New Rochelle, N.Y. – When Cerebral Palsy of Westchester (CPW) turned to Iona University’s Annika Ziels ’24 to help premiere their Gifted Corner showcase, she quickly joined forces with partners across campus to make it happen. The event took place last month as part of Iona Advocacy Week, giving participants an opportunity to showcase a range of talents from singing, cooking, and poetry to a live sports podcast.

Since 1949, CPW has worked to empower individuals with developmental disabilities including autism, neurological impairments, intellectual disabilities, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy by fostering their sense of independence and productivity.

In the fall of 2022, Ziels, a Campus Minister, started volunteering at the CPW every other week. As her dedication blossomed, she started volunteering every week. Ziels’ commitment continued as she organized friendship visits with her Iona peers and recruited a team of up to 10 volunteers every week to support the CPW’s art and recreational programs.

“Going to CPW every Friday was hands-down always the best part of my week. There was nothing like ending each week dancing, hanging out and chatting with my friends there,” said Ziels, who just graduated with degrees in Media & Strategic Communications and Arts Leadership. “It is an incredible facility that I was honored to be a part of during my college experience.”

In creating the Gifted Corner showcase, CPW’s self-advocates were vocal about their desire to be acknowledged and “seen” as vibrant contributors to society.

Joan Colangelo, special projects director at CPW, said: “Annika has been a wonderful addition to CPW, helping to bring in different people from the Iona University community, helping them get to know the individuals here and connecting our communities.”

Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private Catholic institution located in New Rochelle and Bronxville. With nearly 4,000 students enrolled and over 50,000 alumni worldwide, Iona offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration along with various master's programs. The university is recognized for its academic excellence by The Princeton Review and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse.

Iona's LaPenta School of Business holds AACSB International accreditation. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences on its Bronxville campus. Reflecting its growth in academic programs and prestige since its founding as a college in 1940 by Edmund Rice Christian Brothers' tradition values such as justice peace service etc., it officially became known as 'University' on July 1st last year (2022).

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