High School seniors at Southbridge High School and at four high schools in Worcester recently celebrated their coming graduation from two of the higher education access programs operated at their schools by MassEdCo.
The Educational Talent Search and/or GEAR UP programs in Worcester sponsored a Senior Recognition Breakfast at Worcester State University on April 25. One hundred-twenty seniors at Burncoat High School, Doherty Memorial High School, North High School and South High Community School were honored for completing the programs. One senior from each school spoke to the group about his/her upcoming plans and college acceptance and described how membership in the programs helped them plan their future. (Among the student speakers was Stephon Rosario at Burncoat and Afia Abrafi at South.) Keynote speaker Eric Batista, chief of operations and project management officer for the City of Worcester, shared his story of being a first-generation college student and how it is never too late to pursue an education. Each student was called to the podium for recognition.
In Southbridge, a Senior Recognition Breakfast was held on May 15 at the high school for 40 Educational Talent Search students. This is the first year that ETS has operated in Southbridge. Seniors Paola Gonzalez Marquez and Diego Arroyo were the student speakers. Dr. Patricia Marshall, deputy commissioner for academic affairs and student success at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, was the keynote speaker. Dr. Marshall related how she had been an ETS student in high school and how the program had helped start her on the road to success. Each senior received a certificate. The breakfast was sponsored by Southbridge Credit Union.
Congratulations to all our 2017 graduates!
