LIU Recognized as Best University on Long Island

By Jada Harrison, Staff Writer

Long Island University has been awarded four top honors awards from Bethpage Best of Long Island. LIU won Best College or University, Best College Sports Program, Best Theatre Arts Center and Bethpage accredited University President Dr.Kimberly Cline as the Best College President of 2021. 

This year marks the 16th consecutive year of the Best of Long Island Awards, and one million votes were cast this year. The Best of Long Island awards is presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union, and has an array of categories. The categories for these awards range from restaurants, arts and entertainment, to education in Nassau county and Suffolk county.

Cline was appreciative of the honor.

 “We are honored to be recognized by our community for providing a top-tiered educational experience, and grateful for everyone who shares our vision and voted for LIU as the ‘Best of Long Island’,” she said in a press release statement.

Communications professor Dr. Jennifer Cusumano believes the awards will shine a positive light on the LIU community. 

“During this challenging year, it is especially welcome news to learn of this award. LIU has a  long history of serving the community with academic excellence, and programs that inspire intellectual rigor as well as world class performances in the arts. It is so nice to be acknowledged in this way.” 

Students, such as senior biology major Rondino Rameau, hope these awards will bring more attention to a need to upgrade school facilities.

“This is a nice accomplishment for the school, they have been doing good things academically for students,” he said. “I would like to see some of the dorms and other facilities improved though, especially for incoming students to see the true beauty of the campus.” 

Rameau thinks the introduction of the veterinary school was definitely a positive to the university, “Knowing Post is only one in four in the North East with a vet school is a big deal it will attract students across the country, especially with the revamp of the athletics program.”

The nomination process begins on Jan. 1, and is open until Aug. 31 of each year. Nominees will compete with the previous winner, and the top 15-18 nominees will move forward to the final ballot, which opens on  Oct. 1. If there is a restaurant, store or place that students feel should be spotlighted in the 2022 awards, they can visit the Best Of Long Island website where nominations can be submitted.