Academic Review 2015

Academic Review 2020

Buffalo State University student

Fashion & Textile Design

Ms. Arlene Short refers to those who have positively influenced her and her life’s trajectory as “sparkle people”. Now she has become a “sparkle person” to others. A single mother on public assistance who raised two children, she is currently the Manager of Outreach and Recruitment at Goodwill of Western New York.

Mrs. Tyra Blodgett’s faith and service to our community is central to her life. Her devotion with respect to elevating the spirit of those in need is clearly demonstrated through her self-less acts.

Ms. Retha Jones has seized opportunities and has overcome adversity. Her life experiences include being a 20-year-old mother of 3 when enrolled in the BEOC high school equivalency program, a domestic violence survivor, a recovering addict who this year celebrates 23 years being clean, a Certified Nursing Assistant at Grace Manor Nursing Home for 8 years, a Patient Navigator at Greater Buffalo Accountable Healthcare Network, an NFTA Paratransit Bus Operator, a college graduate, a motivational speaker, a comedian, and a community volunteer.

Mr. Dale Martin is a community leader who exemplifies the honored legacy of Mr. Arthur O. Eve. Upon graduation, his renewed sense of purpose was to be a leader, better father, and community advocate with a goal to be a part of both the conversation and solution to build a better Buffalo.

Mrs. LouElla Cole-Bowens has empowered her family, students and our community through her educational achievements mirroring the life-long learning mission of the Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center (BEOC).

Ms. Bernarda Arias was born in the Dominican Republic. She came to the United States at a young age and lived in New York City until she moved to Buffalo, New York in 1998 to pursue her college degree. After arriving in Buffalo, Ms. Arias accepted a position at a non-profit organization, where she was employed for 7 years. When she was laid off from her position, she changed her career aspirations and enrolled at the Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center (BEOC) where she earned certification in Medical Billing and Coding.

Mr. Ahmed Saleh in 1993, Mr. Ahmed Saleh escaped Eritrea in Eastern Africa at the age 18. With the assistance of a retired immigration lawyer from the University at Buffalo School of Law, and sponsorship of Vive La Casa (an organization that assists those seeking asylum in the United States or Canada due to the inability to return to their homeland), he arrived alone in the United States speaking very little English.

Ms. Paula Oliver was born in Jamaica where her grandmother raised her.  She arrived in the U.S. at the age of 17, where she lived in NYC for a while.  Ms. Oliver enrolled at Alfred State College, however, she later moved to Buffalo, NY as a single parent with a six-month-old child.

Mr. Hamadi Shebule states his accomplishments so far make him think a little less about his past and much more about his future. He says he always recalls images of escaping war torn Somalia at age ten with his mother, sister and brother but that his “new memories” foresee a brighter tomorrow.

Ms. Patricia A. Elliott-Patton breathed in an incubator during her first two months of life. Her childhood was spent living “pillar to post” with different family members. “I wouldn’t change a thing about my upbringing,” notes Patricia. “The escapist world I mentally fabricated made me a very creative person.”

Ms. Carrie Penna grew up in what she describes as an estranged household. At age 16, she found herself living on her own. At an early age, she married a businessman, had children, and lived a lavish lifestyle. “I had it all, big suburban home, in ground pool, the works,” she says.  Only Carrie soon realized that she didn’t. Due to circumstances totally outside of her purview, all was lost. “I lost the house. I lost everything. I had no family support on either side. I had an infant and a toddler and I was basically once again, living on my own.”

“The Buffalo EOC gave me the courage to move beyond the falsehood,” says Ms. Zola Lowery Crowell upon reflecting how she was placed in special education classes from first through 12th grade. Elaborating, Ms. Crowell states she never underwent any formal learning assessment, but one thing she knew for certain was how to live with a stigma. That is, until she came to the Buffalo EOC. “The Buffalo EOC never let me buy into that label.” 

As an alumna of the University at Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center (UBEOC), Ms. LaVita J. Spentz epitomizes its mission of lifelong learning and service.