Meet Daniel Volin, Queensborough's 2025 Salutatorian
Some students enter college immediately after graduating high school, others take a one- or two-year hiatus before starting, and then there are those like Daniel Volin who take even longer — an entire decade in his case.
As they say, however, every story can be rewritten.
In this case though, that story underwent a complete overhaul, one that saw Volin go from being unemployed with two pulmonary embolisms to his name, to graduating from Queensborough Community College with an A.A.S. in Internet & Information Technology and being named the 2025 Salutatorian.
“Being chosen as Salutatorian feels surreal,” he said about the achievement. “Excelling academically was always a goal, but being recognized in this way is beyond anything I ever imagined. I am humbled, I am grateful, and I am elated.”
Prior to enrolling at Queensborough, Volin was a bartender at a fine dining restaurant. However, things took a sudden turn when COVID struck and disrupted the restaurant industry. He lost his job, and soon after found himself in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism.
For most, this would be the end. For Volin, however, it was a new beginning.
Unemployed and gravely ill, he wondered what he could do to keep moving forward. That question led him to a newfound passion for technology, and the repeated insistence from his brother, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Digital Transformation Adam Volin, led him to a place to pursue it: Queensborough.
Fueled by this determination, he also made a vow: he wouldn’t just be present — he’d apply his absolute best self to everything he did.
And he did just that.
Since enrolling, Volin has thrown himself at every opportunity presented. Here are a few of his accomplishments:
- Made the Dean’s List in fall ‘23, spring ‘24, and fall ‘24
- Invited to the CUNY Research Scholars Program (CRSP) where his project focused on reconstructing a 3D image from a 2D X-ray
- Participated in the Road to the Interdependence and Student Excellence (R.I.S.E) program
- Worked in the Tiger Card Office where he verified credentials, printed ID cards, managed parking decals, and more
Among these, he considers his greatest achievement to be him securing a software engineering internship at American Express through the QCC Tech Apprenticeship Program — an opportunity he attributes to CTE specialist David Manne’s assistance.
However, it’s not just the things he’s done that define his journey, but also the people he’s met.
Since coming to Queensborough, Volin’s world has expanded. He notes that the programs he’s participated in have led to him meeting some of the most brilliant students CUNY has to offer, while interacting with his professors has led to interesting results, such as learning about their hobbies outside the classroom.
“Those personal connections made learning even more fulfilling.”
That said, Volin’s journey wasn’t one marked entirely by success — there were bumps in the road.
Volin recalls one such moment:
“My mother was diagnosed with cancer shortly before my first semester. On top of balancing work, academics, and personal responsibilities at home, I was managing my mother’s doctor appointments and advocating on her behalf. Something came up that was out of my depth, so I reached out to the Advocacy Resource Center on campus. Within 48 hours, the entire situation was resolved.”
It’s because of incidents like that, as well as the immense amount of support he’s received throughout his time here, that Volin says one of the things he will miss most when he leaves is Queensborough’s sense of community.
As for what he has planned once he leaves, needless to say of a student of his stature, they’re quite grand.
“I was accepted into The CUNY School of Professional Studies where I will pursue a BS in Information Science, with a focus on Data Science. As well, after finishing my first paid internship, American Express has recently offered to extend it. If I maintain the determination I had in my studies here at QCC, I will be converted into a full-time salaried software engineer.”
And as he departs, he has some words of gratitude for the many who helped him reach where he is today. That includes Manne, Professor Michael Lawrence for “always pushing him to take things a step further,” Professor Huixin Wu for inviting him to join CRSP, Mustafizur Rahman of the QCC Tiger Card Office for “being the best boss [he’s] ever had,” and most importantly, his older brother for convincing him to come to Queensborough in the first place.
“I am eternally grateful for being a part of something bigger, and I wish to one day be able to say that I paid it forward. Thank you all.”
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