The Academic Center for English Language Studies (ACES) program recognized two decades of writing, revision, critical thinking and Friday morning labs this month.
To celebrate, the St. Joseph’s University, New York — Brooklyn Campus community gathered at the Center for Fiction, a short walk from campus, for the 20th annual ACES Reader event.
ACES student Ketevan Basilashvili ’22, left, and former ACES Director Kate Meehan
It was an exciting and emotional evening for everyone in attendance.
“As a returning senior, it was very bittersweet,” said Ketevan “Kate” Basilashvili, a senior chemistry major and an ACES student. “I got to see amazing faculty that have left, as well as friends who I haven’t seen in a long time. I was crying through the whole event, proud of the new students and how much they have already achieved in their first year as well as sad my journey here is coming to an end. I am very excited for what the future holds and I know I will always keep in touch.”
Basilashvili, who plans to move to San Jose and work for German-based biotech company Miltenyi Biotec, Inc., after graduation, said the event was filled with nostalgia for her, explaining that it reminded her of when she read an excerpt from her personal essay as a freshman.
ACES Director Erica David agreed the ACES Reader anniversary event was a great way to celebrate the program’s progression throughout the years.
“It was a wonderful chance to honor how much the program has grown over the past 20 years,” David said. “In a way, it felt like a family reunion with students and staff old and new gathered together to celebrate.”
