YMWIC February 2025 Newsletter

Preparing Our Scholars to Create Tomorrow's Solutions

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.”

~ Alexander Graham Bell

On Saturday, February 15, 2025, YMWIC held its 14^th Annual Science Expo. Scholars from all nine chapters throughout the region came together on West Chester University of Pennsylvania’s campus to present their Science Projects. Having started their projects in September 2024, Scholars have been eagerly awaiting this moment to describe the process and present their data and results to the judges for the chance to win first, second, or third place in their Scholar group.



For their projects, Scholars were tasked to complete background research, conduct an experiment, write a lab report based on their findings, and create a display board and PowerPoint slide show to present at the Expo. Read more.

Our Scholars recently visited Johnson Matthey, a YMWIC Partner, and saw how STEM is shaping a cleaner, more sustainable future. For over 200 years, Johnson Matthey, founded in 1817, has tackled the world's toughest challenges with their expertise in advanced metals chemistry. Today, they are making their biggest impact yet by helping industries decarbonize, cut emissions, and drive the net zero transition. The future is sustainable; Johnson Matthey is here to catalyze it; and YMWIC is preparing our Scholars to continue these efforts and create new solutions. Read more.

Scholars: Enjoying the Newsletter? Become a Junior Editor with YMWIC Journalism SIG!

YMWIC is looking for ambitious high school Scholars to join our team of Junior Editors and write articles for our monthly newsletter. All 9th - 12th grade Scholars with a passion for writing are encouraged to join us on Saturday, March 8, for the first meeting of YMWIC’s Journalism SIG.

Our Journalism SIG will be held at YMWIC Headquarters: 1160 McDermott Drive, West Chester, PA 19380 at the beginning of each month. Junior Editors will get to choose what they want to write about and learn valuable skills such as citing sources and interviewing. This resume builder is a great opportunity for any Scholars interested in writing. Join us; we would love to have you participate!

Contact your Project Coordinator to sign up!

YMWIC MathCounts and TMAL Teams are prepared for the NSBE Conference

The YMWIC middle school MathCounts and High School Tri-Math-A-Lon (TMAL) Teams are hard at work during the Saturday Math SIG preparing for the upcoming competitions at the 50th National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Annual Conference on March 6, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Eight Team members, Team coaches Wanda Allaire and Jeanne Cavuto accompanied by Mr. Roberts, and a few parent chaperones will be flying out for the big week. 

Our Team is well-prepared. We are rooting for them and wishing them a safe and enjoyable trip! More details to come in next month's Newsletter.

Chester Upland Chapter: Dior Livingston is a new addition to YMWIC, enjoying her first year in the Program. As a 9th grade student, she’s finding that she really appreciates the opportunities and support YMWIC offers. She enjoys the supportive and caring atmosphere where we review key concepts together, and there is no judgment in asking for help. As a Scholar focused on academic excellence, she has achieved Honor Roll. Dior hopes to become a lawyer after successfully completing college. Read more.

Coatesville Chapter: Meet Jasmin Murungi, a 10th grade student at Coatesville Area High School. An enthusiastic and dedicated Scholar, her favorite subjects are African American History and Personal Finance. Because of her commitment to academic excellence, she has consistently been an Honor Roll student. An accomplished athlete, she plays soccer in the fall and runs track during winter and spring. In addition, she is a member of the Black Student Union. Read more.

Furness Chapter: Kiara Young is a proud 9th grade Scholar at Furness High School in Philadelphia with a passion for History, her favorite subject. As a sports enthusiast, she enjoys flag football and track. She is new to YMWIC this year, and she’s already making her mark with her bright personality. While she’s still figuring out what she wants to do after high school, Kiara knows how to enjoy the simple things in life—eating and sleeping are at the top of her list. The person she admires most is herself, and we love that confidence! Welcome, Kiara. We’re excited to work with you. 

Martin Luther King Chapter: Gabrielle Godbolt is in the 10th grade at MLK and is new to YMWIC this Program Year. We asked Gabrielle about her experiences with the Foundation and she replied, "So far, I’m enjoying pretty much everything. I love that this Foundation provides many opportunities including Saturday school work help, tutoring, and robotics. I also enjoy the connections I’ve made." She adds, "The biggest impact is the improvement in my speaking skills. I’m also noticing how my confidence continues to grow." Read more.

Norristown Blockson Chapter: An Honor Roll student and 6th grade Student of the Month, Zachary B. Williams attends East Norriton Middle School. As a matter of fact, he has been honored as Student of the Month in each grade since starting school! Having joined YMWIC this Program Year, Zachary most enjoys the activities related to Science and Math. He appreciates that the Foundation’s staff and volunteers provide tutoring before his math tests, saying, “These are great reviews that make me feel confident when I take a test.” He adds, "The Foundation’s staff and resources have helped me keep track of my grades and study habits.” Read more.

