YMWIC June 2025 Newsletter

Exposure Plus Opportunity Lead to Success for YMWIC Scholars

“We will only grasp the staggering potential of our time if we create on-ramps that empower all people to participate, regardless of background, country of origin, religious practice, gender or color of skin” ~ Robert F. Smith

On Thursday, May 22, 2025, YMWIC hosted our 15th Anniversary Scholarship & Awards Banquet, and what a celebration it was! Yes, we celebrated 15 years of recognizing and honoring our Scholars for their hard work and achievements, and awarding community members, corporate and university leaders, and exemplary organizations for their contributions to improving the communities that YMWIC serves.

The event proceeded smoothly as over 400 attendees, which included 250 Scholars and 50 YMWIC Corporate, University, and School District partner representatives. Also in attendance were many families, friends, and members of the community. They all had the opportunity to meet and greet each other during the Hors d'oeuvres Reception. A delicious meal followed, during which recognitions were presented to both Scholars and Community Champions. Read more.

The YMWIC Spring College Tour ventured out on Sunday, April 13, to expose Scholars to potential university options in the Western Pennsylvania and Ohio areas. Forty-four excited high school Scholars from all YMWIC chapters packed the tour bus for a six-day adventure to prospective colleges. While on the tour, the Scholars were given an assignment to write an essay about their thoughts on each day’s experience.

Over the course of the tour, Scholars visited Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Saint Vincent College, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Ohio State University, and Robert Morris University. Read more.

YMWIC Scholars participated in our Annual Job Shadowing. For a week, Scholars were able to experience what it is like working at the location of one of our Partners. The week is full of demonstrations, tours, observations, and one-on-one mentoring opportunities to expose career opportunities for Scholars and begin to prepare them for the work world. This year, shadowing took place at Partners’ LaFrance Corp and CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) locations. LaFrance was honored to host two YMWIC Scholars for a dynamic Job Shadowing experience at their Innovation Lab. Read more.

The inaugural year of the YMWIC Pre-Apprenticeship Program has been a success! As we close out this first Program Year, we are grateful to all who have helped to make it a success. We had a good number of Partners who collaborated with us for our first year and are looking to double that number next year.

We are in the final phases of applying to become a Pennsylvania-certified Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which will help us to expand our reach and serve even more qualifying individuals. Read more.

Although YMWIC was created to provide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) -related programs, college prep, and leadership opportunities for young men and young women, we are excited to have expanded our programming to give our Scholars opportunities to participate in the Arts.

Our elective Special Interest Groups (SIGs) include a three-year collaboration with the West Chester Arts Association that offers Scholars exposure to a variety of media through which they can express their creativity. In addition, our Jazz Club and Choir SIGS have been expanding and diligently practicing. Read more.

Courtney Allen, YMWIC Board Vice Chair and PECO Director of Regional Electric Operations, with his colleagues, Sharlene St. John, PECO Senior Manager Customer Care; Anita Muhammed, PECO Senior Manager Mapping & Document Services; as well as Program Executive Sponsor Kelly Colarelli, PECO Vice President of Customer Operations, hosted YMWIC Scholars and their families at the 3rd Annual Concluding Ceremony for the PECO Grow Academy, a partnership with YMWIC.



This Program, which just concluded its third year, exposes students to careers in the Electric and Gas Utility industry. Read more.

Photo left to right: PECO representatives Kelly Colarelil, Sharlene St. John, Scholars Sébastien Jean Baptiste, Romuald Jean Baptiste and Elwood Fahnbulleh, Anita Muhammad (PECO), Julian Hernandez Velezquez, Courtney Allen (PECO), Alkpeh Albarstina Naomi Donkpoie, and Adrian Sanchez-Rampolla.

Congratulations to these YMWIC Scholars whose hard work has paid off and earned them Honor Roll status:

Chester Upland Chapter -- Distinguished Honor Roll: Dior Livingston, Mya Ferguson, Zhiyonna Sutton; Honor Roll: Joseph Davis, Theodon Hayes, Jaedah Herring, Talaya Stanley, Anthony Stokes

Coatesville Chapter -- Distinguished Honor Roll: Drake Alston, Aryan Kumar, Riya Kumar, Heidi Potts, Charles Robertson III, Melanie Segura, Jasmyne Thomas; Honor Roll: Oluwasemilogo Aladesanmi, Oluwasemilore Aladesanmi, Dianely Castro, Jennifer Cuevas, Marely Estrada, Keith Kerns, Daisy Montes, Aras Reid, Jonathan Thomas

