Celebrating Success!

Horizons High School

Graduates Honored

Horizons staff, academic coaches, board members and families gathered on June 4 to celebrate the 28 graduating seniors in the Horizons at New Canaan Country School Class of 2022 at a ceremony held on the Grace House lawn. The Alumni Association induction ceremony was held there as well.

Bankwell sponsored the event for the fourth year in a row, recognizing the resilience, hard work and dedication of these seniors, many of whom started with the program before third grade. Bankwell Branch Manager Toure Surgeon a Horizons alumnus from the Class of 2006, shared these words of advice with our graduates: “The road ahead is long and wide and full of opportunities. Don’t settle. Settling means giving into someone else’s vision of your life. Don’t let the noise of the crowd silence your inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

1. Jackie Roberson, Horizons Senior Program Dean of Students and Culture, and Lavone Roberson, Horizons Academic Director, presented the Jackie Roberson Valedictorian Award to Marissa Crevecoeur, also a graduate of Westhill High School. This award recognizes the student who has received the highest cumulative, weighted GPA throughout their high school years and is known for their integrity and active involvement in the Horizons program. Marissa took a very strong load during her time in high school, earning an overall 5.00 GPA, and currently attends Columbia University.

2. Ramses Perez ’19, Katherine Romero, Allison Salas and Lubia Sandoval

3. Horizons Director of Student and Family Support Nehemie Moïse Young and Family Council representative Nancy Nieves presented the Leah Kimmet Spirit Award to Berenice Giron, a 2022 graduate of Westhill High School in Stamford. The award recognizes a graduating Horizons high school senior for their outstanding kindness, enthusiasm and dedication to others. Berenice currently attends Southern Connecticut State University.

4. Horizons Executive Director Nancy von Euler congratulated high school graduate and Horizons participant Taina Cabrera.

5. Roberto Nieves Jr., Horizons Class of 2007 shared reflections as the alumni speaker and led the recitation of the Alumni Association Oath as the graduating class was inducted into the Horizons Alumni Association.

6. The Horizons High School Class of 2022

For more information, please visit www.horizonskids.org.

The members of Horizons’ Class of 2022 received acceptances to over 85 different colleges and universities and are currently attending:

Coastal Carolina University

Columbia University

Delaware State University

Eastern Connecticut State University

Florida Atlantic University

Georgetown University

Harvard University (2)

Iona College

Lehigh University

Lynn University

Norwalk Community College (4)

Sacred Heart University

Salem State University

Southern Connecticut State University

Southern New Hampshire University

University of Connecticut

University of Connecticut – Stamford

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

University of Virginia

Founded in 1964, Horizons at NCCS is the first in a nationwide network of programs that are successfully closing the opportunity gap experienced by under-resourced students. Horizons at NCCS builds deep and lasting relationships with the 400 K–12 Norwalk and Stamford students it serves. The summer program and year-round academic and enrichment programming help students imagine and achieve a brighter future for themselves.

Horizons Supporters Gather for an Evening of Fundraising & Friendship

It was a full house — or rather, Athletics & Wellness Center — as over 330 guests, including alumni, families, faculty, staff, board members and supporters attended the Horizons Recipe for Success Benefit on June 4. The program celebrated the bright futures of Horizons at NCCS students and highlighted the long-term commitment that the organization makes to students and their families. Horizons alumni and staff speakers shared their own reflections on the special ingredients in the Horizons Recipe for Success.

1. There was much to celebrate during the evening, which raised critical funds for Horizons at New Canaan Country School.

2. Carolyn Woodberry, Mara Neafsey, Michele Gartland and Sturges Woodberry

3. Kristie Godina, Johana Flores and Luisa Osorio

4. Stephen Thompson and Ellen Lundquist

5. Kara Cooper, Matt and former Horizons Board President Sanny Burnham Warner ’88

6. Horizons staff members Nehemie Moïse Young and Lavone Roberson

7. Thank you to the creative and dedicated Benefit tri-chairs, Marisa DiBiasio, Sarah Young Kilcullen ’98 and Tori Vartanian, and their stellar committee who worked tirelessly to ensure the evening was a huge success!

8. Isaiah Bien Aime, Lead Teacher Monae Cherry, Junior Program Dean of Students and Culture Tanya Small, Alyssa Thomas, Chiara Askew Oliver and Danny Gutierrez

9. NCCS faculty members Colin and Cindy Thom

10. NCCS and Horizons faculty member Sean Robb was joined by Keri and Jed Stevens ’78.

11. Alex Leach, Devon and Mike Suozzi

12. Sarah Irwin and Katie Rothschild

13. Bill and Barbara Moody, Jennifer Millones, Phil Ruvinsky, Peter Millones and Leigh Kennedy

14. Blanca Velasquez, Kadeem Roberts, Fanny Osorio and Eloisa Melendez

15. Trevor and Carey Ogden

16. The evening’s theme of bright colors was in honor of the bright futures of the Horizons students. Benefit committee members and Horizons development staff included: (back row) Devon Suozzi, Christina Beauclair, Ali DiBiasio, Ellen Lundquist, Polly Grube, Allie Jordan Stinchcomb ’98, Marisa DiBiasio, Ashley Burr, Chelsea Staniar, Johana Flores, Ginny Pracilio, Rebecca Thornton ’92; (front row) Julie Savinelli, Kristie Godina, Brooke Arthur, Morgan Dell’Aquila, Lisa McCarthy, Nancy von Euler, Sarah Young Kilcullen ’98, Tori Vartanian, Sanny Burnham Warner ’88, Tiffany Van Elslander, Jessica Katz, Whitney Mallozzi. Not pictured: Jen Kearney, Colleen Overlock and Ariane Triay and Honorary Chairs Lindsay Kollar, Shoreline Pools, and Carey Ogden, JPMorgan Chase & Co.