2015 AVID Graduation Fills Student Center with Love

Screen Shot 2015-06-03 at 9.24.03 PMThe AVID class of 2015 was feted in the GHS student center on Wednesday during a powerful ceremony, highlighted by testimonials from AVID students and reflections from their teachers and staff.

Dr. Winters at AVID 2015 graduation

Dr. Winters said one of his favorite events of the year is going hiking with AVID freshmen. “That group loves bugs,” he exclaimed. Credit: Leslie Yager

“This is to me such a wonderful celebration. You are such a great group of kids,” Headmaster Dr. Winters said, describing how AVID students always rise to expectations. “Your teachers love you because you show such respect and desire to learn,” he said. “We could not be more proud of you.”

Mara Adelsberg, site coordinator for the AVID program said that during the senior end of year reflections, she overheard students candidly talking about how much the program meant to them. “‘Before AVID I always thought that asking questions made you seem dumber. AVID taught me otherwise. I learned in AVID that the more questions you ask, the smarter you are,'” she quoted one student saying.

“With AVID, you have the chance to shine and prosper through life. Take advantage of it,” said AVID junior John Mendoza. “Not many can say that they have help from mentors, teachers and students to achieve their dreams, yet AVID allows that to happen.”

Dr. Goldin

Seniors listen to Dr. Goldin’s remarks. Credit: Leslie Yager

Dr. Sarah Goldin, GHS AVID '15 teacher

Dr. Sarah Goldin, AVID class of 2015 teacher, told her graduating seniors that she loved them. Credit: Leslie Yager

One of the most moving events of the evening featured remarks from Dr. Sarah Goldin, AVID class of 2015 teacher.

Dr. Goldin said that she’d had such a hard time coming up with remarks for the event. “Pretty much every single day I’ve tried to think of what to say to you on your big night. … I could ever come up with something funny enough. Or just enough, enough, to capture four years. So in complete break from my usual modus operandi, which is to throw as many big words at you and hope that they stick, I have opted to go in the complete other direction and say all of that in as few words as humanly possible.”

“I love you,” she said. After a long moment when everyone reached for a tissue or napkin, there was a huge round of applause.

Dr. Goldin said she’d brought her husband and two young children to the event for a reason. “I wanted them to be here. It’s mostly for them. To see this and to meet you. And to teach them lessons about loyalty and family, doing your best, perseverance.”

AVID

AVID freshman Jose Orellana gave a tribute to Ken Alcorn and the AVID program. Credit: Leslie Yager

AVID Freshman Jose Orellana, a member of Ken Alcorn’s class thanked his teacher for his patience and describe his 9th grade AVID experience.

“Starting the school year off I was such a bad kid. I had bad grades and none of the teachers liked me. This is because I didn’t take the school year seriously. My AVID teacher, Mr. Alcorn helped me a lot this year. He helped me talk to my teachers and gave me pep talks,” Jose said, describing how Mr. Alcorn put him on the path to success. “Half way through the year, I started to show a lot of improvement,” he said, overall AVID was a great opportunity to appreciate and enjoy.

john mendoza family

John Mendoza with friends and family at the AVID 2015 graduation. Credit: Leslie Yager

Fanny Beccaglia and Sofia Lancheros from Miss Bowcock’s class of 2018 talked about having learned to be organized students. “My classmates and I got inspired together,” Fanny said. “When we first met each other everyone was quiet. and no one knew anything about each other. With the help of AVID field trips and team bonding, everyone became a family..In our class nobody judges each other. I never felt excluded or different. When we are together we are all part of the same team: The A Team.”

“We all want to grow up and succeed. With AVID we are part of something special,” Sofia said, joking that Mrs. Bowcock was very patient with her students.

Screen Shot 2015-06-03 at 9.31.10 PMEach of the teachers presented a set of five creative awards to students ranging from the “Spirit Award,” to the “Keeping it Cool.” An “MVP Award” was given from Ms. Bowcock to Gianella Guadalupe who she said was amazing for her navigation in  taking her group through Devil’s Den successfully.

Screen Shot 2015-06-03 at 9.31.41 PMMr. Alcorn said that when he was the first AVID teacher to cycle back and start again with this year’s freshman class of ’18, there were people who thought he was crazy. “A year later, my sanity is still in tact. I am very thrilled to be here,” he said, giving honors to several students including Loreta Shala who worked so hard she ultimately received straight A+ grades on her report card.

