波市府邀青年為100萬元預算做計劃

BOSTON YOUTH INVITED TO VOTE ON HOW TO SPEND $1 MILLION OF CITY'S BUDGET

Boston youth invited to spend $1 million dollars of City's capital budget; voting begins Friday on projects

BOSTON - Wednesday, May 31, 2017 - For the fourth year in a row, youth ages 12-25 in Boston have a chance to vote how the City of Boston spends $1 million dollars of the Capital Budget through the "Youth Lead the Change" participatory budgeting process. From Friday, June 2 through Friday, June 16 voting stations will be set up at locations across the City so votes can be collected. "By involving young people in this process we are cultivating a generation of Boston youth who are passionate about their City and have the opportunity to shape its future," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "Young people are working together, polling their peers, and addressing the issues that matter most to them." Youth Lead the Change (YLC) is managed by Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) Division of Youth Engagement & Employment in close collaboration with a steering committee comprised of community and youth serving organizations. The Mayor's Youth Council partnered with youth organizations to write the rules and oversee the implementation of the process.  Voting polls will be located at local train stations, youth centers and school buildings for the city-wide vote.  See the list here. Last year nearly 5,000 eligible votes came in from Boston's youngest populations. A special emphasis is placed on engaging LGBTQ youth, homeless youth, undocumented residents and court or gang involved youth. Current projects youth will vote on are: BPS Renovations: New lockers for Brighton High School. Cultural Street Art and Latin American Walk of Fame: This project would create cultural street art and a walk of fame. Homelessness Resources: A digital billboard displaying resources and job opportunities available to the homeless youth. Mobilizing Health Centers: A truck or car that provides medical materials and some outpatient services to youth. New Trash and Recycling Bins. Future Media Center: A space that would contain recent technology that would otherwise be unavailable to most students. Get Home Safely: Students returning home from school and work would be provided with safe travel provided by police call poles. Performing and Visual Arts Center: A space where people of all ages can come together and create all types of art. The "Get Hired" Truck: A resource truck devoted to provide youth with the ability to search for jobs, build/modify resumes, and give them access to search and apply for jobs. Mobile Youth Retail Space: A mobile retail space for youth entrepreneurs. Past projects selected for funding have included expanding Wicked Free WiFi, installing water bottle refilling stations at parks and placing newer trash cans and recycling bins in select neighborhoods. About Boston Centers for Youth and Families Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) is the City of Boston's largest youth and human service agency. BCYF operates 36 community centers in Boston that offer a variety of engaging and enriching programs for people of all ages created through community input and need. BCYF also oversees many citywide programs including the nationally-recognized violence intervention and prevention Streetworker Program and SuccessLink, Mayor's Summer Jobs Program

AG HEALEY, GE FOUNDATION LAUNCH SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION INITIATIVE TO REACH ALL PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN MASSACHUSETTS

AG HEALEY, GE FOUNDATION LAUNCH SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION INITIATIVE TO REACH ALL PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN MASSACHUSETTS $2 Million Initiative Will Expand Access to Youth Prevention Education; Includes First-of-its-Kind Mobile Education App

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey and the GE Foundation today announced a $2 million public-private initiative, along with Epicenter Experience and The Herren Project, that will bring new resources to students in every public middle school in Massachusetts to help address the opioid epidemic.

AG Healey announced the first-of-its-kind initiative, named Project Here, today at a launch event at the GE headquarters with Ann R. Klee, president of the GE Foundation and vice president of GE’s Boston Development & Operations.

They were joined by Chris Herren, Founder of The Herren Project, Paul Krasinski, CEO of Epicenter Experience, Michael Botticelli, Executive Director of theGrayken Center for Addiction Medicine and Andrew McCall, a recovery coach.

The new initiative will provide substance use prevention education to middle school students through an innovative combination of in-classroom programs, mobile content, and access to a support network of social workers. The GE Foundation has funded this initiative with a $1.5 million contribution, along with $500,000 in settlement funds from the AG’s Office.

Project Here will provide curriculum materials to every public middle school in Massachusetts, as well as support resources for students who are struggling with addiction, trainings for educators and parents on substance use prevention, and access to an innovative mobile platform with prevention content.

