Astoria Bank Presents LaGuardia Student Photography Exhibit, 'LIC Past, Present & Future'

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Dec. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ Astoria Bank and LaGuardia Community College have unveiled a new student photography exhibit at Astoria Bank's new Long Island City Branch at 26-26 Jackson Avenue (at Purves St.). Members of the public are welcome to visit the branch to view the exhibit, titled "LIC Past, Present & Future," exploring the evolution of the vibrant neighborhood of Long Island City ("LIC").

At an opening reception held recently at the branch, more than a dozen student photographers from LaGuardia Community College were joined by friends, family, professors and administrators, as well as members of the local business community who admired the students' work.

The exhibit, which runs through April 2017, celebrates LIC's history as a hub of industrial design and manufacturing, its present day as a rapidly-developing neighborhood, and predictions of what its future may look like. LaGuardia's commercial photography students were asked to canvas the neighborhood to capture its energy, community and markers of cultural significance. It was curated by LaGuardia Community College Photography Program Director Scott Sternbach and his team.

The exhibit's theme is especially meaningful for Astoria Bank, a full-service community bank which was established in Long Island City well over a century ago, in 1888, as well as for LaGuardia Community College, which has been a prominent institution in LIC since 1971.

"Giving our students an opportunity to showcase their work in a well-trafficked local business is enormously meaningful for our photography students," said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. "This gives them a taste of life as a working photographer, and provides valuable learning about all it takes to curate and execute a photography exhibit from start to finish. We're enormously grateful to Astoria Bank for supporting our students in this way."

In recent months, Astoria Bank has partnered with LaGuardia Community College to fund a scholarship program for students pursuing associate's degrees in commercial photography, and is also providing financial literacy workshops to help LaGuardia students better manage their personal finances now and into the future.

"We are dedicated to making a difference in the Long Island City community and are proud of the wonderful partnership we have with LaGuardia Community College. Their students are passionate about developing their skills and careers, and we're excited to showcase their work in our branch for the community to enjoy," said Astoria Bank Executive Vice President Brian Edwards.

The public is welcome to visit the exhibit during the bank's convenient operating hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

About Astoria Financial Corporation

Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF), with assets of $14.8 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Bank. Established in 1888, Astoria Bank, with deposits in New York totaling $8.9 billion, is the second largest thrift depository in New York and provides its retail and business customers and local communities it serves with quality financial products and services through 88 convenient banking branch locations, a business banking office in Manhattan, and multiple delivery channels, including its flexible mobile banking app. Astoria Bank commands a significant deposit market share in the attractive Long Island market, which includes Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties with a population exceeding that of 38 individual states. Astoria Bank originates multi-family and commercial real estate loans, primarily on rent controlled and rent stabilized apartment buildings, located in New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area and originates residential mortgage loans through its banking and loan production offices in New York, a broker network in four states, primarily along the East Coast, and correspondent relationships covering 13 states and the District of Columbia.

About the Commercial Photography program at LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia is the only two-year institution in the City University of New York (CUNY) to offer an Associate in Applied Sciences degree in Photography. Students in the Commercial Photography program, administered by the Humanities Department, use professional photographic equipment and facilities, such as a state of the art black & white and color darkroom, shooting studios and digital imaging facility. Photography courses are taught by faculty members who are currently working in the field and are exhibiting artists, enabling students to gain experience from all over the photographic and arts spectrum in this quickly changing industry. Visit www.laguardia.edu/commercial-photography/ to learn more.

About LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, was founded in 1971 as a bold experiment in opening the doors of higher education to all, and we proudly carry forward that legacy today. LaGuardia educates students through over 50 degree, certificate and continuing education programs, providing an inspiring place for students to achieve their dreams. Upon graduation, LaGuardia students' lives are transformed as family income increases 17%, and students transfer to four-year colleges at three times the national average. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), LaGuardia is a nationally recognized leader among community colleges for boundary-breaking success educating underserved students. At LaGuardia we imagine new ideas, create new curriculum and pioneer programs to make our community and our country stronger. Visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161208/447280

SOURCE Astoria Bank