Mr. Alcorn

Ken Alcorn was the first teacher to follow an AVID class through all four years at GHS and start again with a new freshman class. Credit: Leslie Yager

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a program that began in California 35 years ago and has since expanded across the country and around the world. The program, which provides help with organization, study skills and orienting toward college, gives an extra push and support system for motivated students who are often the first in their families to head to college.

Last June, 23 members of GHS’s AVID Class of ’14 held their graduation at Eastern Greenwich Civic Center. At the 2014 graduation, Winters also acknowledged the tremendous support AVID program receives from The Greenwich Alliance for Education.

 

AVID SENIORS

GHS AVID seniors honored for four years in the program. This year all 24 graduates are headed to colleges, receiving over $2 million in scholarships. Credit: Leslie Yager

AVID ceremony at GHS

Board of Education communication director, Kim Eves; Greenwich Schools, Deputy Superintendent Ellen Flanagan; Julie Faryniarz exec. director of Greenwich Alliance for Eduction and Greenwich Schools Superintendent William McKersie at the AVID ceremony at GHS on Wednesday. Credit: Leslie Yager

AVID ceremony

John Mendoza and Patricia David, AVID class of 2016. Credit: Leslie Yager

Missy Brown, AVID teacher at GHS

AVID teacher Missy Brown with Elizabeth Cid, Monica Fernandez, and Nicolle Ceceres. Credit: Leslie Yager

Missy Brown GHS AVID teacher

AVID teacher Missy Brown with Elizabeth Cid, Monica Fernandez, and Nicolle Ceceres. Credit: Leslie Yager

Matheus Chaves

AVID senior, Matheus Chaves at the graduation ceremony in the GHS student center. Matheus is headed to Florida Atlantic University in the fall. Credit: Leslie Yager

AVID graduation at GHS on Wednesday night

Kudos to Marlene Gilbert who lead a team who transformed the vast GHS student center into a cozy party space for the AVID class of 2015 graduation on Wednesday night. Credit: Leslie Yager

AVID dinner

The class of 2015 were celebrated in style on Wednesday night, beginning with a dinner for all AVID students and their families. Credit: Leslie Yager

Frank Kovac and his AVID students

Mr. Kovac, AVID class of 2017 teacher, honored five students, left to right: Miguel Orellana, Naureen Kurji, Esther Borba, Sara Molina and Emilio Garcia. Credit: Leslie Yager

AVID class of 2017

Congratulations to the GHS AVID class of 2015. Credit: Leslie Yager

AVID class of 2015

Congratulations to the GHS AVID class of 2015. This year’s 24 AVID seniors have all been accepted to college and have been awarded well over $2 million in scholarships.Credit: Leslie Yager

    Congratulations to the GHS AVID class of 2015

Congratulations to the GHS AVID class of 2015. Credit: Leslie Yager

Mrs. Bowcock and students

Ms. Bowcock honors several students in her AVID class of 2018. Credit: Leslie Yager

AVID class of 2017

Members of Mrs. Bowcock’s class of 2017 Bethany Johnson, Catherine Zayas and Esther Borba. Credit: Leslie Yager

AVID class of 2017

Members of Mrs. Bowcock’s class of 2017 Bethany Johnson, Catherine Zayas and Esther Borba. Credit: Leslie Yager

Congratulations to the AVID class of 2015. They are all headed to college:

  • Beatriz Arias: Barry University
  • Taulant Bici: St. Lawrence University
  • Princess Rhada Bustos: University of Connecticut, Stamford
  • Priscilla Camarillo: College of Westchester
  • Matheus Chaves: Florida Atlantic University
  • Cassandra Cortina: Florida Atlantic University
  • Alex Criollo: Fairfield University
  • Jonathan Guerrero: University of Connecticut, Stamford
  • Yangly Guiza, Quinnipiac University
  • Colin Ingraham: Southern CT State
  • Trevor Ingraham: University of Connecticut, Storrs
  • Sara Jarosz: Hampshire College
  • Alma Maldonado: University of Connecticut, Storrs
  • Jael Montenegro: Penn State, Berks
  • Adrian Navarro: Eastern CT State or UConn Stamford
  • Tobias Orellana: Eastern CT State
  • Lucas Perez: Southern CT State
  • David Ramirez: Manhattanville
  • Mirella Rojas: Penn State, Berks
  • Beatriz Silva: Quinnipiac University
  • Diego Tardio: Norwalk Community College
  • Daniel Torres-Aldana: Norwalk Community College
  • Rolando Vera: University of Connecticut, Stamford
  • Joshua Yudkovsky: Norwalk Community College

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