NJIT in the News

“We came together as a NJIT community on this historic day,” said Humberto “Humby” Baquerizo, NJIT’s assistant director of Greek Life and Wellness, as more than 1000 NJIT students, faculty and staff gathered at several campus locations on Jan. 20 to watch live broadcasts of the presidential inauguration ceremonies. President Obama’s comments on science and technology elicited spontaneous applause from the NJIT audience. “We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.” 

Faculty, staff and students at NJIT found time to brighten the holiday season for needy children in and around Newark. More than 22 organizations, clubs and departments collected five boxes of new toys and over $500 in donations during the third annual campus-wide Toys for Tots drive. Beneficiaries of all the activities included the Salvation Army, Harmony House, FOCUS, La Casa and other agencies in the greater Newark Area. Members of the NJIT community gave cash donations, dropped off toys or children's books, attended athletic home games, baked and bought cookies or joined the Wall of Fame plaques benefiting the Toys for Tots campaign. “Once again, the NJIT community demonstrated its commitment to the service of others in these hard financial economic times,” said Humberto "Humby" Baquerizo, NJIT's Assistant Director of Greek Life and Wellness Programs. "I am thankful for all the faculty and staff, student organizations, Greeks, and the Athletic Student Activity Board, who continue to assist with this program by bringing the holiday spirit to those families in need." 

NJIT's Office of Greek Life received the Community Spirit Award for the largest civic team in attendance on the 10th Annual Jersey Cares Day on May 3. More than 100 NJIT students and staff, including the NJIT soccer and volleyball teams, Albert Dorman Honors College, and the Office of Greek Life painted murals, cleaned parks and planted trees around the city and its public schools. NJIT donated a total of more than $1,200 and more than 650 hours of community service as part of The Big Give program. “I am thankful for all the support of the students, faculty and staff who donated or volunteered for this new initiative,” said Humberto Baquerizo, assistant director of Greek Life.

Two NJIT staff members were invited by the NJ Governor’s Office of Volunteerism to give presentations at The Serve, a statewide conference on student volunteerism, national service, service learning and philanthropy, on April 4 at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. Joseph Rios (left), assistant director for Leadership and Diversity Programs, will give tips on “Resume Writing for Student Leaders” and Humberto "Humby" Baquerizo, assistant director of Greek Life and Wellness Programs, will discuss “Greek Life and Community Service.”