When Goddard President Rod Jones stood at the podium at our Scholarship Ceremony, he did not see the “anxious generation” or the “social media generation,” or even the “generation lost to AI.” He saw hope. “This is not the generation that is at risk. This is the generation that is at promise,” he said to the large room full of people. “Keep your head on straight. There are people counting on you.”
Every year, spring meets summer at the Scholarship Ceremony, where select students from our Options Center and Education & Workforce program are awarded funds to keep breaking past the barriers to higher education. For many, they might be the first to go to college in their family, but they won’t be doing it alone—scholarships come with the promise that Goddard’s staff will be there to help along the way.
The evening began with arrivals. Parents and friends came to support the students, who immediately greeted staff on a first name basis. Many of the participants had actually attended their own graduations earlier that day. Before scholarships were awarded, the keynote speakers, including former awardees, reflected on their own professional journey and what is to come. Education & Workforce alumna Medina Mansare summed up the energy of the crowded hall: “Look around. We are all here because someone believed in our potential.”
After the event, scholarship winner Shawn Riley ruminated on his own journey. He was connected to the Options Center by Harlem Lacrosse, a youth program that provides tutoring, mentoring and support in addition to lacrosse training. From there, advisors worked with him to not just get him into a pre-med program, but to also study out of state. Part of his journey has also included certifying and working as an EMT through some clever use of financial aid, and working to become a physician assistant. He offered this advice to future students:
“Tap in, man! I would encourage them to come here and shift the mindset that things are impossible. Things are out there for you. There are resources that are calling for you, you don’t have to do it by yourself.”