Fifty Outstanding Scholars Lead the Class of 2009
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FAST FACTS The Class of 2009 1,346 June graduates Graduation rate up 9% $30,619,536 in scholarships 33 students earned international Baccalaureate Diplomas
Upcoming Events First Day of School for Students Tuesday, September 8 Superintendent’s Community Forums Wednesday, September 30 Yonkers Middle High School Thursday, October 29 Roosevelt High School BOARD OF EDUCATION Bernadette Dunne, President Marlin K. Wiggins, Vice President Michael E. Carey, Debra Martinez Paresh Patel, Nydia D. Perez Rev. Gerald Sudick Bernard P. Pierorazio Superintendent of Schools
volume 3 • number 3 summer 2009
Message from the Superintendent of Schools If you would like a glimpse of the future, look at our high school graduates today. Colleges and universities certainly have, and they like what they see. So much so that they offered the graduating Class of 2009 an unprecedented $30.6 million in scholarships. These colleges are banking on Yonkers students because this city invested in them. That investment provided our graduates with the opportunity to be welcomed as freshmen at Brown, Columbia, Cooper Union, Cornell, Harvard, Penn State, Northeastern, Rensselaer, the New York State University system, and schools all over the country that value student achievement. Many of them have already earned college credit as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate scholars. A first-rate faculty, loving families, and caring community partners all helped shape the impressive profile of this class. Our students took every opportunity to pay it forward by contributing to the well being and future of others at school and in the community through Habitat for Humanity, food and blood drives, and volunteering at houses of worship, hospitals, nursing homes, and children centers. Among our students are national and state SkillsUSA medalists, NASA sponsored US FIRST robotics team champions, New York State Public High School Athletic Association scholar/athletes and an elite Bezos Scholar. The members of the Class of 2009 have reached a milestone on their educational journey and
we are inspired by their success. Their younger brothers and sisters also inspire us. They are making tremendous strides in their performance in Mathematics and English Language Arts, increasing their scores during the past two years by 21.5% and 18.6% respectively. All of them are encouraged to think of themselves as future college students and have opportunities to participate in many college awareness programs, such as College Access Centers and an Early College High School. Even our youngest prekindergarteners, the Class of 2022, were encouraged to see that “College is in My Future.” These students are as engaged as the pacesetting Class of 2009, taking full advantage of the opportunity to explore, create, and innovate. As Yonkers graduates chart their course, they have the benefit of a solid education that prepared them to meet the challenges before them. They are being greeted by an imperfect and uncertain world that will challenge their resourcefulness and their resolve. May the compass we have given them always point them in the right direction.
Fifty Outstanding Scholars Lead the Class of 2009 This extraordinary class, a terrific group of young adults, demonstrates the very best of the City of Yonkers accomplished in the classroom, on the playing field, on the stage and in the community.
Charles E. Gorton High School Paul R. George, Valedictorian College: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Major: Doctor of Pharmacy program Paul George knows how to take on a challenge. Born in Mumbai, India, Paul immigrated with his family to the United States in his freshman year of high school. He credits his family, his faith, and his counselors and teachers at both Roosevelt and Gorton high schools for motivating him to do his best. Paul’s achievements are inspiring. His academic honors include National Honor Society, Distinguished Alumni: National Youth Leadership Forum, and English and Science Departments Student of the Month. Paul has also been a tireless volunteer, involved in service to school and community as a CPR/AED First Aid instructor, and at St. Joseph’s Medical Center and the Hebrew Home for the Aged. Adrian Reyes, Salutatorian College: Daemen College Major: Natural Sciences/Individualized Studies Inspired by his immigrant mother who is raising four boys on her own, Adrian makes it clear that he intends to live the American Dream. From the time he
was in prekindergarten at the Early Childhood Center at School 10, Adrian had his eye on the prize, never letting “anything distract” him from attaining his dream. His accomplishments include membership in the National Honor Society, the Meritorious Student Award by the Dominican Republic, and a listing in the Who’s Who Registry of Academic Excellence. In addition to his studies, he made time to work in Gorton’s Wellness Center, serve on the Homecoming Committee and participate in the Guitar Club and Bowling team. Others in the Top 10 Tom Mammen, CUNY Lehman College Sheril Alexander, SUNY Buffalo Stephanie Martinez, CUNY City College Chanell Fitch, SUNY Albany Zahra Edwards, SUNY Brockport Joseph Henriquez, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice Jonathan Celi, Penn State University Andreina Rodriguez, Westchester Community College
Lincoln High School Jennifer Poole, Valedictorian College: The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education Major: Biomedical Sciences Although she is inspired by success, Jennifer is not about to rest on her own achievements, even when those achievements include acceptances to the top Ivy League universities. She is about to take a quickstep on the road to making her dream of becoming a medical doctor come true. And, she is well prepared to take the step. Jennifer tutored students in chemistry, played clarinet in the Jazz Band, and was editor-in-chief of Lincoln’s Raider Review Magazine. Always lending her support, Jennifer shared her knowledge as a participant in the Students Teaching Adults Computer Knowledge (STACK) Program,
and served the community through the school’s Habitat for Humanity chapter. Jennifer’s accomplishments earned her the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Scholarship. Sadia Ahmad, Salutatorian College: St. John’s University Major: PreMed and Accounting Sadia is a familiar face at Yonkers Partners in Education, where she will continue her multi-year internship until she leaves for college. Her involvement in and service to school and community has been evidenced by her strong commitment to Habitat for Humanity, Students Teaching Adults Computer Knowledge (STACK), as Chief Financial Officer for Lincoln Corporate Raiders and to Cablevision’s Academic Challenge. This multilingual young woman, fluent in Bengal and Hindi, frequently serves as an unofficial translator. Sadia enjoys dancing, music and reading, loves children, and plans to be a pediatrician. Others in the Top 10 Suresh Singh, Florida Institute of Technology Christopher Ceriello, Pace University Dana Yang, St. John’s University Dahcia Lyons, SUNY Albany Troy Goff, SUNY Albany Prince Debrah, Babson College Jenny Eduardo, Iona College Arlena Alcantara, CUNY Lehman College
Roosevelt High School Sonia Pappachan, Valedictorian College: SUNY Albany Major: PreMed As a child, Sonia wanted to be a pilot. Although her flight path changed with a medical career now in her sights, Sonia has been steering toward success all along. She was Vice President of the National Honor Society, the recipient of the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award, the American Legion Certificate of Merit and the National Academic Excellence Award. Sonia has been an active volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, Yonkers Family Day, and St. Mary’s Church in New Rochelle. Carol Philip, Salutatorian College: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Major: Pharmacology Born in Goa on the western coast of India, Carol began her education in the public schools there. But she credits her academic success to her experiences in Yonkers. She was president of the National Honor Society and the Asian Club, and a scholar athlete earning distinction on both the junior varsity and varsity tennis teams. Carol was a popular math tutor, worked on the school’s newspaper, was a member of the Math Club, and secretary of the US History Club. Involved in her church as well, she served as an altar server and teaching assistant.
Others in the Top 10 Ashitha Thomas, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Aupu Khan, CUNY City College Joselvin Febrillet, Syracuse University Henzella Ansari, CUNY Bronx Community College Vanieta Seecharan, Mercy College Rosa Cardosa, CUNY Lehman College Pola Waheb Takla, St. John’s University Yarelis Borrero, Iona College Luan Kryeziu, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Saunders Trades and Technical High School Walaa K. Abdallah, Valedictorian College: Manhattan College Major: Chemical Engineering “Nothing prevented me from trying my hardest along the way,” says the valedictorian of Saunders High School, and it has paid off. Walaa leaves Saunders with a solid record of achievement including the Khalil Gibran Award, IBM Honors Math and Science Award, membership in the National Honor Society, the College of Westchester Computer Education Award and the Islamic Achievement Award. She has already participated in several college programs including the Manhattan College Summer Engineering Program and the IBM Honors Math and Science program. Involved in school actvities, Walaa was a member of the Asian
Club, Key Club, Robotics Club, Quiz Bowl and Mock Trial team, and she volunteered with UNICEF and Junior Achievement. Marouh Hussein, Salutatorian College: SUNY Stony Brook Major: Psychology or Environmental Science Marouh started on her road to academic success at Yonkers Scholastic Academy for Academic Excellence as a prekindergarten student. Looking back, she credits her family and her teachers for helping her overcome some reading difficulties. From the moment she conquered that challenge, Marouth has not stopped reading. An Advanced Placement Scholar with Honors, a National College Match Scholar and membership in the National Honor Society are some of her earned accolades. Marouh was a weekend Junior Docent at the Hudson River Museum, held an after-school job and made the time to serve on the Westchester County Youth Board. Others in the Top 10 Melody Niere, CUNY City College Daniel Cuomo, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Jason Lam, St. John’s University Anton Raskin, Polytechnic Institute of NYU Manish Taneja, New York Institute of Technology Taylor Furey, University of Michigan Jordan Fakhoury, SUNY Stony Brook Faaria Salik, Millikin University continued on page 4
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Yonkers International Baccalaureate High School Jazmin Graves, Valedictorian College: Columbia University Major: Music and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures Jazmin’s passion for learning and intense drive combined to propel her to the top of her class and a world of opportunity. Multi-talented Jazmin is a flautist, linguist, photographer, martial artist, poet and writer. She was chosen to be a Bezos Scholar at the Aspen Institute, a prestigious gathering of 12 of the country’s top public high school juniors at the Aspen Ideas Festival. Earned accolades include Notre Dame African American Scholar, the Woman’s Hall of Fame Scholars and a National Merit Finalist Scholarship. Constantly involved in school activities, Jazmin was captain of the Academic Bowl team, a student journalist for the popular Yonkers Student Grapevine, a member of the Human Rights Coalition and the Ideas Festival Committee. A tireless volunteer, Jazmin has given her time and talent to the Bed Stuy Campaign Against Hunger, Hudson Valley Blood Services Blood Drive, and as a Children’s Aid Society martial arts instructor.
Justin Jacob, Salutatorian College: SUNY Stony Brook Major: Biomedical Engineering and PreMed A close-knit family and a lifelong interest in science have been the intersecting influences on Justin’s goal of becoming a medical doctor. His academic success is reflected in numerous recognitions, including the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. Highly involved in school activities, Justin participated in SADD, Habitat for Humanity, Key Club, and the Yonkers High School student paper. Community service is also part of his repertoire as a Sunday School leader at his church, and volunteer at Andrus Children’s Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital. Others in the Top 10 Sherine Kurien, CUNY Baruch College Ashwin Koshy, Sarah Lawrence College Jocelyn Chacko, Cornell University Daniel Boccato, The Cooper Union Julieta Cardenas, Brown University Selvana Nilaj, Iona College Alaa Yousef, New York University Maryann William, Northeastern University