Kevin Lopez graduated from SUNY Old Westbury in 2016 with a degree in Media and Communications and currently works for the National Organization for People with Disabilities (YAI).
Lopez began working for the non-profit YAI in 1957. YAI provides more than 300 pro-grams to all age groups throughout New York and New Jersey.
Lopez has worked his way up to be an assistant supervisor and works directly with the WAVE program in Brentwood, Long Island. WAVE is a Day Habilitation and Pre- vocational Day Habilitation center. The Day Habilitation group are individuals who are not actively seeking jobs but looking to build their skills.
Lopez helps provide support, counseling, and assists individuals in improving their communication skills. The objective of the WAVE program is to equip YAI members with vital job skills that participants will one day use in the workplace. YAI believes everyone should have the privilege to make their own money.
While at SUNY Old Westbury Lopez was an active member of Old Westbury Web Radio, OWWR. He worked on a total of five shows, obtaining skills like writing, recording, producing, engineering and editing a radio show.
His involvement with OWWR it was a natural progression to bring YAI to OWWR. WAVE visits OWWR on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Tuesdays, the Day Habilitation group records a 30-minute show mixed with talk and music. On Thursdays, the Pre-vocational group records their own show similar to Day Habilitation. However, the Pre-vocational group are individuals looking to eventually enter the workforce. The Pre-vocational group do their own research and planning for the show.
Lopez engineered a show for Long Island Wins when he was involved with OWWR. Long Island WINS is a non-profit organization focused on immigration issues on Long Island. Working with this organization had an impact on him. He spoke of his 102-year-old grandfather who became a U.S. citizen at 100-years-old.
He was equipped with an incredible work ethic. Lopez has worked on many projects in such little time. Throughout his college years Lopez worked 32-hours a week while going to school Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 am to 9 pm. In addition to working on a total of five shows, he helped train twenty- five incoming staff members at OWWR at one point. Lopez recalls this time as “tedious,” but added that he “liked it.”
Many aspects of SUNY Old Westbury have changed since Lopez graduated. One aspect that hasn’t changed is the parking. Lopez reminisces on the “rough parking” situation even then. SUNY Old Westbury may not be abundant in parking spaces, but Lopez spoke very highly of the professors. “Professors were very engaging with students, they were helpful and fair, at times of controversial topics were able to let everyone share their opinions in a calm manner,” said Lopez. He specifically pointed out Professor Joseph Manfredi, OWWR Station Manager. He accredits Manfredi for helping him with his craft and helping him to train others.
Lopez hasn’t slowed down since his college years. For the past year, Lopez has been the Spanish Chaplin for the minor league baseball team for the Long Island Ducks. When the Ducks have home games, Lopez preaches a 15-minute motivational convicting message and encourages players by using the Bible. Lopez is currently working on his Masters of Divinity from the University of Clark Summit in Pennsylvania.
Lopez’s advice to current students is, “develop relationships with professors. Don’t be the first person to leave the classroom stick around and get to know the professor. Don’t just pass college, make it last, make it worth it.”
