Blue Plate Special? No, Make That “The Blue Angels’ Special”…

ALLEN SCHOOL STAFF MEMBER COOKS UP A GREAT RECIPE TO BENEFIT CHARITY

It started out as potentially a minor event, holding a luncheon on the Jamaica, New York campus of the Allen School to raise money for Breast Cancer. It picked up momentum in the most remarkable manner and took on a life of its own.

What began as an idea in the mind of a single inspired individual morphed into a mega-collaboration involving the recruitment and management of twenty team leaders, the entire staff and student body and a building full of visitors from neighboring businesses and offices.

In only a couple of hours early this summer – and then again a few weeks later – charging only $3 for a full plate of home-cooked international delicacies, cooked and brought in by Allen School’s diverse student body, more than $1,707 combined was raised for the cause and the prototype for a regular event was created.

The major collaboration that showcased the unity of the student body is the brainchild of Jamaica campus Ambassador Junette Shephard-Wigfall, a licensed security officer and former Bank of New York unit leader who has been with Allen School for a year. Junette, the daughter of a missionary, began the groundswell with an idea to mobilize the ever-charitable Allen School students, many of whom have been dubbed “Blue Angels” in the media due to the color of the Medical Assistant uniform and their enthusiastic and ongoing outreach in service of the community.

Junette and Director’s Assistant, Cassandra Regis, also joined together to mobilize the students and staff to participate in the Aids Walk this spring. That effort netted $1,164 and was matched in its entirety by Allen School President Robert Teich, netting a total contribution of $2,328 to the cause.

Junette’s initial idea was to hold a multi-cultural luncheon on campus to which the students would bring covered dishes, something that had been done on a small scale at various times in the past. Under her direction, however, it was as if an army had been mobilized.

Joined in Junette’s enthusiasm and zeal, was the Dean’s Assistant, Aquiana Von Massenbach, whose part in the collaboration was enhanced by her professional organizational skills. Aquiana, with Allen School for eight months, and in the States for the past two years from the Dominican Republic, drew upon her studies in Business Administration, her time as a buyer for the Timberland Corporation, in the Accounting department of a hotel, and as controller’s assistant in a real estate corporation, to jump right in. A powerful team, Junette and Aquiana made and the level of participation engendered has been immeasurable.

Junette’s smile beaming from the front desk daily as she sits greeting visitors, faculty, administrative staff and students, has become synonymous with the project and her ally and powerhouse of a collaborator, Aquiana, is recognized as the other pillar in the ongoing project with Cassandra Regis providing strong support.
Allen School is proud of this inspired demonstration of caring and community service and thanks Junette, Aquiana and Cassandra for being selfless role models for future medical professionals of the world. Allen School also thanks all of the participants and guests for being part of such a far-reaching and noble effort.
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