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Annie Whatley, Upward Bound's Laura Schuetz, Adrian Arias, Sandra Vilegas, Adebukunola Adenariwo, Christina Whatley and Sandy Gutierrez.

For the second year, Christina and Annie Whatley visited the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) to meet with the youth they generously support through The Whatley Award for Excellence.

Last year, Christina, now a rising senior at Spelman College in Atlanta, and her mother, Annie, started the award, which gives annual scholarships to LAYC youth going to four-year colleges. 

"We will support each of the scholarship winners throughout their college years, and we plan to support an additional youth every year going forward," Annie Whatley said.

This year's recipients were Adebukunola Adenariwo, Adrian Arias and Sandra Vilegas. Adebukunola will start at Norfolk State University this fall and is interested in nursing and early childhood education. She was part of LAYC's  In-School and Teen Health Promoters programs. Adrian will be a freshman at Ohio Northern University where he plans to major in criminal justice. During the past year, Adrian interned with LAYC's Director of Advocacy Ricardo Flores.

Sandra Vilegas, who received the scholarship last year, is now attending Trinity College. Sandra, a graduate of Bell Multicultural High School, was very active in the Art +Media House at LAYC.

Christina is a double major in international studies and economics at Spelman. This summer, she spent ten weeks at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney's Gateway to Leadership program in New York City. The program promotes workplace diversity and provides career guidance and support to its student participants. Christina worked very long hours, but told the scholarship winners that she met very interesting people who had done "amazing things."

As the scholarship winners and the Whatleys chatted, Christina was able to offer some valuable college advice.

 "Study as much as you can before 8pm and take naps," she advised. "But also make sure that you enjoy yourself and make friends."

The scholarship winners and LAYC are extremely grateful for the Whatley's continued support!

Next Step graduates with Transitions Coordinator Valerie Whiting. From left to right: Ruben, Kleidi, Natalia, Junni, Samuel, Jaime, Valerie, Josue, Yanci, Freddy, Edwin, Leopoldo, Alexi and Jessica

Fifteen youth at LAYC's Next Step Public Charter School recently donned capped and gowns and proudly accepted their diplomas at Next Step's graduation ceremony.

Of the 15 youth, ten will be starting college in either the fall or the spring, one is working towards getting his GED in English, and four are working full time and saving money for college in the fall of 2011.

"I was really proud to be part of this graduation since so many of the students are going on to such exciting things!" Transtions Coordinator Valerie Whiting said. "I will miss getting to see them every day - but I am so proud of them and what they've accomplished!"

Congratulations to all the graduates!