Congratulations to Year Up DC Graduates, Class of January 2007

Platinum Sponsors:

On January 29th, 2007, Year Up DC's inaugural filled the Capital Hilton Congressional Ballroom, celebrating their graduation with close to 200 family members, corporate partners, program supporters, and community leaders. The platinum sponsors of the event were Freddie Mac & Capital One. We were honored to have DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton & Alphonso Maldon, Executive Vice President, Washington Nationals Baseball Club, as our keynote speakers.

Gary Simms, Director of Operational Risk from Freddie Mac, was presented with Year Up's Urban Empowerment Award. This award recognizes individuals who have made an incredible impact on their community by empowering urban young adults to reach their potential.

As with each celebration, Year Up's graduates inspired the audience by sharing their personal experiences and defining their vision of true success. Not a dry eye was in the room when Karina Toro spoke about how much the program has changed her life for the better. Graduate Demetrius Boyd shared a poem expressing how grateful he was to his apprenticeship coworkers, the Year Up staff, the graduating class and his family.