Majoring in Liberal Arts and Sciences at Hostos Community College, Valerie Alverio has worked in the hospitality industry for several years. Her real passion though is in orthodontics. Valerie would like to attend NYU and eventually apply to dental school. She is involved with the Campaign for Diabetes where she disseminates education and prevention information throughout the community. She is also involved with the New York City Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation which seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minority students in the Science, Technology and Engineering and Mathematics fields.