Kingsborough Community College
Encyclopedia
Kingsborough Community College (KBCC), part of the City University of New York
(CUNY) system, is the only community college
in Brooklyn, New York. The campus is located at Manhattan Beach
, which is at the eastern end of Coney Island
. The 71-acre
(283,000 m²) campus overlooks Sheepshead Bay, Jamaica Bay
, and the Atlantic Ocean
. In its early years, it also had an annex, known as the "Mid-Brooklyn campus".
The college was founded in 1963. It opened in 1964 with 468 students, and 39 faculty members. Its first home was in the former Public School 98 in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn. The Manhattan Beach campus opened for its first school year in September 1965. It now serves more than 38,000 students annually, and offers both credit and non-credit courses. Since its opening, the college has educated over half a million students.
In the late 19th century, the Oriental and the Manhattan Beach Hotels, built to compete with the major resorts of Newport, Rhode Island
, occupied the area where the current campus now sits. Subsequently, a United States Coast Guard
station occupied the land.
During World War II
, the station became a training center
for the United States Maritime Service
. Military buildings were initially rehabilitated for classes. In 1968, construction was begun of eight "temporary buildings." Five years later, the construction was completed.
Most of the college was built under the 28-year leadership of president Leon M. Goldstein, who created many innovative programs at the college. The high school and the Performing Arts center, as well as a playground, are named for him.
The campus is now a modern one, overlooking the three bodies of water, but it still has its own beach and a bandshell. The current president of the college is Regina S. Peruggi, a former president of Marymount Manhattan College
and the Central Park Conservancy.
The college offers free and affordable arts events and services to the community throughout the year. The college also hosts a free best-selling author series, and a Homecoming Day for its alumni. The college's radio station WKRB
FM celebrated its 30th anniversary in May 2008.
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
(CUNY) system, is the only community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
in Brooklyn, New York. The campus is located at Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn
Manhattan Beach is a residential neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east, by Sheepshead Bay on the north, and Brighton Beach to the west. Traditionally known as an Italian and Ashkenazi Jewish neighborhood, it is also home to...
, which is at the eastern end of Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
. The 71-acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
(283,000 m²) campus overlooks Sheepshead Bay, Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay is located on the southwestern tip of Long Island in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, and the town of Hempstead, New York/hamlet of Inwood...
, and the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. In its early years, it also had an annex, known as the "Mid-Brooklyn campus".
History
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, occupied the area where the current campus now sits. Subsequently, a United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
station occupied the land.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the station became a training center
Sheepshead Bay Maritime Service Training Station
The United States Maritime Service Training Station at Sheepshead Bay was opened on September 1, 1942. It closed on February 28, 1954.The station was the largest maritime training station during World War II and was equipped to train 30,000 merchant seamen each year. The site is now occupied by...
for the United States Maritime Service
United States Maritime Service
The United States Maritime Service, abbreviated as USMS, was established in 1938 under the provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936. The mission of the organization is to train people to become officers and crewmembers on merchant ships that form the United States Merchant Marine...
. Military buildings were initially rehabilitated for classes. In 1968, construction was begun of eight "temporary buildings." Five years later, the construction was completed.
Most of the college was built under the 28-year leadership of president Leon M. Goldstein, who created many innovative programs at the college. The high school and the Performing Arts center, as well as a playground, are named for him.
Today
Marymount Manhattan College
Marymount Manhattan College is an urban, coeducational, independent, private, liberal arts college located in Manhattan, New York City, New York with a focus in performing arts. The mission of the College is to educate a socially and economically diverse student body by fostering intellectual...
and the Central Park Conservancy.
The college offers free and affordable arts events and services to the community throughout the year. The college also hosts a free best-selling author series, and a Homecoming Day for its alumni. The college's radio station WKRB
WKRB
WKRB is an FM station based in New York City, New York. It is a music based station based at and controlled by Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn. It also is the official station of the Brooklyn Cyclones, and is a broadcast partner of the New York Islanders hockey club...
FM celebrated its 30th anniversary in May 2008.
