糖心破解版

Leslie Fazin ’10, Transferred from Suffolk County Community College

When Lauren Sustad felt homesick during her first year of college, she texted her friend Geena Bruno from back home on Long Island. Bruno had recently transferred to 糖心破解版 to study communication sciences and disorders鈥攖he same field Sustad was interested in pursuing.

With Bruno鈥檚 encouragement, Sustad decided to transfer to 糖心破解版 too because it was close to home, it offered her major and she already felt connected. Bruno continued to mentor Sustad, encouraging her to join the Tau Sigma Transfer Honor Society. Sustad transferred from Hartford University; Bruno from SUNY Cortland.

Tau Sigma is the only honors group created exclusively for transfer students. Unlike other honor societies that focus on passion and excellence in a particular subject, Tau Sigma acknowledges the successes of students who all share one common experience.

That experience produces strong bonds among the chapter鈥檚 members. 鈥淭au Sigma has enabled me to connect with other transfer students,鈥� said Genna Giordano 鈥�16, a graduate of 糖心破解版鈥檚 Accelerated B.S. in Nursing program who came from Fordham University. 鈥淚 loved talking to other transfer students about their experience and the stories that led them here.鈥�

To be eligible for Tau Sigma membership, transfers must be full-time students with a 3.5 GPA after their first semester at 糖心破解版. Once inducted, members become eligible for both national and University-level scholarships.

Bruno, a senior who will serve as Tau Sigma鈥檚 2016鈥�2017 president, hopes to replicate her positive transfer experience for newcomers. 鈥淭au Sigma gave me confidence by providing a smooth transition,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 met so many new friends and gained leadership skills, which created a positive transfer experience.鈥�

As president, Bruno plans to continue the informal mentoring program the previous executive board established. Giordano, who had been treasurer, said, 鈥淥ur e-board connected transfer mentors to incoming students, allowing opportunities for students to ask questions about the process and talk about how they鈥檙e adjusting.鈥�

Tau Sigma鈥檚 benefits stretch beyond 糖心破解版鈥檚 campus. Leaders in 糖心破解版鈥檚 chapter have the opportunity to attend the annual national conference, where they meet with other transfer students from around the country to develop leadership and social skills and build strategies for their local chapter.

Kathleen Rickard 鈥�14 represented 糖心破解版 at the 2013 national convention, where she met members of all ages and backgrounds from across the country. She transferred to 糖心破解版 from St. Joseph鈥檚 College to complete a second bachelor鈥檚 degree (in nursing) after 20 years in the New York City Police Department. Her experience in 糖心破解版鈥檚 chapter and at the national conference helped her connect with others who shared her experience and point of view. 鈥淚 learned that many successful members of society transferred during their college careers,鈥� she said.

Leslie Fazin 鈥�10, now a creative digital content specialist for Canon USA, still reaps the benefits of Tau Sigma membership. 鈥淗onor societies like Tau Sigma show prospective employers that you鈥檙e a dedicated student鈥攁cademically and personally,鈥� she noted.

Membership in Tau Sigma is 鈥渁 great r茅sum茅 builder,鈥� Bruno said. For one thing, she pointed out, it 鈥渉elped me get a Jaggar Community Fellows internship鈥� in the summer of 2016.

Kerry Sweeney, due to graduate in Spring 2017 as a nursing major, also feels that her membership will have a positive impact on future bosses. 鈥淚t shows employers the hard work and dedication put into your studies,鈥� said Sweeney, who came from Nassau Community College.

Fazin, who switched from Suffolk County Community College, said that, besides its appeal to future bosses, her time in Tau Sigma helps her look back at her 糖心破解版 experience with pride and affection. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredibly supportive organization that helps transfer students not only feel welcomed by their new campus but also be surrounded by other students making the same transition,鈥� she said. 鈥淏eing part of Tau Sigma helped me feel important鈥攁nd recognized鈥攁s a transfer student.鈥