ASA Expands its Foreign Relations Program

Brooklyn, New York - ASA President Alex Shchegol today announced that the institution has reached an agreement with officials from Uzbekistan to cooperate on a broad range of initiatives, including the possible opening of an ASA branch in Tashkent, the state’s capital.

“This is truly a historic day for ASA,” Mr. Shchegol said. We are very excited to form a partnership with the government of another country to provide ASA’s brand of education overseas. The agreement came after several meetings with Uzbekistan officials notably with Dr. Alisher Shaykhov, Ambassador and Chairman of Uzbekistan’s Chamber of Commerce and business leaders of Uzbekistan based in the U.S. led by Mr. Yakov Tsinkler who in 2009 visited ASA’s Manhattan location and agreed to support any joint initiative between ASA and educational or government institutions in Uzbekistan. In January 2010, ASA administrators, led by Robert Faynblut, met with Ambassador Murad Askarov, Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the United Nations, to gain additional support for the agreement.

Dr. Alexander Agafonov, ASA Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, who signed the agreement with Uzbekistan on behalf of ASA, said that these foreign initiatives will only strengthen the institution. In 2009, ASA also started working with institutions in Rostov, Russia and Taipei, Republic of China. Early this year, Mr. Osman Oztoprak, Director of the Turkish Cultural Center in New York was also a guest at ASA’s Manhattan location and during the visit, he and ASA officials also discussed ways to cooperate.

“ASA is committed to provide the highest quality of education anywhere around the world,” Mr. Shchegol said. “Students in Uzbekistan can expect nothing less.”

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Delivers ASA Commencement Speech at Wamu Theater of Madison Square Garden

New York, NY - There were several standing ovations and a sea of camera flashes to greet this great city’s 108th mayor when yesterday he came to address a packed crowd of more than four thousand ASA graduates, their family and friends, ASA staff and special guests at the Wamu Theater of Madison Square Garden. “ASA really is a great place and I can’t help but be impressed with your commitment,” Mayor Bloomberg said as he praised ASA for graduating students many of whom are the first to graduate from college in their families.

During his speech, the Mayor also recognized three ASA graduates for the special challenges that they had to overcome to graduate. They were Ms. Minire Seferaj, a Criminal Justice graduate who before the Mayor’s speech was named Alumnus of the Year awardee. She’s a single mom who graduated while raising four kids and serving as both the President of ASA’s student organization and PTA President of one of her kids. Ms. Terri James, who’s battling all types of medical problems and also has five kids. And finally, Ms. Young Ae Song who at 62 makes her the oldest graduate. “When she’s at an age when most people are thinking about retiring, she’s thinking about starting a new career,” the Mayor said.

The Mayor was introduced by Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz of the 45th District, who praised him for the “increase in graduation rates in the city’s school system, crime rates that are at a 30-year low, and efforts to create more than four hundred thousand jobs.”

Other dignitaries who attended the graduation ceremony included Assembly Member Alan Maisel who represents the 59th District; Ms. Vilma Huertas-Cymbrowitz, Secretary to the Board of the New York City Housing Authority; and Mr. Carl Hum, President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

“This is truly a wonderful event for our graduates. They are marching on the grandest stage which is Madison Square Garden and they have none other than the Mayor of New York City as their speaker,” said Alex Shchegol, President of ASA. “He is not only a great mayor. He is also a very successful businessman and that’s what makes him a true role model for our students,” said Roberto Dumaual, ASA Vice President of Government and Community Relations.

ASA Becomes a Member of the Northeast Football Conference

The ASA Football team has accepted the invitation to join the Northeast Football as its 7th member. The team was officially granted membership the day before Thanksgiving. Joining the conference is a big step in the right direction for the program, which just completed its inaugural season. ASA will now have the chance to play for a conference championship. Being a Northeast Football Conference member will also boost the program's stock when Bowl Game Matchups are decided. Other than the post-season play perks of joining a conference, being a member will allow the Avengers to host home games, help recruiting efforts, and create the college football excitement of forming rivalries with other member schools.

ASA joins the Northeast Football Conference coming off a 5-3 record. Two of those losses came within 3 points a piece to Northeast Conference members Nassau CC and Dean College. Dean went on to win the conference and play against Glendale (AZ) in the Valley of the Sun Bowl. Nassau CC finished the season ranked 11th in the nation by the NJCAA. To learn more about the Northeast Football Conference please click on the link provide to go to the conference website.

http://www.northeastfootball.com/