Furness Chapter -- Distinguished Honor Roll: Michelline Kho; Honor Roll: Angel Aguilar Fernandez, Devin Cahyadi, William DeJesus Sandoval, Keith Gray Mickens, Sunshine Sophey

Martin Luther King Chapter -- Distinguished Honor Roll: Jared Ware; Honor Roll: Anyah Hinton, Shanica Louis, Askia Manley, Maritza Salomon

Norristown Blockson Chapter -- Distinguished Honor Roll: Josias Perez, Makayla Weathersbee; Honor Roll: Julian Hernandez Velazquez, Arianna Kelsey, Ernestina Ortiz Velazquez, Arely Sanchez Navarro, Zachary B. Williams

Norristown ESTLA Chapter -- Distinguished Honor Roll: Alvena Edwards, Dayanis Morales; Honor Roll: Rayannah Abdulla, Daniel Craig, Peyton Jackson, Myla Massolena

Phoenixville Chapter -- Honor Roll: August Kollar, Darien Sampson

Upper Darby Chapter -- Distinguished Honor Roll: Zoe-Allie Abraham, Fatima Afrani, K'vinnah Brown, Annie Forestal, Charlieze Ganges, Clarisa Garcia, Hermela Gebrekidan, Romuald Jean-Baptiste, Jr., Arianna Johnson, Christina Kumi, Gianna Kurian, Khadija Moufti, Nurah Muhammad, Faith Taylor, Scarleth Vasquez, Taylor Williams, Tyler Williams, Eva Zhao, William Zhao; Honor Roll: Logan Acree-Bryant, Tayvion Avery, Maxam Ganges, Sebastian Jean-Baptiste, Na'Siyah Lewis-Hawkins, Mason McKnight, Hudah M. Sango, Vien Zhao

West Chester Chapter -- Distinguished Honor Roll: Savannah Freeman, Lesly Guartan-Duran, Spencer Palmer, Victoria Rodriguez; Honor Roll:  Maria Jose Leon Daza, Symone Howard, Ethan Kwok, Justin Mathews, Payton Palmer, Paloma Rodriguez, Zoey Staton

William Penn Chapter -- Distinguished Honor Roll: Ibrahim Kamara, Journey Leonard (Valedictorian), Santigie Thollie; Honor Roll: Kai Lewis-Burgess, Bryce Burwell, Jada Hitchcock, Mikel Sigler, Aaliyah Williams

Chester Upland Chapter: Joreliz Colón attends Chester STEM Academy where she is in the 9th grade. This has been her first Program Year with YMWIC. Not only has she enjoyed the Foundation’s offerings, she has gained a new appreciation for science by being involved in engaging hands-on experiments and other exciting activities during workshops and the Science Expo. Joreliz’s message for potential or younger YMWIC Scholars is, “Being a member is fun and can help you very much. It offers so many unique opportunities that can help you with your college journey.” Read more.

Coatesville Chapter: Keith Kerns is a bright and adventurous Scholar at North Brandywine Middle School, currently in the 6th grade. He joined YMWIC this year and has already shown a remarkable enthusiasm for learning and personal growth. Keith’s active mind and lively personality make him stand out among his peers, bringing energy and imagination to everything he approaches.



What Keith values most about YMWIC is the support it offers with his schoolwork. While he thrives on creativity and exploration, he appreciates having a helping hand when it comes to the more challenging academic tasks. Read more.

Furness Chapter: William Dejesus Sandoval is a 9th-grade student at Horace Furness High School and was new to the YMWIC Foundation this Program Year. William has been very dedicated and has attended most of the Program’s workshops, events, and chapter meetings. What he appreciates most about being a member is the opportunity to connect with his peers and visit new places (college tours, corporate visits, etc.) through YMWIC. He credits the Program with teaching him how to manage his time more effectively, especially when it comes to meeting deadlines and being prepared for upcoming opportunities, and to communicate more clearly. Read more.

Martin Luther King Chapter: Jared Ware is a 9th grade Scholar from the Martin Luther King Chapter who joined YMWIC this school year. Since joining, Jared has shown consistency, focus, and a willingness to grow. He shares that one of his favorite parts of being in the Foundation are the people—getting to know other Scholars and supportive staff helped him feel more comfortable and willing to engage with others. This growth has been matched by his academic efforts, as he has earned Distinguished Honor Roll throughout the school year. Read more.

