The Answer - A blog about Education, Preparation, and Commitment.

YES Prep Sends 143 Alumni to College

August 10, 2010 by Donald Kamentz

I must have driven this same route to the North Central campus several hundred times the last few years from my house:  Interstate 45 to 59 North, exit Lauder.   On so many occasions, I’m usually awashed in a midst of phone calls, listening to sports radio or just zoning to good music – it’s become a routine.   However, last Thursday was different than all the other times I have taken this road very travelled.   In fact, it was a historic day – the North Central campus would be hosting their first-ever Alumni Send-Off, a time-honored tradition where we have one last “celebration” and “farewell charge” to the graduated seniors before they head off to their colleges all across the country.  

During the course of the event, the first group of YES Prep North Central alumni had the chance to not only reconnect with their classmates but to interact with the YES Prep staff over lunch.   The ceremony included the premiere of the Commencement Highlights video, graduation photos, scholarship presentations and the final culminating activities – placing the students names on the Alumni Wall of Honor next to their college’s pennants, as well as the ringing of the Class of 2010 gift – a cast-iron bell in front of the "Y building."   Needless to say, it was an historic way to start a tradition for many more Trailblazers to come!

A SNAPSHOT OF NC TRAILBLAZERS’ COLLEGE SUCCESS

• 380 applications submitted by 43 seniors (average of 9 applications per student)
• Applications submitted to 108 colleges/universities nationwide
• Class of 2010 members admitted to 81 colleges and universities
• Class of 2010 applied and were admitted to 14 new colleges/universities
• 78% overall acceptance rate (279 acceptances, 80 denials, 21 waitlists/deferred)
• Class of 2010 members will be attending 26 different colleges (14 in Texas and 12 outside of Texas)
• Over 93% of the seniors were accepted to at least 3 colleges/universities.
• Financial aid awards, in the form of scholarships and grants from colleges, universities and outside organizations total over $2.5 million dollars.
• Over 88% of the Class of 2010 are first-generation, college-bound students.

Normally this would be enough excitement and celebration for one day at YES Prep but again, this was a day like no other – the Southeast Campus was also having their Alumni Send-Off, their 10^thin fact celebrating the 10^thgraduating class of Wizards to head off to college.   So I jumped in my car and raced back down 59 South, to I-45 South to Almeda-Genoa/South Shaver.   

Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a jam-packed cafeteria full of YES Prep alumni (even ones from prior years), YES Prep Southeast staff and current students.   As they watched their own Commencement Highlights video after which I was then privileged to call out over 40 names of scholarship winners.   Added to the almost 30 scholarship winners from YES Prep North Central, I had the honor of awarding over $150,000 in scholarship funds that day alone to students from both campus.   Talk about an amazing and rewarding feeling!

From the cafeteria, the entire Wizard Class of 2010, along with staff, headed over to the College Corner for the annual pinning of your names on the Alumni Wall of Honor, along with a celebratory toast to good fortunes and success for many years to come.  

A SNAPSHOT OF SE WIZARDS’ COLLEGE SUCCESS

• 671 applications submitted by 83 seniors, an average of 8 college applications per student
• Applications submitted to 150 colleges and universities nationwide
• Class of 2010 members admitted to 113 colleges and universities
• Applied and admitted to 12 new colleges and universities (first to attend from YES Prep)
• 80% overall acceptance rate (471 accepts, 116 denials, 34 waitlist/deferred, 46 unknown decisions)
• Will be attending 34 different colleges: 16 in Texas and 18 out of state
• Financial aid awards in the form of scholarships and grants total over $3.7 million
• Over 90% of the Class of 2010 are first-generation college-bound students

Heading home, I couldn’t help realize that this is why I love my job.   It’s days like this that remind me why YES Prep exists, how amazing our staff is and how they work tirelessly to make successes happen.  Ultimately, the impact and change that will come from many more celebrations like this one will transform Houston.   In fact, we’ll be adding both YES Prep Southwest and YES Prep East End in the coming years and I will be adding both Highway 288 and 225 to the mix of my college bound round trips and I am excited to add the miles to my car.

For more blogs about how YES Prep is transforming Houston by preparing students for college, read:

College Acceptance and Persistence: http://yesprep.org/TheAnswer/full/college_acceptance_and_persistence_of_yes_prep_alumni/

--
1 Comments
leave a comment