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congratulations Class of jANUARY 2009
On January 29th, Year Up's Class of January 2009 filled the Sheraton Boston Hotel, celebrating their graduation with more than 500 family members, corporate partners, program supporters, and community leaders. Platinum sponsors for the event included Bank of America, Microsoft, and State Street Corporation. Additional table sponsors included Children's Hospital Boston, Partners HealthCare, TAC Worldwide, and Wellington Management. We were honored to have Rev. Gloria E. White-Hammond, M.D., Co-Pastor of Bethel AME Church and Executive Director of My Sister’s Keeper, as our keynote speaker.
Claudio Martinez, Executive Director of Hyde Square Task Force, 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. Chris Leone, of East Boston High School, was presented with Year Up’s Outstanding Community Partner Award and Jim Sloman with our Outstanding Mentor Award. Vivian Coleman, of State Street Corporation, received Year Up’s Outstanding Internship Supervisor Award.
As with each celebration, Year Up's graduates inspired the audience by sharing their personal experiences and defining their visions of true success. Shawn Atkins described his personal transformation and thanked Year Up for “bettering the lives of urban young adults and giving us a chance to see past a high school diploma, past minimum wage, past the projects, and past being complacent with just being okay.”
Graduate Stanley Narcisse spoke about the obstacles he has overcome in his life to now believe, “I am a man with drive and purpose that is destined for greatness. I am a man that has only just begun to build his legacy.” He told his classmates, “To get what you’ve never had, you must do what you’ve never done,” and assured the Class of January 2009 that he would see them all at the top.
Year Up is honored to announce the Class of January 2009 awards and scholarships:
The Dave Retik Award for Excellence: Stanley Narcisse, Jonathan Zapata, Abdellah Ait Sidi Ahmed
The Chris Mello Award for Leadership: Peter Satchell, Raquel Pineda, Alyse Bookman
Strive to Learn Award: Skip Gonsalves
SIM Technology Leadership Award: Charles Hall
Rotary Club Scholarships: Drissia El Abd, Aung Si Thu
Pallotta Scholarships for Cambridge College: Giselle Levelle, Abdelmalek Melaiki, Tylica Pabon
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| "Year
Up does not accept the opportunity gap that exists in
our nation. We are determined to provide our urban young
adults with the education, guidance and support they need
to realize their potential." |
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Gerald
Chertavian
CEO and Founder,
Year Up |
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