Five decades after starting classes at City College in Harlem, Ciro Scala earned not one, but two degrees. 

“I wanted that diploma, I really want that piece of paper so badly,” said Scala. 

He received his bachelors of arts in political science and a masters degree in history. That didn’t come easy, this journey started back in 1959 when he lived on Staten Island.

What You Need To Know

  • Fifty years after starting classes at City College in Harlem, Ciro Scala earned not one, but two degrees

  • He received his bachelors of arts in political science and a masters degree in history. This journey started back in 1959

  • Once he returned to City College, he encountered a new passion, his fellow classmates
  • After receiving his degrees, Scala stepped in front of the class, launching a program at City College to help other first-generation students

“I took a bus, a ferry, a train to 137 and City College, that was after work,” he recalled. “After one year or two semesters, I just said I can’t do it,” Scala added. 

Instead, he focused on his career, launched a company with his wife, raised a daughter and traveled the world. His love for teaching never escaped him. That led him back to City College, where he encountered a new passion, his fellow classmates.

“I heard their stories and their stories were pretty much my story, first generation, nobody went to college,” Scala said.

Scala is the youngest of five children from an Italian-immigrant family raised modestly in Brooklyn.

“The idea was to go to high school, basically, if you did, and get a job. College was never really an aspiration,” Scala said.

After receiving his degrees, Scala stepped in front of the class. He launched a program at City College to help other first-generation students.

“A lot of them had that stuff on their shoulders to worry about, also they felt they didn’t quite belong,” he recalled.

The workshops takes students through how to maneuver psychological and social issues, financial concerns and making the most of the college experience.

“There’s this disconnect between our dreams and how to reach them,” admitted Ramires Amorim, a CUNY graduate student attending one of Scala’s workshops. “I feel like this type of workshop is really good because they help on the how to, where you need to go, what are the resources available to you,” she continued.

These expressions resonate the most to Scala. He considers these workshops a gift that keeps on giving.

"This idea of giving is the best you could be, to giveback makes me feel good,” Scala said.