“Education and prevention are the keys to ending the opioid epidemic, and our partnership with the GE Foundation will help us tackle this public health crisis and protect our middle school students from addiction,” AG Healey said. “Through a multi-faceted approach – reaching students in the classroom and on their mobile devices – we will empower them to make the right decisions, promote health and wellness, and lead change in their schools and communities. I thank the GE Foundation, Epicenter Experience, and The Herren Project for stepping up to the plate and contributing their talent and time to this critical effort.”

“When GE announced its move to Boston, we also announced a $50 million philanthropic commitment to the city and surrounding area, with $15 million of that targeted to community health,” said Ann R. Klee. “From the moment we arrived in Boston, we heard from so many that substance use and the opioid crisis was a critical need for the community. We’re proud to work with AG Healey on Project Here to educate our youth today and prevent our kids from falling into the vicious cycle of the opioid epidemic.”

“We are thrilled to be able to participate and contribute to this important public-private partnership. It is a critical issue to address across our country,” said Paul Krasinski, Epicenter Experience CEO. “We realize that people are the epicenter for change and thus developed the core technology for Project Here, to connect people to truly solve people problems together. Whether these middle school students are here, there or anywhere, they will know that we are here to support them and they are empowered to be a hero for others through their knowledge and education.”
           

“The first step in addressing the substance use issues in our communities is to provide education and prevention strategies for children in the middle school years while they are developing a sense of self. All too often we focus on the last day of addiction and not the first. We praise our children for their academic and athletic accomplishments, but fall short on personal wellness,” said Chris Herren, Founder of The Herren Project. “I am proud to have The Herren Project be a part of this innovative partnership providing education, support and the opportunity to for students to be proud of who they are, to embrace life’s challenges without turning to substances knowing that they are good enough and perfect just the way they are.”

As a part of Project Here, Epicenter Experience will lead the design of a first-of-its-kind mobile application that will give students, educators, and parents easy access to prevention resources and information, and help young people who are struggling with addiction or the impact of substance use get the help they need and connect with The Herren Project. 

Through Project Here, all Massachusetts middle schools will have the opportunity to join the Project Purple Initiative, a program through The Herren Project that helps schools talk with students about the dangers of substance use. Students will also have access to The Herren Project’s support team, including social workers ready to respond to students in need of help.

This initiative is meant to complement other prevention efforts under way across the state and will include an Advisory Board comprised of key stakeholders and experts. 

Today’s announcement is the latest effort by AG Healey to address the unmet need for youth prevention and education services to combat the opioid epidemic, a key priority of her administration. In May, the AG’s Office distributed $700,000 in settlement funding directly to school districts, nonprofits and community organizations to fund prevention programming through its Youth Opioid Prevention Grant Program. 

Young people are particularly vulnerable to the risks of substance use. Ninety percent of all adults struggling with addiction started using when they were under the age of 18, and 50 percent were under the age of 15. Studies have shown that effective substance use education and prevention programming can significantly decrease the risk of addiction among young people.

麻州亞美局團結晚宴頒終身成就獎表揚陳美霞

麻州亞美局委員和得獎者，嘉賓等合影。(周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)麻州亞美局(Asian American Commission)5月26日在波士頓大學喬治雪曼大樓舉辦第11屆團結晚宴(Unity Dinner)，頒發社區英雄獎，領袖及多元獎，終身成就獎，依序表揚Boa Newgate，東方銀行，以及陳美霞。

麻州亞美局副主席周樹昂(左)代表AAC頒發終身成就獎給華美福利會
副主席陳美霞。(周菊子攝)

               麻州亞美局是麻州議會在2005年因應李超榮發起的社區要求，由時任麻州參議員的莫里塞(Michael W. Morrissey)提案，議會通過成立的麻州政府常設組織，共有21名委員，分別由7名政府內閣首長指派，任期3年，可連任最多2屆的榮譽機構。

