It is always bittersweet to see our high school seniors move on, but we couldn’t be prouder of our strong, smart, and bold graduates AND the mentors who helped them reach their goals. Below we present to you the mentored girls who will embark on their college journey this upcoming fall after receiving acceptances from notable schools including UMass, UConn, Rice, Wellesley, Yale, Salem State, and many more:
| Teen Member | College/University | Mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Ashley Adam | Wellesley College | Tiana Evelyn |
| Christania Adeoye | North Carolina Central University | Susan Lewis |
| Charlene Grandoit | Bridgewater State University | Liz O’Mahoney |
| Hannah Konieczny | North Shore Community College | Carolyn Schultz |
| Luisa Laboy | Framingham State University | Kathy Cormier |
| Taofeekat Lamina | Rice University | Karli Janssen |
| Michelle Lesperance | Salem State University | Isa Beltre |
| Ruth Nasejje | University of Connecticut | Carole Cohen |
| Adaora Okeke | UMass Lowell | Elizabeth Nako |
| Grace Oladoja | UMass Dartmouth | Melanie Drayton |
| Jastrame Pierresin | Framingham State University | Jamie Ponsetto |
| Nate Prentiss | Mass College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Laura McCoy |
| Yocilin Solis | Yale University | Kelly Sullivan |
| Tae Thaw | North Shore Community College | Paula Caradonna |
| Kalisha Williams | Framingham State University | Rebecca Spellios |
| Christie Woignac | North Shore Community College | Alexa Cordell |
| Lily Duglong | Bryant University | Lesley Tracy |
Volunteers are an integral component of the Girls Inc. Experience. With graduation season upon us, our deepest thanks to our College Mentors and Teen Leadership Coaches for their commitment to the girls and helping them achieve this life milestone.
A special shout-out to Teen Mentor Rebecca Spellios. As a Girls Inc. mentor and supporter, Rebecca is dedicated and engaged in all our activities and programs and goes the extra mile by taking the girls on college tours, both in and out of state.
Kudos also to Kathy Cormier, a longtime mentor who maintains relationships with each of her mentees, even after they graduate and begin their college lives. Kathy makes a point of staying on top of the latest updates on available scholarships and is also focused on the overall wellbeing of our members. A graduate student studying education, Kathy also facilitated a helpful mindfulness program during the school year.
Thank you to Kathy, Rebecca, and all the caring adults who support our mission and enhance our programs that benefit lives in lasting ways.
Ongoing:
Our high school members are actively involved in Teen Leadership Academy, where “real-world skills,” leadership behaviors, professional communications, self-advocacy and more are enhanced by interactive sessions with women in a variety of business and civic leadership roles.
A special thank-you to Deloitte’s Sam Lozzi, a longtime volunteer who has served as a career panelist and workshop participant, among many other roles. Our deep appreciation as well to Mel Medeiros, a Girls Inc. alum who, along with her colleagues from First Republic, donated to our College Shower and participated in panels and other career-focused offerings.
For more information on being a Leadership Coach or a College Mentor, email Rebeca Bonilla at tbonilla@girlsinclynn.org
Coming up:
Teen Nights kick off this summer on Tuesdays with weekly dinners followed by a choice of activities such as art, cooking, games, and much more. In addition, Girls enCourage, an outdoor adventure program meeting on Wednesday afternoons, features challenge activities, kayaking, rock climbing and camping. For rising high school juniors and seniors participating in our College Access Mentoring Program, Project Accelerate Boot Camp runs from August 14-25, and boasts workshops and field trips as well as career panels to keep the girls motivated and learning.