After graduating from Warren Community College in May, Demiana Shenouda took a trip to Kenya. While she was looking forward to everything that tourism offered, something else caught her attention.

“During my stay in Kenya I learned that students with disabilities are not allowed to go to school and parents are ashamed of them,” said Shenouda. “From my job experience with working with disabled students and people I thought about developing something that can help these people live and grow in their own country.”

Shenouda, who was chosen by her peers to be the Alumni Representative on the WCC Board of Trustees, went into action in a big way to address her concerns, in the process putting her degree to good use. 

“I started a school for orphans and disabled kids,” said Shenouda, who earned an Associate in Business Administration degree at Warren. “I want to support those kids and help them achieve their goals.  In addition, I want to provide opportunities to those students with disabilities,  to spotlight their talents, giving them a reason to achieve and succeed.”

Her immediate goals with the ambitious project are to upgrade the school, help as many students as possible, and to find sponsors that can support her journey to help those kids.

 Closer to home, Shenouda is pursuing a job with her degree in mind. Depending on where she lands, she may continue her educational career. In the meantime, she is a substitute teacher in Phillipsburg.

As far as being the newest member of the WCC Board of Trustees, Shenouda says, “I am honored be a proud alumni of Warren. My journey as a student there was nothing short of transformative. Throughout rigorous academic pursuits and active engagement in extracurricular activities, I cultivated a passion for Business Administration. The nurturing environment of the institution equipped me with not just knowledge but also the invaluable skills of critical thinking and teamwork.  I’m excited that I can continue to share my experiences and insights (with the Board) and look forward to continuing the legacy of excellence that the institution represents.”

Shenouda officially joined the Board at its November meeting. 

“We are lucky to have Demiana on our Board,” said Yvonne Reitemeyer, Trustee Chair. “She is a tremendous asset for us to have and has proven that she can make a difference. As a former student – and as a businesswoman – her input will be invaluable to us.”