               當年推動立法設立此機構時，為避免經費問題可能造成通過障礙，法案條文明定，州政府不須為此機構撥款。麻州亞美局成立後，因此面對委員們兼顧不暇，進展有限的情況，期間還有不少個年頭，有多個委員席位出缺，州府閣員首長並不在乎是否已指派了人選擔任委員，遇到曾否和所指派委員晤談的提問時，也直言不諱根本沒見過。

得社區英雄獎的Boa Newgate(中)和東南亞聯盟同仁。(周菊子攝)

               3年前，藉著舉辦團結晚宴等活動所籌款項，AAC聘請了一名全職行政主任Bora Chiemruom，再加上韓裔醫生主席Elisa Choi的非常積極，AAC開始活躍，今年不但21個席位全部填滿，根據Bora的報告，為亞裔社區舉辦的活動也越來越多，包括麻州財政廳支持的認識財務(financial literacy)講座，資源展，健康與人民服務會議及展覽，由安豐貴創辦，今年訂10月27日在聯邦儲備廣場在次舉辦的青年領袖研討會等等。

東方銀行副總裁代表該行領獎。(周菊子攝)

               5月26日晚，麻州亞美局在波士頓大學舉辦的這場團結晚宴，由WGBH電視總經理程必璧擔任司儀，約有二百多人出席，麻州財政廳廳長高柏珂(Deb Goldberg)，麻州稽核長蘇珊邦普(Suzanne Bump)，麻州助理總檢察長April English，麻州企業發展署助理署長范文南(Nam Pham)等出席到賀。

退休大法官杜菲莉應邀為AAC團結晚宴做主講嘉賓。(周菊子攝)

               安赫斯特學院美國及國際外交學院訪問教授Franklin Odo，剛從麻州最高法院大法官職位退休，走馬上任哈佛大學監事的杜菲莉(Fernande (Nan) R. V. Duffly)應邀依序為晚宴做特別講話及主題演講。

               AAC在團結晚宴上還頒發了3個獎項。頒社區英雄獎給東南亞聯盟的精神健康文化個案管理項目主管經理Boa Newgate，表揚在麻州屋斯特(Worcester)區深受尊重的他，從2008年起致力幫助難民，移民，低收入居民，為青年成長提供安全地方。

WGBH電視總經理程必璧(Liz Cheng)擔任AAC團結晚宴司儀。
(周菊子攝)

                         頒終身成就獎給陳美霞，表揚曾在波士頓醫療中心擔任社區主任，服務超過20年的她，也在華美福利會義務工作了30年，最近才從董事長職位退下來，轉任副董事長，還是波士頓社區發展行動(ABCD)董事，在ABCD的健康服務委員會，就業及訓練委員會上服務。她也曾經是南端社區行動項目的顧問委員會委員，美國癌症協會董事，美國識字志工。

麻州亞美局的首位全職行政主任Bora Chiemruom。(周菊子攝)

      近年來透過資深副總裁陳咏梅，支持AAC多項活動的東方銀行，當晚獲頒領袖及多元獎。AAC採用了黃定國的攝影作品，做為獎項表徵，送給前述得獎人或機構。

        

麻州稽核長蘇姍邦普(Suzanne Bump)。(周菊子攝)

波士頓消防局副局長黃瑞瑜(左)，麻州總檢察官辦公室醫療護理組主管Karen C. Tseng。(周菊子攝)

右起，曹玉倫，周樹昂，左一，陳咏梅等人。(周菊子攝)

刻正競選牛頓市市長的馬惠美(Amy Mah Sangiolo)。(周菊子攝)

Peter Lin Macus已確定名列選票，將參選波士頓市第二區市議員。(周菊子攝)

               

38名波士頓公校畢業致詞生獲表揚

Mayor Walsh, Superintendent Chang Honor 38 Valedictorians from the Boston Public Schools Class of 2017

