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MCCC's
Youth College Celebrates Great Beginnings and
Happy Endings For High School and Middle School Students
5/25/11
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West Windsor,
N.J. -- In an annual tribute to young people who are making
the right decisions with their education and their lives,
earlier this month Mercer County Community College saluted
more than 200 middle and high school students who are benefiting
from MCCC's enrichment programs that will prepare them for
higher education. Offered through Mercer's James Kerney Campus
in downtown Trenton under the direction of Donald Davis, programs
include SMILE/GEAR UP, Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search
and the Urban Academic Academy.
The ceremony took place at the college's West Windsor Campus
Student Center in a room packed with students and their proud
families.
MCCC President Patricia C. Donohue addressed her comments
to all the students, but especially to graduating seniors.
"You have demonstrated that you are committed to learning
and have made the decision to be the best person you can be.
Remember that wherever life takes you, you are welcome here
at Mercer, to visit, to seek advice, and, of course, to attend
classes. Our door is always open."
Keynote speaker was Thabiti Boone, a gifted athlete who made
some tough choices in his life to become a role model for
others. Additional participants included students Amy Belot
and Cedric Howard, from the Upward Bound Class of 2011; Rakima
Stokes-Little, assistant director of SMILE/GEAR UP; Stacy
Denton, assistant director for Upward Bound; Darius Dove,
assistant director of the Urban Academic Academy; Beverly
Higgins, a member of the Parent Association who was selected
as Parent of the Year; and Wayne Murray, director of SMILE/GEAR
UP.
Scholarships were awarded to a number of seniors for academic
achievement. As each member of the graduating class crossed
the stage, an announcement was made of where they would be
attending college in the fall. Almost all will stay in state,
with approximately one-third expected to attend MCCC.
For more
about MCCC's Youth College programs, click here.
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Youth
College seniors, front row, from left: Shanice Gardner, Tyjahnae
Stoddard, Brittany Johnson,Lamone Burgess and Amy Belot; back
row, from left, Keynote Speaker Thabiti Boone, Mrs. Gregory,
and Darius Dove, assistant director of the Urban Academic
Academy.
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| GEARUP
is all smiles. From left are Director Wayne Murray, Guest Speaker
Thabiti Boone, students F. Mason-Robbin, J. Wright, T. Lane,
S. Williams, K. Keese, C. Howard, K. Collins, S. Barlow, S.
Banks, A.Lewis and Rakima Stokes-Little, assistant director
of Upward Bound. |
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With
speaker Thabiti Boone, far left, are F. Brian Cody, Upward
Bound seniors Luis Calderon and DeAndre Allen, and Asst. Dir.
Stacy Denton.
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The
Trenton Central High School Jazz Band performs.
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