Angelyne Acevedo, an Accounting/Business Management major in the Lucille and Jay Chazanoff School of Business, and also a Verrazano School student, is no stranger to volunteering to help out those in need. Prior to the pandemic, she had been making a difference through her membership in the CSI chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) as Vice President of Community Service, and CSI Student Government. Now that COVID-19 has introduced an almost unlimited number of challenges to people’s lives, Acevedo is still there to lend a hand.
One target audience is her fellow CSI students. As a member of CSI NSCS, Acevedo says that she is contributing to the local chapter’s efforts to foster “fun and interactive” virtual club meetings, and boosting its social media presence to keep everyone connected while they are away from campus. In addition, she reported that CSI NSCS is “connecting with other clubs at CSI in an effort to help those affected by COVID. We have been working with CHASI-NY, the Community Health Action of Staten Island-New York, through food drives and collections to deliver to the public and those in need of assistance.”
Through the CSI NSCS chapter, Acevedo has also been able to spread some joy to another group on the Island, local middle schoolers, in an effort to give these locked-down children something exciting to do. The event was a virtual movie night via Zoom. The kids responded to a poll and selected Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Besides watching the movie with other children, participants were able to connect and share ideas. “Before the film, we asked the children to get their favorite snack to enjoy with the movie and the children had a hilariously heated debate on the deliciousness of movie theater popcorn versus kettle corn,” she said. Considering the success and positive impact of this movie night, Acevedo noted that CSI NSCS is working to create other events for elementary and middle school kids.
As for her work in CSI Student Government, Acevedo said that, like CSI NSCS, it is working to keep student clubs together and active, so that members have an opportunity to stay involved with campus life, albeit remotely. She also stated that Student Government is actively working with the administration to ensure the safety of the College community when the campus welcomes them back, and to assist with academic resource and funding issues to keep courses running smoothly.
Acevedo shared her thoughts on why she continues to volunteer. “It is important to help those in need because without each other, we would be nowhere as a society… Some moments in our lives we have no control over and it can overwhelm us. In order for a community to thrive and succeed, it needs to work together. Helping others helps build a happier society for everyone. It is not only about raising money; we can also give our time, ideas, and energy to each other.”
What does the future hold for Acevedo? After she graduates, she says that she hopes “to earn my Certified Public Accountant licensure. Using my CPA licensure, I plan to help people in underrepresented communities and low-income households increase their financial literacy while building their financial portfolios.”