Celebrating 19 Years of
"Making College a Reality"
College Bound’s 19th Annual End of the Year Celebration was held at Howard University's Blackburn Center on Thursday, May 27th. This spectacular event recognized the achievements of the Academic MentoringProgram participants as well as community leaders. The celebration was also an opportunity for graduating seniors to gain insight into what the future will hold for them as College Bound alumni and rising college freshmen. Over $60,000 in scholarships was distributed amongst the program participants and alumni.
Alumna Monique Twyman, a rising senior at Delaware State University, offered greetings from the College Bound alumni. Mr. Michael Blake, Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, gave an inspiring message to the audience about not succumbing to the world's perceptions of “who you are.” He instructed the audience, specifically the graduating seniors, to continue on their chosen path,pursue their goalsand defy the odds. Mr. Blake reminded them thatyour age should not be a limitation, but an opportunity to surprise the world with their talent and drive.
Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever, Director of Research, Public Policy, and Information at the National Council of Negro Women, accepted the College Bound 2010 Community Leadership Award in memory of Dr. Dorothy Irene Height and Ms. Marjorie Arrington of Dow Lohnes, LLC was awarded the 2010 College Bound Hall of Fame Award.
The event concluded with the Executive Director, Kenneth Ward, challenging the College Bound family to continue supporting the organization in its mission of “making college a reality” as they head into their 20th year.
Congratulations Ashley Ellis. Ashley is a senior at School Without Walls High School and a student in the Academic Mentoring program at the Gonzaga site. She has received a Pogue Scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Pogue Scholarships place special emphasis on minority applicants who, in addition to solid academic performance and strong leadership potential, demonstrate an abiding commitment to their local communities and embrace diversity as a value. The Pogue Scholarship provides a renewable award covering the cost of tuition, fees, room and board. The Pogue Scholarship is part of UNC’s Scholars Program, which provides faculty mentoring, leadership experience and other enrichment opportunities.
Ashley is also a recipient of the AXA Achievement Scholarship in the amount of $10,000 in association with U.S. News & World Report. They provide $670,000 in annual scholarships to young people throughout the nation.
Additionally, she was awarded a College Bound Scholarship in the amount of $6,000 at the 2009 End of the Year Celebration.
Keep up the great work Ashley!
College Bound salutes Elzabad Kennedy, a senior at McKinley Technology High School, from the Sherwood site on winning a Gates Millennium Scholarship.
The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS), established in 1999, was initially funded by a $1 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential by:
- Reducing financial barriers for African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American and Hispanic American students with high academic and leadership promise who have significant financial need;
- Increasing the representation of these target groups in the disciplines of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health and the sciences, where these groups are severely underrepresented;
- Developing a diversified cadre of future leaders for America by facilitating successful completion of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees; and
- Providing seamless support from undergraduate through doctoral programs, for students selected as Gates Millennium Scholars entering target disciplines.
The GMS Scholarship Award Provides:
- Support for the cost of education by covering unmet need and self-help;
- Renewable awards for Gates Millennium Scholars maintaining satisfactory academic progress;
- Graduate school funding for continuing Gates Millennium Scholars in the areas of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science;
- Leadership development programs with distinctive personal, academic and professional growth opportunities.
KUDOS Elzabad!!!