Congratulations Upward Bound Graduates

Arizona State, Bradley University, George Mason University, Georgia State University, Goucher College, Miami University of Ohio, Montgomery College, Morgan State University, North Carolina Central University, Penn State University, Trinity University, UCLA, University of Maryland, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech and Xavier College

That’s where the 2007 graduates of LAYC’s Upward Bound program are headed next fall.

Congratulations to Jose Argueta, Chauntini Clark, Marsha Collins, Sharde’ Curley, Anna Feliciano, Ashley Harris, Dalila Huarcacho, Nicole Jackson, Monique Love, Michael Ludgardo, Jeovanny Paz, Julian Peters, Arlette Philogene, Hedy Romero, Joel Sanchez, Jessica Soriano, Cindy Vasquez and Ruben Velasquez.

These impressive young people – 18 of them in all – graduated from LAYC’s Upward Bound program on May 11. They will graduate from their high schools in the coming weeks and head to college in the fall. 100% of the graduating seniors are enrolling in college, and when they do so, most of them will become the first in their families to go to college.

The graduation ceremony at All Soul’s Church on the evening of Friday, May 11th was a joyous celebration, marking the years of hard work that led to this accomplishment.

Said Anita Friedman, LAYC’s Chief Operating Officer, “This is a wonderful moment. Through their dedication, hard work and commitment, these young people have achieved great things. Next fall, they are enrolling in colleges and universities literally across the country, beginning the next stage in their education and starting a new chapter in their lives. It’s very exciting for these young people, for their family members who have been there every step of the way and often had to sacrifice a great deal to get to this point, and for the Upward Bound staff who are always there to help on a tough assignment, to navigate the college application and scholarship processes, and to lend support when the demands of preparing for college can seem a little overwhelming. Congratulations!”

The areas of study the young people are planning to pursue are wide-ranging – Computer Engineering, Criminal Justice, Mass Communications, Business, Education, Biology and pre-Med, Political Science/International Relations, Mechanical Engineering, English, Psychology, Sociology, International Affairs and Marketing.

Jeovanny Paz, who began the Upward Bound program as a rising freshman and is entering George Mason in the fall, has a quiet dedication that has served him well in all kinds of ways. Captain of his soccer Team and a tutor at Bruce Monroe Elementary School, Jeovanny also distinguished himself in the classroom, making the honor roll and Principal’s Commendation List multiple times at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School.

When Hedy Romero was asked about her quote to live by, her answer, a quote from Cesar E. Chavez, says a lot about this impressive young woman – “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community…ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.”

During her high-school career, Hedy gave generously to her community, was involved in all kinds of activities, such as debate and student government, and won several awards, including the 2007 Hispanic Heritage Youth Award-Bronze Medallion for Community Service, the Lideres de Hoy National Essay Contest, and the DC Telemundo and NBC-4 2006 Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest. Hedy is off to UCLA in the fall, where she plans to pursue a dual degree in English and Sociology, with a minor in Chicano Studies.

Jeovanny and Hedy are two remarkable young people and two of this year’s Upward Bound graduates. To read about each of the Upward Bound graduates, please click here.