Cornell University Team Wins Northeast CWS

During a week in which the hosting Cabrini College officially changed its name to Cabrini University, the 2016 Northeast CWS added to the festivities by bringing a spirited and diverse group of incoming high school seniors to the Philadelphia-area school. A team representing Cornell University (featuring NHI students from Colorado, the District of Columbia, New York, and Texas) won the college competition last night, topping teams representing nine other worthy schools.

This year’s program features nearly 100 students from across the U.S. and the Dominican Republic and Mexico, and representatives from Bryn Mawr College, Cornell University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, Saint Joseph’s University, Swarthmore College, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, and Villanova University, as well as the host school.

The winning team included Paola Chavez-Arroyo (Commerce City, Colo.), Manuel Gonzalez (Alamo, Texas), Jacqueline Black (Corpus Christi), Samuel Duran (El Paso), Ingris Flores (Washington, DC), Israel Camarillo (El Paso), Gabby Trejo (San Antonio), Adriana Rodriguez (Teaneck, NJ), Paola Barragan (Palmview, Texas), and Christopher Alcala (Harlingen, Texas).

“To students who haven’t done CWS: it’s a once-in-a lifetime opportunity,” said Black after learning her team had won. “You learn so much about college admissions in a few days, like weeks worth, and make so many friends from similar backgrounds!”

The Cornell representative, Angela Herrera (who serves as the school’s Coordinator for Multicultural Recruitment), told the assembly, “Work hard so you can give back to your community to make our Latino community strong.”

The competition is only part of the CWS; students are now in the inquiry-based learning phase of the conference, which continues through Sunday.

“This is our third year working with Cabrini to prepare students for the college admissions process and provide a framework for independent decision making,” said Zachary Gonzalez, NHI’s Director of Collegiate Services.

“Cabrini’s partnership with NHI is based on a common mission to empower our students and develop the leaders of tomorrow,” said Cabrini President Donald B. Taylor, PhD, in an article that ran on the Cabrini website. “We look forward to working with the NHI students, staff, and volunteers during their five days on campus.”

Gonzalez also acknowledged State Farm’s role in helping bring this year’s edition of the CWS to Cabrini; a $20,000 grant helped fund NHI’s Great Debate and CWS programs as well as leadership training for program officials.