Nearly Half of Valedictorians Born Outside of United States

BOSTON — Tuesday, May 30, 2017 — Thirty-eight high school valedictorians from the Boston Public Schools (BPS) hailing from 11 different countries were honored today at the 19th Annual BPS Valedictorians Luncheon at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael O’Neill, and BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang recognized the valedictorians during the ceremony for their incredible achievement. “Our tremendous valedictorians truly enrich all of our communities and are role models for other young people in what they can accomplish,” said Mayor Walsh. “The achievements from our valedictorians are remarkable -- more than half will be the first in their families to attend college, and many recently immigrated to the United States. No matter what obstacles these students faced, they thrived. Congratulations to all valedictorians, and I look forward to seeing where your dreams take you.” This year, nearly three-quarters of the valedictorians are female and nearly half were born outside of the United States. Fifteen of the valedictorians have been BPS students since kindergarten; and 61 percent will be the first in their families to attend college. “As we begin our graduation season when we celebrate all of our graduates, it's great to take a day at the beginning to highlight those who rose to the top of each of our high schools,” said School Committee Chairperson O’Neill. “We stand in awe of these students, including those who overcame great obstacles to attain this accomplishment.”  “I congratulate all of our valedictorians today on earning this great honor,” said Superintendent Chang. “To become a valedictorian, it takes a relentless drive and steadfast perseverance. You make the Boston Public Schools proud.” Maybelline Perez Villatoro of East Boston High School provided this year’s Valedictorian’s Address. This year’s valedictorians plan to attend Northeastern University, Fordham, Tufts, Brandeis, Boston College, and several other colleges and universities. The BPS Valedictorians Luncheon was first held at the Parkman House in 1999. Its success has enabled the event to grow to a larger venue to include BPS families, staff, and corporate and community partners. The Boston Foundation, Eastern Bank, Shah Family Foundation, and Steward Healthcare were co-sponsors of the ceremony. Any proceeds will benefit the City of Boston Scholarship Fund.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh shakes hand with East Boston High School 2017 Valedictorian Maybelline Perez Villatoro at the BPS Annual Valedictorian Luncheon.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh shakes hands with Natan Santos, the valedictorian of New Mission High School's Class of 2017, while Superintendent Tommy Chang (right) and School Committee Chairperson Michael O'Neill (left) look on.

