F¹rst Graduate

Alena (FG9), Board member Colin Lacon, Sonja (FG6), Program Director Sandra Park, Alexis (FG4), Executive Director Tom Ahn

The house was packed at First Graduate’s eighth annual Winter Celebration and Founder’s Award event on December 8, 2009. The Parent Association organized a festive evening filled with great food, award presentations and good cheer. Staff, families and supporters attended the holiday event, held at The Bay School, to honor the hard work and dedication of our students and volunteer mentors over the past year.

After filling up on a buffet dinner of potluck dishes representing the many diverse cultures of the First Graduate community, attendees took their seats to celebrate the accomplishments of the 30 students and four mentors receiving awards. Alexis (FG4) and Guillermo (FG4), both award winners, served as co-hosts and translators as Executive Director Tom Ahn kicked off the ceremonies with a welcome and thanks to all. Parent Association representatives Juan Ramon and Alejandro Vallin also shared moving remarks with the audience.

Alexis Vallin (FG4) and Guillermo Cortez (FG4) served as student emcees

The Founder’s Awards recognize student achievement in three key areas: Academic Achievement or highest GPA, Academic Improvement or most improved GPA, and Commitment to the Program, which includes attendance.

Winners included:

• Academic Achievement: Guillermo, Liang, Aracely, Denny, Diana, Joannie, Keri, Nathalie, Sally, Daisy
• Academic Improvement: Alexis, Kiuver, Sonja, Leslie, Cesar, Robert, Vasni, Alena
• Commitment to Program: Osvaldo, Jonathan, Georgina, Jesus, Leslie, Cara, Jose Luis, Dian, Ayanna, Alex, Jose, Sally.

Our volunteer mentors, who are matched with students and make a two-year commitment, provide First Graduate students with insights into both college and potential careers. This year’s mentor winners included Jessica Mann, Cheryl Waggener, Ian Maddison and Gretel Kearny.

All of our Founder’s Award winners exemplify the kind of focus and commitment that First

First Graduate Program Associates Angely Miranda and Rachel Alexander holding gifts for the student winners

Graduate asks of them, and that they bring to the program day after day in order to reach the goal of becoming the first in their families to graduate college. To view more photos of the festivities, visit our Winter Celebration 2009 page on Flickr.