Notable alumni
- Jeff Aronson, CEO/Owner, Cash4Gold.comCash4Gold.comCash4Gold is a Pompano Beach, Florida based company derived from Albar Precious Metal Refining, and headed by CEO Jeff Aronson. David Knight, SVP for international marketing and expansion, joined the team in 2009 from eBay. Shawn Kernes, a former Chief Technology Officer at StubHub, is the...
- Andrew Dice ClayAndrew Dice ClayAndrew Dice Clay is an American comedian and actor who played the lead role in the film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.Clay has been in several movies and has released a number of stand-up albums...
, standup comedian & actor - Pete FalconePete FalconePeter Frank "Pete" Falcone , is a left-handed former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1975–84.-High school and college:...
, New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the... - Jeff KoinangeJeff KoinangeJeff Koinange is a Kenyan journalist and chief reporter at TV station K24. He previously served as the Africa correspondent for CNN and CNN International from 2001 to 2007.-Background:...
, CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
AfricaAfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
correspondent - Phillipe NoverPhillipe NoverPhillipe J. Nover , is an American mixed martial artist. He is best known for making it to the finals of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir.-Mixed martial arts career:...
, TUF 8 finalist and UFC fighter - Sid RosenbergSid RosenbergSidney Arthur Rosenberg is an American radio personality currently heard weekday mornings on 1010 WINS in New York City, and afternoons on WQAM in Miami, Florida....
, radio personality - Larry SeabrookLarry SeabrookLarry B. Seabrook is the current New York City Council man from District 12 in New York City which covers the Co-op City, Williamsbridge, Wakefield, Edenwald, Baychester, and Eastchester sections of the Northeast Bronx...
, New York City Councilman - Liliana Marin,(Broadcasting) News anchor Univision and Telemundo.
Notable faculty
- Edward H. BersoffEdward H. BersoffEdward H. Bersoff is the and founder of BTG, Inc. He was its Chief Exceutive and President until 2001, and also holds board positions with a number of other organisations. He sold BTG to Titan Corporation in 2001, and was elected to their board in February 2002....
, President, CEO & founder of BTG, Inc. - Stanley G. CohenStanley G. CohenDr. Stanley G. Cohen is the President of Five Towns College located in Dix Hills, NY on Long Island. He has served as President since the college was chartered in 1972. He founded the Dix Hills Performing Arts Center which is located at the college....
, President of Five Towns CollegeFive Towns CollegeFive Towns College is a for-profit institution of higher learning located in Dix Hills, Long Island, New York . Founded as a business school in 1972 by Stanley G. Cohen, Ed.D... - Eleanor CoryEleanor CoryEleanor Cory is an American composer.Cory studied at Sarah Lawrence College, Harvard University, New England Conservatory, and Columbia University...
, composer - Paul GoldbergPaul Goldberg (geologist)Paul Goldberg is an geologist specializing in geomorphology and geoarchaeology who had done extensive worldwide field researches.-Education:Goldberg attended University of Colorado studying geology where he obtained his bachelor...
, geologist - Victor GorelickVictor GorelickVictor Gorelick is an American comic book editor and executive. Currently the Editor-in-Chief of Archie Comics, he has worked for the company for over fifty years in a wide variety of roles....
, comic book editor & executive - Dan GrimaldiDan GrimaldiDaniel "Dan" Grimaldi is an American actor who is known for his roles as twins Philly and Patsy Parisi on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Career:...
, actor on the HBO TV series The SopranosThe SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads... - Fred MitchellFred Mitchell (artist)Fred Mitchell belonged to the New York School Abstract Expressionist artists whose influence and artistic innovation by the 1950s had been recognized around the world...
, artist - Ursula MamlokUrsula MamlokUrsula Mamlok is a German-born, American composer and teacher.-Education and influences:Mamlok was born as Ursula Meyer in Berlin, Germany and studied piano and composition with Professor Gustav Ernest and Emily Weissgerber until her family fled Nazi Germany following the nationwide pogrom in 1938...
, composer - Basil TaraskoBasil TaraskoBasil P Tarasko, 60, is a Ukrainian-American baseball coach from Bayside, New York. He is a member of the Ukrainian Sports Club of New York and a member of USCAK, Ukrainian Sports Federation of the United States and Canada...
, baseball coach