Student Spotlight

Valeria Daffarra

Computer Information Systems Major
Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship semifinalist

Originally from Udine, Italy, Valeria Daffarra moved to the U.S. four years ago. Breaking with family tradition, she initially chose work over school. “I don’t regret my decision. It gave me the opportunity to see the world, understand myself, and figure out how things really work,” she reflected. “Eventually, I realized on my own how important it was to go back to school. For me, college isn’t about getting a high-paying job; it’s about personal growth, expanding my knowledge, and opening my mind.”

Valeria had already started learning programming languages on her own and wanted to explore the field further, so she enrolled at Kingsborough as a computer information systems major. She shared that she found her Java II class challenging and credits Prof. Eileen Lichtenthal, whom she calls an “outstanding teacher and programmer,” with encouraging her to do her best and not give up.

While at Kingsborough, Valeria rediscovered her passion for math and engineering. And she has excelled. An honor student, she is also a member of the international honor society Phi Theta Kappa.

Set to graduate in June, she plans to transfer to a four-year college to study engineering after being inspired by Prof. Robert Robertazzi, with City College, the College of Staten Island and Columbia University among her top choices.

Valeria was among the 467 nationwide semifinalists selected by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation for its prestigious Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The highly competitive scholarship includes up to $55,000 per year to attend any four-year accredited undergraduate school in the U.S. and pursue any area of study. The finalists will be announced in May. She sees the recognition as a validation of her hard work. “At this point, it’s not even about the prize,” she said. “It’s about being recognized among hundreds of outstanding students across the country.”