Project GRAD Newark Scholars Achieve Two Milestones

For the first year, more than $500,000 in GRAD Scholarships were awarded to graduating Scholars from Central and Malcolm X Shabazz High School.  Representing its largest class of Scholars, eighty-nine Scholars from the two high schools received a total of $534,000 in Lucent Technologies Scholarships for successfully meeting all the GRAD requirements for the Class of 2005.
 
Parents, family members, teachers, counselors and community leaders celebrated with the Scholars at the Awards banquet.  One individual in particular, Modupeola Okeowo had a very strong message for this year's Scholars.  As a member of the first cohort of GRAD Scholars to graduate from Malcolm X Shabazz High School in June of 2001, she attended Howard University in Washington, DC, majored in nursing, and graduated this May with a Bachelor of Science Degree. "Stay focused, work hard and believe you can do it!" was her message to the 2005 Scholars.  Click here to read excerpts from Modupeola's speech. 

As part of empowering students from disadvantaged communities, Project GRAD Newark reinforces the mindset that college is an attainable future for all students.  From elementary school, students are encouraged to think about their future, set goals, and study to achieve success.  As part of the GRAD experience and civic service, high school students return to their elementary schools serving as mentors/tutors, talk about their high school experiences, and encourage the younger students to begin planning for college.  This year marked two milestones for Project GRAD Newark Scholars in recognition of their achievements and the odds they have overcome in their young lives.

As the work of Project GRAD Newark continues, the City of Newark will have college and university graduates who can return to their communities with degrees in hand to demonstrate the power and message of GRAD. . .  that Graduation Really Achieves Dreams. 

First GRAD Scholar Receives Henry and Nancy Schacht Scholarship

As a sixth grader at Louise A. Spencer Elementary School in 1998 at Project GRAD Newark, Emile McClease was a good student who performed well academically, exhibited good character, expressed a willingness to help others and an early desire to go on to college.  As a recipient of the Henry and Nancy Schacht Scholarship, this month Emile will continue on his path to education excellence as a freshman at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.  As a GRAD Scholar, Emile also received a Project GRAD Scholarship that awarded him $6,000 towards his college expenses and received an additional $6,000 Lucent Technologies Scholarship bringing the total Project GRAD Scholarships to $12,000.

The Henry and Nancy Schacht Scholarship was created in recognition of Henry Schacht, former CEO, and his wife Nancy, for their many years in leadership and service to Lucent Technologies.  Beginning with the sixth graders in 1998 through June 2009, two students will be identified as recipients of the Henry and Nancy Schacht Scholarship with the provision that they always attend a GRAD school, graduate from Malcolm X Shabazz High School, and also earn the Project GRAD Newark Scholarship.  Emile was the first student to receive this recognition and award.

In recognition of Emile's efforts, Spencer Elementary Principal Joseph Brown stated, "I am proud that the first Schacht Scholarship is being awarded to a former Spencer Elementary student. Emile is entering NJIT this year, but he started on his road to success here at our school."  Emile has many plans for his future including setting an example of personal and academic excellence for his two younger brothers, future GRAD Newark Scholars.