The biographies for the BPS Class of 2017 valedictorians are as follows: Another Course to College James Nguyen of Brighton James is an active member of the Another Course to College community, where he is a member of the Running Club, Community Service Club, and the BUILD entrepreneurship program, where he manages his own business with his fellow classmates. He’s a passionate member of ACC's Robotics program, where he builds, wires, and programs robots for competitions. The sky's the limit for James, who will attend UMass Dartmouth this fall. Boston Adult Technical Academy Jhovana Correa Marin (Valedictorian #1) Jhovana was born and raised in Medellin, Colombia. She immigrated to the United States four years ago to pursue her dream of attending a university and study engineering. She has been a model student, participates in a dual enrollment program and holds a full-time job. After graduation, Jhovana will attend Pine Manor College. Boston Adult Technical Academy Woodlyne Neptune of Hyde Park (Valedictorian #2) Woodlyne arrived from Haiti just two year ago. At BATA, she has studied hard to learn a new language and culture in her pursuit of a high school diploma. Her long-term goal is to attend medical school. She plans return to Haiti one day to give back to the people who helped her growing up. Woodlyne will continue her journey at Bunker Hill Community College. Boston Arts Academy Kaila Gibson-Okunieff of Jamaica Plain Kaila began dancing at the age of six at Boston Ballet School in Newton after being recommended by an ice skating coach. At BAA, she focused on improving her modern dance and ballet techniques, and participated in a dual enrollment program with the Boston Conservatory. Next year, she will continue her mastery of dance at the Alvin Ailey’s BFA dance program at Fordham University. Boston Community Leadership Academy Vy Pan of Dorchester Originally from Korea, Vy credits the Boston Debate League with helping her improve her language skills and build her confidence. In addition to being an accomplished debater, Vy is a member of the National Honor Society, a community organizer, and earned second place at the Boston City Calculus Competition. Vy plans to study Biomedical Engineering at Tufts University, where she has earned a full scholarship. Boston Day and Evening Academy Masiah Jones of Roxbury An aspiring teacher and biologist, Masiah has been working as a teaching assistant at BDEA since her graduation last December. She also just completed a first semester of classes at Quincy College. This fall, she will transfer to UMass Boston where she plans to major in Biology. Boston Green Academy Carmelissa Norbrun of Dorchester Carmelissa came to Boston in 2012 after surviving the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Intelligent, respectful, and always kind, Carmelissa will graduate with a weighted GPA of 5.0. She has been deeply involved with Boston University Upward Bound and Summer Search and plans to become a doctor. Carmelissa is headed to Gettysburg College as part of the Gettysburg STEM Scholars program, where she will be the first person in her family to attend college. Boston International High School Jesuina Lopes Fernandes of Dorchester Since arriving in Boston from her native Cape Verde, Jesuina has overcome many hurdles. She is now a shining star at Boston International, where she is active in student government, the girls’ soccer team, and as a member of Model UN. Jesuina has emerged as a tireless worker who inspires everyone around her strive to be better. UMass Boston has the good fortunate of welcoming this amazing young woman this fall. Boston Latin Academy Tuyet Pham of Dorchester When she was two years old, Tuyet’s family moved to the U.S. to provide her with more opportunities. She chose to take the most challenging courses BLA has to offer, and then joined other programs outside of school to learn more. She’s always positive and loves to help her peers. She will be the first in her family to attend college and is excited to be attending MIT where she plans to study her passion: computer science. Boston Latin School Nathan Han of Boston Nathan’s teachers describe him as an “intellectual powerhouse.” He has taken nine Advanced Placement classes and has participated in science fairs at the school, city, state, national, and international level. Using statistics, computer science, and biology, he is working to identify potentially cancer-causing mutations ahead of time and assess genetic predisposition. His goal is to speed up cancer diagnoses in a less costly and more efficient way. He is also headed to MIT. Brighton High School Sacdio Ali of Jamaica Plain Sacdio is one of eight siblings. Since arriving from Kenya three years ago, she has maintained a draw-dropping 5.2 grade point average. She also serves on the Student Leadership Team, promoting positive change at Brighton High. Sacdio plans to study child development at Tufts University, and she will be the first in her family to attend college. Jeremiah E. Burke High School Zoraya Scott of Dorchester Zoraya is a well-rounded student. She participates in cheerleading and softball, serves as vice president of the student council, and completed a summer internship at State Street Bank – all while reaching the top of her class. Zoraya has accepted a full scholarship from Boston College, where she will pursue her studies in pre-med. Charlestown High School Jiacheng “Tony” Zou of Dorchester At the age of 17, Tony came to the United States from China with a zest to learn. He’s president of the National Honor Society and is taking three AP Courses. He earned a perfect 800 on the math SAT, but has a flair for liberal arts and is passionate about social justice. Tony has earned a full scholarship Williams College. Community Academy Paul Davis of Dorchester Paul is a role model at Community Academy because of his academic perseverance