Summer Search NYC celebrates students

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., and AT&T New York President Hal Lenox Commend Summer Search NYC for Broad Impact on City Youth

On May 4, the Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice welcomed Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., AT&T New York President Hal Lenox and Summer Search New York City Executive Director Karina Kirsch to honor the impact the Summer Search program has had on high school students in the South Bronx and across the City.

Summer Search is a non-profit youth leadership program that provides high school students a unique combination of intensive, long-term mentoring; full scholarships to summer experiential education programs; access to college and financial aid counseling; and a lasting support network, including access to professional development skill-building for alumni.

AT&T sponsors Summer Search through its “AT&T Aspire” program, a $100 million multiyear commitment to confronting the high school dropout crisis and preparing students for continuing education and the workforce.

Summer Search New York City is currently focusing its growth in two of the most underserved areas of the City, the South Bronx and Brooklyn. At Wednesday’s reception, attendees heard from one of the South Bronx participants, Erika Marte. Erika is a high school senior and soon-to-be-valedictorian of her graduating class (attending Hamilton College in the fall), and she spoke about her life-changing experiences in the program, including the seven weeks she spent in New Zealand last summer learning about the culture and how to become a stronger leader.

100 percent of students who have participated in Summer Search New York City graduate high school and 85 percent graduate college, as compared to the current 50 percent and 11 percent graduation rates for high school and college, respectively, for their peers from the same income bracket.

Top Photo Caption: (l-r) Summer Search New York City participants Ashley Gonzales, Kyabell Glass, Annell Ovalles, Laurin Ellis, Marjorie Abreu, Kassandra Cardona, Alex Williams, Nikarly Santiago, Erika Marte, Kattery Guzman and Tiga Anderson meet with AT&T New York President Hal Lenox (fifth from left) and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. (seventh from left) at a Summer Search reception held at the Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice May 4.

Middle Photo Caption: (l-r) AT&T New York President Hal Lenox, Summer Search Executive Director Karina Kirsch, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and Summer Search student Erika Marte.

Bottom Photo Caption: (l-r) Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., Summer Search Student Erika Marte, Principal of University Heights High School Hazel Joseph and former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer.