June 18, 2024
On June 17, family, friends, and mentors celebrated the 42 graduates of AHC’s College & Career Readiness (CCR) program.
The graduates received acceptance from 68 out of the 105 schools they applied to and received $3.8 million in gift aid and scholarships from those schools. All of the graduates have committed to attending a four-year university or two-year community college. Many of the seniors are first-generation students, making them the first in their families to reach this educational milestone.
The CCR program has served more than 280 students since its inception in 2016. This year, 60 juniors and seniors participated. Tutors, mentors, and other key staff members attended the graduation ceremony.
The keynote speaker was Evelyn Rosales Mendez, who will attend the University of Virginia in the fall to study computer science. She received a Posse scholarship, a prestigious award for student leaders that covers all tuition costs at partner universities. Evelyn is one of three Posse scholars in this year's CCR program.
After a friend introduced her to CCR, Evelyn became heavily involved in the program.
“I started going to every meeting and soon learned that this program is a doorway to level the playing field for students who needed access to information, resources, and opportunities to help us during and after high school," Evelyn said at the ceremony.
Evelyn shared that her mentor, Maureen, was a huge help throughout her high school career when learning how to balance her busy schedule.
Evelyn spoke about the perseverance of the students graduating this year. The class of 2024 started their first year of high school online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During their senior year, FAFSA, the federal student aid application, changed its process, resulting in delays in acceptances and student aid awards.
“Let this be a reminder to you all that you can do hard things,” Evelyn said. “Your sacrifice is now proven to be more than worth it as you are now at the end of your longest school years.”
Monica Settles, CCR Program Manager, and Brenda Quintanilla, Regional CCR Coordinator and CCR alumna, support students even after they move on.
“We may all be leaving and going our separate ways, but this program doesn’t leave us,” Evelyn said. “I want to remind everyone that Monica and Brenda have repeatedly said they’re always looking forward to hearing from us, so whenever things are getting overwhelming, you just require guidance, or you have great news to share, pick up the phone and call them.”
This year’s graduating students received additional prestigious awards and scholarships including the VALHEN Herencia Scholarship, Jack Kent Cooke, Arlington Community Foundation scholarships, Dream Project, and more. In May, AHC held a college signing event for CCR seniors and celebrated their college acceptances and achievements. CCR mentors played important roles in the students’ success. Their dedication and connection to the students created lasting and meaningful relationships. Many mentors have worked with students for multiple years. Thank you to all the mentors, volunteers, community partners, and supporters for guiding AHC's graduates and helping set them up for success in their next steps.
Where the Graduates are Headed This Fall
Christopher Newport University
DePaul University
George Mason University
The George Washington University
James Madison University
Marymount University
Northern Virginia Community College
University of Arizona
University of Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech
William & Mary
Interested in Mentoring or Tutoring? Contact Laura Jackson at volunteer@ahcinc.org.
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