F¹rst Graduate

Adriana and La'Oshia celebrating their success at Cap & Gown

On May 7, First Graduate will host our fifth annual Cap & Gown: A Celebration of the First in Family to Graduate From College. The festive event, which takes place at San Francisco City Hall from 6-10 p.m., honors college achievement in two ways. First, it marks the high school graduation of our latest class of seniors, who have already come a long way in achieving their educational goals. Second, Cap & Gown recognizes community leaders who were the first in their families to graduate from college. This year’s First in Family Award recipients are Larry Stupski, Chair of the Stupski Foundation, and Steve Miller, CEO of Agassi Graf Holdings.

But that’s not all!  Our emcee for the evening will be Scott Shafer, host and reporter of KQED’s The California Report. Shafer, too, was the first in his family to graduate from college.  The popular host will share the stage with Cap & Gown 2010’s Honorary Chair, Sara Martinez Tucker, who received the First in Family Award last year and will introduce this year’s honorees. In addition to being first in her family to graduate, Martinez Tucker is former CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and a former Under Secretary of Education.

Raised in Laredo, Texas, Martinez Tucker had to overcome several roadblocks to attend the University of Texas at Austin – the first link in the chain of events that lead to her success. “So many kids in my home town didn’t have the ability to create their own destiny,” she told First Graduate. “Every child in this country should create their own destiny.” A college education is key to that goal.

Cap & Gown’s Honorary Committee list demonstrates just how widespread the support for college access and achievement is in our city

First Graduate supporters toasting students and honorees

and state. Committee members include Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, California State Senators Mark Leno and Leland Yee; San Francisco Supervisors Bevan Dufty, David Campos, John Avalos, Sean Elsbernd, David Chiu and Michela Alioto-Pier; and Board of Education President Jane Kim.

The event is also supported by longtime sponsor, the San Francisco Federal Credit Union. “I attended the event last year and was honestly moved to tears,” says Courtney Derby, Membership Development Manager for SFFCU. “The difference that First Graduate makes is remarkable, and the event was a great opportunity to meet some of the program’s youth. I am very much looking forward to attending again.”

In addition to inspiring words from our students and award honorees, the evening will feature live music by MRH Jazz Trio, and gourmet hors d’oeurvres, buffet and dessert. To join the many supporters of Cap & Gown and First Graduate students, be sure to purchase a ticket for $175 (reduced-price tickets for youth are also available) by clicking here. If you or your employer would like to sponsor the event, click here for information about a range of sponsorship levels and a description of sponsorship benefits. Or contact Development Director, Noelle Colome, at 415-561-3469.