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Go TEAM: Results of TATC's Youth Mentorship Program Ten Years Later
Since 1998, TATC staff members have been mentors to low-income youth in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington DC (former location of our corporate headquarters), with TATC contributing to incentive-based college funds. The founder of the company, Alan Skvirsky, had a vision of giving back to the community that had supported him for over 30 years, and created TEAM (TATC Enriching Adams-Morgan). Fourteen elementary school students were initially selected; nine are still with the program. All were from economically disadvantaged families, most were headed by single parents, and all were from tough neighborhoods. Ten years later, let's look at what these determined young people have accomplished!
Nakia Adamson graduated from Wilson High School and is a junior at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). She has maintained a 3.4 GPA with a double major in psychology and recreation management. In the fall of 2003, she won a college scholarship in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington's annual talent competition.
Christopher Bonilla graduated from Cardozo High School, where he was a member of the debate, chess and varsity baseball teams. While still in high school, he took classes in English and math at Northern Virginia Community College. In his college essay, he credited his TATC mentor, with whom he resided for an extended period of time, with "saving his life" and being the parent he never really had. Christopher is attending St. Mary's College, the public honors college of the Maryland State higher education network.
Sabrina Dixon graduated from Coolidge High School where she was co-captain of her cheerleading team, a choir member and maintained a solid GPA while holding down a part-time job. She began college studies at Virginia State, and then joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
Tiffany Gatling, the mother of a young child, temporarily relocated from the District of Columbia to Lancaster County, PA, where she graduated from high school. She is considering applying to nursing programs at the University of the District of Columbia, Howard University, and Johns Hopkins University.
Chelsia Goode, an avid reader, techie and good student, earned her GED. She has now attended two semesters at Montgomery Community College, and hopes to continue next semester in pursuit of a career in computer science.
Donald Marlin was on the honor roll at Hyde Public Charter High School, while still finding time to excel in three sports: basketball, football, and softball. He also played drums for his school band and his own neighborhood band. Donald earned his GED, has taken the SAT and hopes to either follow his cousin, Nakia Adamson, to NCCU or perhaps attend a college in sunny Florida.
Jorge Pena came to this country from Honduras when he was five. Jorge graduated from Wilson High School, where he took several AP courses and was a leader on the JROTC drill team. He graduated from Montgomery College in December 2007 with an Associate's Degree in Business and is employed by Corporate Accounting Services of Potomac, MD. He is continuing his studies for a BA degree in accounting at the University of Maryland University College.
Kiana Taylor, the mother of a young child, graduated from Coolidge Senior High School. She loves to sing and was accepted at the competitive Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts. She is currently applying to colleges in the region.
Crystal Worthen graduated from Cardozo High School. She is very active in her church, where she sings in the youth choir and participates in their youth activities. She also participates in community service opportunities, including volunteering at a women and children's shelter, raising money through walkathons for local math and science programs for children, and tutoring young students after school. She is currently working and planning to apply to college to prepare for a nursing career.
That's what TATC calls return on investment!