“Queensborough gave me the opportunity to pursue my goals with confidence, and my scholarships gave me the opportunity to focus on my studies,” says technology student Christopher Butera.

Christopher Butera has been fascinated with computers and how they work for many years. While a student at Queens Vocational High School, he majored in computer technology and took college-level courses taught by Queensborough professors. He completed his Associate degree in New Media Technology at Queensborough and graduated in June of 2008, the first one in his family to earn a college degree.

Christopher started at Queensborough in the fall of 2006 under the Aspire to Success Scholarship program, which provided full tuition to first-time, full-time students who were motivated to graduate in two years. Chris has been a very motivated student; as a Queensborough student, he maintained a 3.8 G.P.A. In the fall of 2007, he was awarded sponsorships from both the Khym Foundation Scholarship program and the Sallie Mae Scholarship Fund that provided him with the necessary financial assistance to continue his education.

Chris will pursue his bachelor’s degree in networking, fiber optics and computer science at the State University of New York’s Institute of Technology or Stony Brook University, and plans to work in fiber optic network technology.

“I’ve always wanted to work in technology,” says Chris. “My Queensborough education has given me the opportunity to pursue my goals with confidence, and my scholarships gave me the opportunity to focus on my studies.”