Norristown Blockson Chapter: Jayden Tolbert is completing the 11th grade at North Penn High School where, proudly, he was inducted into the National Honor Society. He enjoys the team spirit and competition of running track, which he says keeps him active and focused.

Jayden joined YMWIC when he was in the 7th grade. When asked what he enjoys most about the Foundation, his response was, “What I enjoy most about the YMWIC Foundation is how diverse and accepting it is. It’s a place where I feel supported, especially when I’m putting in the work and keeping up with my academics. Read more.

Norristown Eisenhower Chapter: Peyton Jackson is in the 8th grade at Pennbrook Middle School where, he is proud to say, he earned Distinguished Honor Roll status during the first marking period and Honor Roll for the second and third. He was also invited to participate in the Bux-Mont Honors Chorus.

Peyton found this, his first Program Year as a YMWIC member, to be a great experience, saying, “What I enjoy most about the Foundation are the hands-on projects. My favorite project so far was building a robot. Read more.

Phoenixville Chapter: New to the YMWIC Program this year, Jack Borragine is a 10th grade student at Phoenixville Area High School. He really enjoyed completing his Science Project and has found the Pre-College Program to be a source of support. Jack feels the leadership opportunities and his commitment to Community Service activities have enhanced his Character Development and Problem-Solving Skills. He is interested in pursuing a degree in Computer Science but is still deciding which college he’d like to attend. Read more.

Upper Darby Chapter: Prince Sedziafa attends Drexel Hill Middle School. He is completing 7th grade and has been a member of YMWIC for two Program Years. Prince loves the community and his interactions with like-minded Scholars. “I will admit it was tough at first to fit in; but the more I attended and participated in the Program, the more comfortable I became and made friends. The friends I made and the teachers’ encouragement to just be myself every day helped immensely.”

The biggest impact the Foundation has had on Prince is helping him realize his potential and abilities. Read more.

West Chester Chapter: Featured in this month’s Scholar Spotlight is Ethan Kwok from the West Chester Chapter! Ethan is currently in 3rd grade at Hillsdale Elementary School, and this is his very first year as a Scholar at YMWIC Foundation, Inc. 



Ethan is very involved in the Robotics Program, the STEM activity he enjoys most as a YMWIC Scholar. The biggest impact the Foundation has had on him is his ability to become more confident in his public speaking skills. Read more.

William Penn Chapter: Meet William Penn Scholar Santigie Thollie. He is completing the 10th grade at Penn Wood High School as an Honor Roll student. Santigie joined YMWIC this Program Year and has most enjoyed the people he has met and the Program activities. We asked Santigie what he finds to be the biggest impact of membership in YMWIC has had on him. His reply, “It’s helped me with time management and also exposed me to things I need now and in the future.”

In the future, Santigie would like to become an Electrical Engineer and is considering Cheyney University, West Chester University, Penn State University, or a trade school to continue his education. Read more.

Let’s congratulate the 2025-2026 Upper Darby High School Senior Class Representatives!

These Scholars are large and in CHARGE!

Shown left to right:

Gianna Kurian – Class Public Relations Manager

Fatima Afrani – Class President

Oyin Olowu – Class Treasurer

Taylor Williams – Class Secretary

We are proud to recognize Coatesville Scholar Ayden Bolden Scott (pictured at left) who, along with fellow YMWIC Scholars Jennifer Cuevas, and Fatima Gonzalez, were recently awarded a certificate after successfully completing an 8-week Career Awareness Program in the healthcare field. The program offered a comprehensive introduction to healthcare fundamentals. 

To honor the hard work and dedication of these exceptional Scholars, a White Coat Ceremony was held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Congratulations, Scholars!

Workshop 15

At Workshop 15, Scholars participated in a Mentorship Session in which education experts spoke with Scholars about their futures. The mentors explained to Scholars how to prepare for their next academic milestone, using this as a leadership opportunity to share advice and wisdom with younger Scholars on what they wish they knew going into their current grade. They discussed what qualifies as good study habits, how to manage your time, and what the transition into college life is like. Read more.

