Commencement 2025: One of seven children, Associate Degree Scholar finds her own spotlight

By David Gil De Rubio | dgilderubio@mec.cuny.edu

This year’s Associate Degree Scholar is Shenelle Padilla, whose major is Liberal Arts with a concentration in Psychology and will be graduating with a GPA of 3.9.

The fifth of seven siblings, Shenelle was born and raised in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Her late father was a construction worker who passed away in 2006, while her mother started out as a homemaker that turned into a small business entrepreneur who ran small boutiques. 

Shenelle’s drive found her immigrating to the United States and it was while she was working as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) in 2018 when coworkers and managers encouraged her to continue down the path of higher education. Shenelle made her move post-pandemic by enrolling at Medgar Evers College. And while she was hesitant about going down this path as an adult learner, the school’s welcoming atmosphere found Shenelle fitting in with her younger cohorts.

The Brownsville resident quickly took to the curriculum with classes ranging from Psychology 101 and English 112 to Bio 251 and 252 quickly becoming favorites along with professors like Geraldo Robles, Yvonne Downer, Cherise Mayers, Jairus Okezue and Stacey Baptiste. Shenelle also surprised herself by pulling an A in her math class while overcoming any doubts she had about doing well in that course thanks to encouragement from Professor Kennith Binns. 

For Shenelle, Medgar Evers College provided an environment of diversity and inclusion that allowed her to thrive even when her own self-doubts found her questioning whether she’d or not she’d fit in with her younger peers. The overwhelming support she received from the faculty and her peers made the difference. Adding to Shenelle’s sense of comfort was the fact that Medgar Evers College is situated in a community that really needs it, further reinforcing her decision to earn her degree in Crown Heights.

Shenelle’s hobbies include cooking and yoga. She is interested in giving back to the Medgar Evers College community by setting up a book exchange as a means of defraying the cost of textbooks. In the fall, Shenelle will be returning to Medgar Evers College to get her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts. The Trinidadian native’s ultimate goal is to eventually earn her Master’s Degree and become a nurse practitioner.