Student Volunteers Honor & Reflect on Lives Lost on 9/11
This year marked the 25th anniversary of 9/11, a day that claimed nearly 3,000 lives and whose impact continues to reverberate to this day. To commemorate the tragedy and honor those lost, including 67 members of our alumni community, John Jay held several events. While many of our students weren’t alive on 9/11 or were too young to remember it firsthand, they understood the significance of that day and wanted to learn more about its impact and pay tribute to those who lost their lives.
We connected with students who were 9/11 volunteers to hear their reflections.
Ali Hassan ’27
Major: Law and Society
Minor: English
Programs: APPLE Corps, Office of Student Research & Creativity (OSRC)
Award: Carol Robles Román Scholarship, OSRC Research/Creativity Assistant Scholarship
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Career Aspiration: United States Attorney
What did you do as a 9/11 volunteer?
I had the honor of participating in John Jay’s September 11 remembrance ceremony and sharing my own connection to 9/11. My involvement with the 9/11 community began through the APPLE Corps program, which led to an internship with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s communications department. During the internship, I was able to learn the stories of those who passed, the sacrifices made, and the impact of September 11th as I walked the grounds of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. What began as an internship became something deeper and much more personal. It became a responsibility to remember what happened and help carry these stories forward. That’s why speaking at the remembrance ceremony was so important to me. In sharing the stories, I’m helping to make sure we never forget.
What did you find especially moving interning at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum?
I realized that my generation has an important role in making sure the stories of the 9/11 heroes, victims, and their families, are never forgotten. After working at the Memorial and participating in John Jay’s commemoration, I no longer see September 11th as something that happened in the past. I now know that behind every name at the Memorial is a person, a family, and a story that deserves to be told, remembered, and honored. Remembrance does not end with the generation that experienced the tragedy. It continues with all the generations that follow.
Angel Minchala ’27
Major: Criminal Justice
Program: Military and Veteran Services, Veterans Honor Society
Hometown: Queens, NY
Career Aspiration: Reentry Program Professional
What did you do as a 9/11 volunteer?
During the 9/11 remembrance ceremony at John Jay, I volunteered to speak about some of the heroes we lost on September 11th. One 9/11 story that stood out to me was that of FDNY Captain Terence Hatton. He was the leader of Rescue Company 1 and died when the North Tower collapsed. What broke my heart most was realizing he never had the chance to meet his daughter because he and his wife didn’t know she was pregnant at the time of the tragedy. Like so many heroes on that morning, Capt. Hatton wasn’t thinking of himself. He was thinking of saving the thousands of people in the World Trade Center as he bravely led his team into the North Tower, up toward danger, to help those in need.
What moved you during the 9/11 remembrance event?
Hearing the stories about 9/11 victims made me think back to my own experiences in Afghanistan as a U.S. Marine. As a combat veteran living with severe PTSD, one of the hardest things I’ve had to deal with is losing my friends, including recently, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, who died in Afghanistan on August 26. She, like Capt. Hatton, ran toward danger, hoping to save lives and, unfortunately, lost her own. Reading Capt. Hatton’s story, I began to understand more deeply that the lives of these incredible heroes should not be defined by grief. Instead, we should honor their lives by carrying their legacy of goodness and service forward. I know Sgt. Gee would want her friends to carry on her message and become heroes in their own way. This is why I’m so proud to be a student at John Jay. I know that here, I’ll gain the tools and knowledge to help others and carry the legacy of both Capt. Hatton and Sgt. Gee forward.
Dane Cotes ’28
Major: Forensic Psychology
Minor: Sociology
Certificate: Addiction Studies
Program: APPLE Corps
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Career Aspiration: Domestic Violence Victim Advocate
What did you do as a 9/11 volunteer?
I volunteered with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s Oral Histories team. Part of my role was to generate and edit transcripts from past interviews conducted with survivors, first responders, and victims’ family members, with the goal of ensuring the transcripts were clear and accurate. This work was especially meaningful because I could hear firsthand stories from the people most impacted by 9/11. I learned about the events of that day, the heroism and sacrifices made, and I was able to see how the tragedy affected the survivors' and families’ lives. Volunteering showed me how important it is to preserve these personal experiences and ensure the stories of eyewitnesses and those lost are remembered.
How did your volunteer experience deepen your understanding of 9/11?
I now have a greater appreciation for the museum’s role in honoring the victims, supporting families as they share stories and grieve, and educating future generations about the tragedy. Listening to the interviews and working with the stories of survivors, first responders, and family members, showed me the lasting impact of 9/11. I’m grateful to be part of a new generation carrying these 9/11 stories forward.