Chester Upland Chapter

On April 26th, Chester Upland Scholars had the privilege of helping with their community's hunger needs by taking part in Ruth Bennett Community Farm's "Earth Day of Service." Scholars arrived at the community garden in the morning and worked their way into the early afternoon helping Ruth Bennet Community Farm staff prepare the garden for a new season of growth. Some Scholars assisted in building garden beds while others tended to already established beds with weeding and fertilizing. Their efforts will help bring fresh fruit and vegetables to their community for the entire growing season this year. Read more.

Raquel Avery, Upper Darby Chapter

My son, Tayvion Avery, joined YMWIC in September, 2024. We chose to join YMWIC because it provides a special opportunity for students to obtain additional funding for post-secondary education. YMWIC supplies us with resources in applying for various scholarship programs. Additionally, YMWIC strives to assist every student in their strengths and weaknesses. My son is a perfect example of a student discovering his capabilities through the YMWIC Program. I've learned a great deal from Tayvion by simply observing his dedication to success in the Foundation. I've seen him actively work on improving his time management skills as he balances schoolwork, participates in after-school programs, and prioritizes his health. His commitment to growth and self-discipline is truly inspiring. Read more.

YMWIC STEAM & Language Arts Summer Programs

The YMWIC STEAM & Language Arts Summer Programs are exciting, educational, and fun six-week experiences for rising 1st - 8th grade Scholars. Programs are in the Coatesville and West Chester School Districts, scheduled Mondays - Thursdays from June 16 - July 24, 2025.

We are still accepting applications. If you would like to register your child(ren) to attend one of this summer's YMWIC Enrichment Programs, click here and complete an application for your School District location.

YMWIC 2024-2025 Program Year Key Dates & Volunteer Opportunities -- Mark your Calendar!

June 16 – July 24, 2025: Summer Enrichment Programs (K–12)*

June 1 – August 5, 2025: Summer Jobs & Internships for 12th-grade Scholars and Alumni*

*These are volunteer opportunities for Partner Employee Involvement.

YMWIC is seeking contributions for Programming taking place in the next few months for some of our SIGs (Special Interest Groups), our Summer Enrichment Programs, and the Botball Tournament Regional Competition taking place in Great Mills, MD. Our specific needs are:

• Chess boards and playing pieces for our Chess SIG
• Chess Coach to teach Scholars chess strategies and provide guidance when accompanying them in Chess Tournaments
• Science Kits and materials for elementary and middle school students in our Summer Programs
• Donations toward transportation, hotel accommodations and meals for our Robotics Team Scholars traveling to the Botball Tournament

We will greatly appreciate any contributions or donations you can provide. Please contact Richard Roberts, III, at grants@ymwicfoundation.org or make a donation using this link.

YMWIC is looking for Tutors to support our local chapters for elementary and secondary education in math, ELA (English Language Arts) and Science. 

YMWIC is also looking for Volunteers to support our Science Projects during the September – February time frame.

Additional volunteer opportunities include:

Event committee participation with the Golf Classic, Scholarship Banquet, Science Expo and College Expo.

If you are interested in applying for a volunteer opportunity, please select this link; and we will contact you immediately. All volunteers must have the required clearances: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance which is required for all employees and some volunteers.

Want to keep up with our amazing YMWIC Scholars? We’ve got you covered! Follow us on Instagram and Meta (formerly Facebook) to stay in the loop on all the fun, learning, and exciting updates happening in our programs.

It’s super easy to join in! Just open your Instagram or Meta (Facebook) app, search for YMWICScholars, and hit that Follow button when you see our logo. Don’t be shy—drop a comment and say hi! 👋

We can’t wait to see you join our social media family and experience all the awesome things happening at YMWIC. Let’s have some fun together!

📲 Click HERE to follow us on Meta (Facebook)! 📸 Click HERE to catch us on Instagram!

Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC): YMWIC Foundation, Inc., is eligible to receive funds from the EITC Program which is administered by Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development. We thank those partners who donate their EITC funding to YMWIC Foundation and encourage others to consider directing funding to our impactful community nonprofit that provides college and career preparation for K-12 students; empowers their families; counseling, financial support and internships for YMWIC college alumni; and enriches our communities through Community Service activities, increasing the number of college graduates, and developing a talented and skilled workforce. Please contact Rick Roberts at (610) 340-2844 or Tanya Baxter at (610) 462-4565 if you would like to consider our YMWIC Foundation, Inc., as a recipient of your company's EITC funds. We thank those valued partners who currently donate EITC funds to our Foundation. Just a reminder to submit business applications online the date they are due.