and consistent attendance. He has worked exceptionally hard academically to become valedictorian, earning the Honor Roll throughout the year. Paul is still weighing his options for after graduation, but we know his future is bright. Community Academy of Science and Health (CASH) Thomas Thermidor of Hyde Park Born and raised in Haiti, Thomas began his BPS career as a 9th grader at CASH. He has challenged himself by taking five Advanced Placement courses, as well as a Computer Science course through a dual enrollment program at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Thomas is also captain of the soccer team captaining and has performed hundreds of hours of community service. This fall, he will attend Union College in Schenectady, New York as a part of the prestigious Posse Scholars Program. Dearborn STEM Academy (celebrating its first graduating class)  Melisa Depina of Dorchester Melisa moved to Boston from Cape Verde five years ago in pursuit of more educational opportunities. She has already completed four college courses and is a member of the National Honor Society. Last year, Melisa traveled to the Ninth Ward of New Orleans for a week-long service project and completed a summer internship at State Street Bank. Melisa is also a POSSE Scholar; she will be joining Thomas at Union College. Dorchester Academy Ronald McCluskey of Dorchester Ronald hails from Dorchester, where he enjoys writing music, reading, and doing computer programming. He plans to pursue a career as a computer programmer. East Boston High School Maybelline Perez Villatoro of East Boston Originally from El Salvador, Maybelline is passionate about Public Service and Social Justice. She serves as president of the National Honor Society and is a Student Immigrant Movement leader. She hopes to motivate other young Latinas to aspire for higher education. Maybelline is a recipient of the Northeastern University Valedictorian scholarship, and she plans to study Political Science and International Affairs. The English High School Cristian Rodriguez Salas of Dorchester Cristian came to the Boston Public Schools from the Dominican Republic four years ago, determined to learn English and challenge himself academically. He has earned straight A’s, participates in the Robotics Club and enjoys graphic design. Cristian is a member of the STEAM Pathfinders, where he has trained at least 50 BPS parents on how to use ASPEN, and has taught middle school students how to build robots. Cristian will continue challenging himself at Suffolk University. He will be the first in his family to attend college. Excel High School Kevin Duong of Dorchester At a young age, Kevin’s family instilled in him the value of education, and he has been making them proud ever since. A straight-A student with a heavy course load, Kevin still finds time to participates in many extra-curricular activities, such as JROTC, Recycling Club, Math Club, Debate Team and Boston CARES. Kevin will attend Northeastern University where he plans to pursue a career in the medical field. Fenway High School Manuel Martinez of Roslindale Manuel sees education as a tool to better the world. As a first generation American, he does not take his opportunities for granted and wishes to create access and opportunity for others as an immigration lawyer. Manuel is a Crimson Summer Academy Scholar, presented a business proposal at The National Council of La Raza in Orlando, and is the recipient of the Valedictorian Scholarship at Northeastern University. He will continue his studies at Northeastern University. Greater Egleston Community High School Lizbeth Palermo of Roxbury A resident of Roxbury, Lizbeth worked extremely hard to reach the top of her class at Greater Egleston. After graduation, she will attend Massasoit Community College, where she plans to major in film and media. Her long-term goal is to become a film director. Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Chanda Carvalho of Dorchester Chanda was raised in Boston by a single mom, who is disabled and speaks only limited English. With her big sister’s guidance and her mom’s support, Chanda has earned top grades and serves as President of the Best Buddies chapter at the full inclusion school. Chanda will be the first person in her family to go to college. She will attend the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and plans to become a pediatrician. Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ivy Chow of the South End Ivy has been a model student throughout her career at the Horace Mann School. In addition to her academic and leadership accomplishments, Ivy has been the captain of the Girls Basketball Team. After graduation, she will attend Gallaudet University in Washington DC where she is the recipient of a Gallaudet University Academic Recognition Scholarship Award. Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers Daniela Brea Baez of Roslindale (Valedictorian #1) Daniela began her journey in the STEM Field as a high school freshman through Project Teach, a program at Brigham and Women's Hospital. She has continued on the STEM path as a Mass General Hospital Youth Scholar and has partnered with Tufts Medical School to study the effects of Gentrification on the Dominican Community of Boston. She is currently in a dual enrollment math class at Wentworth Institute of Technology and has earned a 4.6 GPA. Daniela will attend the UMass Amherst Commonwealth Honors College where she plans to major in Animal Science. Kennedy Health Careers Academy Juliana Pereira of Jamaica Plain (Valedictorian #2) Juliana is also enrolled in a dual enrollment math class at Wentworth Institute of Technology and has earned a GPA of 4.6. She has participated in the Drama Club Harvard University’s Crimson Summer Academy at Harvard University and won first place at the City-wide Science Fair. Juliana has earned a full-ride to Northeastern