering educational and performing arts programs. For more information, call 443-9378 or visit www.uc.syr.edu.

University College student Monica Antone-Watson was one of eight students selected to receive the Dr. Sherman V. N. Kent Scholarship from the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society for the 2011-12 academic year. Antone-Watson was selected from an outstanding group of candidates nationwide for her academic achievement, scholarship, leadership and need. Alpha Sigma Lambda is the National Honor Society for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning. Its aim is to recognize the special achievements of adults who accomplish academic excellence, while facing competing interests of home and work.

Antone-Watson is a senior majoring in fiber arts and material studies in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, with a minor in Native American studies. She is earning her degree part time through University College. “I feel honored to be chosen,” says Antone-Watson. “I am grateful that my hard work and determination are being recognized by receiving the award.”

Antone-Watson is a member of the Native American Indian Education Association of New York, and won the Joan Rusitzky Award for Excellence in Knit Design from Syracuse University in 2010. She has won numerous scholarships and awards at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), including the MVCC Presidents List in 1996 and 1999, and the MVCC Vice Presidents List in 1994 and 2000. An active member of the Oneida Indian community, Antone-Watson teaches traditional Native American dance, basket-making, knitting, crocheting, quilting, Iroquois pottery, fabric doll making and cornhusk doll making.

When Nadia Essi was selected as the only eighth-grade student from Levy Middle School to attend a science camp at Syracuse University, she was excited to learn more about a subject she had come to love. “My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Berman, had a strong influence on me,” says Essi. “She had a life-size skeleton in the classroom and had so much enthusiasm and excitement for teaching, especially science.”

This year, Essi, now a graduate student at SU working on a master of science degree in biology education, will share her love of science with a new group of middle school students at the 19th annual Science Horizons program. The program, fully funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb and administered by University College of Syracuse University, accepts 40 seventh- and eighth-grade students selected by middle schools throughout Onondaga County to participate in field trips, lectures and hands-on learning during the weeklong science adventure.

Essi is excited to be a part of the instructional team for Science Horizons. “I love that I’ll be able to give the students a chance to see how much fun science really is,” she says. “They are able to explore different types of science and learn more about things that interest them. Science Horizons is the way science should be taught in the schools!”

After graduating from Nottingham High School, Essi attended the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) and earned a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology. “Nadia is a truly gifted student who has demonstrated a sincere passion for teaching science,” says John Tillotson, one of her professors. “She was selected to receive the highly prestigious Robert Noyce Scholar Scholarship through a grant project funded by the National Science Foundation in direct response to President Obama’s national STEM initiative that supports our nation’s most promising collegiate science and mathematics majors in their efforts to become highly qualified teachers in high-needs schools throughout the United States.” During her tenure at SUNY-ESF, Essi spent a semester studying at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia. She also worked a summer at SeaWorld Science Education Camp in Orlando, Fla. educating kids about the animals in the park, their habitats and the environment.

“I want students to understand that science is all around us,” says Essi. “We experience scientific things every single day without really realizing it.” Essi believes that if we want to make the world a better place, want to know about the things that we put in our bodies and learn how the world works, it’s important to know about science.

“I feel it’s so important for students to know that science is creative and fun. It’s not always about being in a lab and mixing chemicals. There are so many different kinds of science that students can study and so many different things to do in the world of science,” she says.

Essi is getting her message across loud and clear. Her most rewarding moment as a teacher came when she did her student teaching at West Genesee High School in May. “I was teaching a 10th grade Living Environment class. After teaching a unit on digestion and nutrition, one of the students came up and told me he learned so much and that he loved the way I taught. Just hearing that made me feel so good, knowing that I made at least one student’s experience in the science classroom a little better.”

In addition to what the students will experience in June, what other lessons would she like her students to learn? “I want them to know that science is for everyone and that if you have a passion for something, you should go for it,” she says.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Science Horizons Program at SU runs from June 27-July 1. The program is designed to encourage students’ interest in science and technology and to foster interest in science-related careers. Students are given the opportunity to explore technology, chemistry, geology, physics, anatomy and ecology. They visit sites around the SU campus and the community, including Bristol-Myers Squibb.

For more information, contact University College at 315-443-4846 or cps@uc.syr.edu, or visit http://www.uc.syr.edu/community/bristol/index.html.

Forty middle school students from throughout Onondaga County were selected to take part in the 19th annual Bristol-Myers Squibb Science Horizons program at Syracuse University. The program, which includes field trips, lectures and hands-on learning opportunities, will kick off on Monday, June 27.

Fully funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and hosted by University College, Science Horizons gives local seventh- and eighth-grade students an opportunity to learn from highly innovative scientists, experienced teachers and SU students and faculty.

Four veteran middle school and high school teachers will return to provide instruction to the students in the areas of technology, chemistry, geology, physics, anatomy and ecology. Kim Buchanan from Fabius-Pompey Middle School-High School; Theresa Hunter and Kathleen Kolb from Pine Grove Middle School, and Ben Gnacik from Fayetteville-Manlius High School will lead the instruction. They will be assisted by SU graduate students Nadia Essi and Matthew Brincka. Essi is also a former Science Horizons participant. High school students and former participants Phebe Alley from Jordan Elbridge High School and Nathan James from C.W. Baker High School will act as mentors.

The program is designed to encourage students’ interest in science and technology and to foster interest in science-related careers.

The students will visit sites around the SU campus and the community, including Bristol-Myers Squibb. For more information, contact Sandra Barrett at 315-289-7217 or ssbarret@uc.syr.edu, or visit http://www.uc.syr.edu/community/bristol/index.html.