University where she plans to major in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Mary Lyon Pilot High School Alaina Villanueva of Fenway Alaina was diagnosed with dyslexia in elementary school. Despite this challenge, her persistence and determination toward her love of learning paid dividends. She was the recipient of the Mayor Thomas M. Menino School Spirit award in 2013 and she is currently a member of the National Honor Society. She hopes to work in the healthcare profession as a therapist. This fall, Alaina will attend Emmanuel College. Madison Park Technical Vocational High School Taija Reverdes of Roxbury Taija has excelled in the Health Assisting / Certified Nursing Assistant vocation at Madison Park. Her positive attitude has helped her connect with her patients in nursing homes and in her co-op experience at a local community health center. She also participates in RoxMapp, a dual enrollment program with Roxbury Community College. Taija has earned many scholarships, and will attend UMass Dartmouth, where she plans to study biology as she pursues becoming a midwife. McKinley Preparatory High School Rosaisela Melendez of Dorchester Rosa is creative and loves music and the arts. She has consistently shown dedication to her studies and has taken advantage of everything McKinley Prep has to offer. She will begin her college career at Bunker Hill Community College and hopes one day to transfer to Berklee College of Music to study the violin. McKinley South End Academy DayRamond Anderson of Dorchester DayRamond Anderson is a star student at McKinley South End Academy. Loved by staff and students alike, he sets high standards for himself and works hard, putting forth great effort to reach his goals. This young man’s success is even more impressive because he has navigated through some tough adversities. DaRaymond is currently in a job training program sponsored by Jewish Vocational Services, and will be employed at an assisted living program in Dedham. He plans to work full-time after graduation. Margarita Muñiz Academy Brenda Hernández of East Boston Born and raised in Mexico City, Brenda moved to Boston at the age of nine. She credits SquashBusters with teaching her the skills to succeed in high school and beyond. She’s grateful to her teachers at the Muniz for their unconditional support and encouragement. Brenda will attend the College of the Holy Cross. New Mission High School Natan Santos of Hyde Park Natan credits his participation in the Harvard Crimson Summer Academy with shaping him as a leader and a scholar. He often stays up past midnight to complete his studies, accepting nothing less than an A. He still finds time to participate in the High School to Teacher Program, the Mayor’s Youth Council, and the Student Success Jobs Program. He also started his own clothing line, Son of King, which he created to inspire young people to realize their own potential and to be kings and queens in their own right. John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science Silvia Yu of Back Bay Silvia has attended Boston Public Schools since kindergarten. At the O’Bryant, she’s a member of the tennis and swim teams, and has continually challenged herself with AP courses. Silvia spends her afternoons as a junior counselor at the Chinatown Afterschool Program, tutoring and mentoring younger children. She’s also participated in service-learning trips to Arizona and the Dominican Republic. Next stop on Silvia’s educational journey: Wellesley College. Josiah Quincy Upper School Dara Sostek of East Boston Dara is a self-professed bookworm with a gift and passion for creative writing. Her dad read to her as a young child and encouraged her to write her own stories. In the fall, Dara will attend Northeastern University as a Valedictorian Scholar. She plans on double majoring in English and Communications. Muriel S. Snowden International School Rayceiry Sanz of Dorchester Rayceiry struggled academically in elementary and middle school. That all changed when she entered Snowden, where she met friends and teachers who saw her potential and believed in her, even when she did not. With the help of her family, friends, teachers and staff, she managed to work her way to Valedictorian, a position she never imagined possible. Rayceiry will be the first in her family to attend college. She is headed to Northeastern University. TechBoston Academy Daliyah Middleton of Dorchester Daliyah is incredibly motivated young woman who takes advantage of any opportunity given to her. Through the Noonan Scholars program, she spent the summer taking English and math college prep courses at Wheelock College. She also completed a dual enrollment course during her junior year. Through the Student to Teacher Program, Daliyah is able to work with a cohort of other students who are interested in becoming teacher. She is also captain of the volleyball team. Northeastern University has the honor of welcoming this young lady next year. Urban Science Academy Lantharra Langlois of Hyde Park Originally from Haiti, Lantharra has challenged herself by taking five AP courses and participated in an internship with Brigham & Women's Hospital. She has also provided over 400 hours of community service and is an active member of USA’s student leadership council and president of our National Honor Society. Lantharra will attend Brandeis University where she plans to major in neurobiology as prepares to become a doctor. She will be the first in her family to attend college. West Roxbury Academy Jakelin Yasmin Bonilla of Roslindale Jakelin has thrived since immigrating to the US from El Salvador in elementary school. In middle school, she received the Mayor’s award for academic excellence, and has steadily improved academically through her hard work and determination. After graduation, she will attend Suffolk University, where she plans to major in Psychology.