Norristown Eisenhower Chapter: Meet Daniel Craig, an 8th-grade student at Wissahickon Middle School and a member of YMWIC since last year. He enjoys being a Foundation Scholar. He loves learning new things and working on projects; because of his affable nature, he easily interacts with other Scholars and makes new friends. To others who are interested in joining the Program, he says, “The Program gives you so much information and things to think about, and it is fun. You also will meet new friends and learn together collaboratively, which is a skill demanded in the workplace.” Read more.

Upper Darby Chapter: Oyin Olowu, an 11th-grade Scholar at Upper Darby High School, has been part of YMWIC since her freshman year. She loves the connections she’s built and the opportunities to give back through Community Service, which she finds especially rewarding.

“The biggest impact YMWIC has had on me is the support and help they’ve provided,” says Oyin, who aspires to pursue a career in the medical field, focusing on surgery or neuroscience. Read more.

West Chester Chapter: Meet Neida Ordonez, a vivacious 10th grade student at Great Valley High School. Neida, who has been an Honor Roll student, joined YMWIC this Program Year. She has committed to being engaged in the Foundation by fully participating and wants to be an example for other Scholars. Presenting and defending her Science Project at the YMWIC Science Expo this month has surely helped in her goal of overcoming challenges with public speaking. She says, "It was important for me to become more comfortable speaking in front of groups." Read more.

William Penn Chapter: This is Ibrahim Kamara’s second year in the YMWIC Pre-College Program, and he is now an ambitious 10th grade student at Penn Wood High School. Ibrahim’s favorite part of the Program thus far is getting to participate in the Community Service events. He appreciates that YMWIC’s staff and services provided are helping him discover a career he is interested in pursuing. He has big plans after high school.  Ibrahim would like to attend Temple University, possibly to pursue Pharmaceuticals. Ibrahim believes that hard work pays off, and he’s certainly seen the results of it after achieving honor roll multiple times. Ibrahim, continue working hard; you are inspiring others.

Anthony Stokes Named Student of the Month



Kudos to Anthony Stokes of the Chester Upland Chapter for being named Chester STEM Academy’s Student of the Month for February! This award, which he proudly displays in the photo at left, recognizes a student who has shown significant growth throughout the year. Well done, Anthony!

Workshop 11

For Workshop 11, STEM Educators and Project Coordinators gave the Scholars some tips and tricks on public speaking for their Science Expo presentations. Scholars learned about the importance of speaking clearly and confidently while giving their presentations. To prepare for presenting their Science Projects, some Scholars chose to make note cards to help them remember what to say and always face the audience. Scholars then had the opportunity to do a dry run of their presentations and receive feedback from their peers. This allowed them to work on their time management skills and relax some of the anxiety around presenting. Read more.

As a way to demonstrate the importance of giving back to the community and having compassion for those in need, YMWIC offers opportunities for our Scholars to participate in Community Service events. Our Chapters have participated in the following:

Chester Upland Chapter

On February 1st, Chester Upland Scholars paid a visit to the ACCESS Chester Community Center to help them care for the facility. Scholars split into two teams: some took the task of cleaning the building while others took the task of helping the organization prepare for their week of working with the community. ACCESS is a community center that seeks to promote quality of life and access to resources for all individuals of the Chester Upland area. Scholars on the Cleaning Team worked to clean the windows, meeting rooms, and bathrooms while those on the Prep Team assisted in making sandwiches and blessing bags filled with toiletries.

Martin Luther King High School Chapter

On February 17th, Scholars from the MLK Chapter of YMWIC visited Stenton Family Manor, a shelter that supports families experiencing homelessness. Read more.

Toyca Williams is mother to 6th grade Norristown Blockson Chapter Scholar, Zachary B. Williams. New to the Program this year, Toyca was drawn to the Foundation’s Pre-College Program; because it is academically focused, socially engaging, and community-minded. The family joined in the hopes of finding a consistent and empowering outlet for Zachary where he could build confidence and pursue academic excellence.

Since enrolling her son in the Program, Toyca has seen how Zachary embodies the credo in his day-to-day life, “He believes what he is reciting. Read more.

YMWIC Scholarship & Awards Banquet 15th Anniversary

This year, YMWIC will host our 15th Annual Scholarship & Awards Banquet! This exciting event will be held at the Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel in King of Prussia, PA, on Thursday, May 22, 2025. During the Banquet, we showcase our Scholars for their achievements and reward our graduating senior Scholars with the college scholarships they have earned to attend the colleges of their choice. There will be a delicious dinner and an inspiring message from a dynamic Keynote Speaker, Pamela R. McCauley, Ph.D., CPE -- Dean and Professor, School of Engineering, Widener University.

We will also honor industry executives who are champions in supporting YMWIC and our communities with the following awards:

• West Impact Award: Ansys Government Initiatives (AGI); Award accepted by Kevin Flood -- AGI President
• Educational Leadership Award for Secondary Education: Mrs. Keisha Q. Wilkins -- Martin Luther King High School Principal and Dr. Stacey Mitchell-Precia -- Martin Luther King High School Assistant Principal
• Educational Leadership Award for Post-Secondary Education: Dr. Brian M. Forster -- Saint Joseph's University, GEP Science Lab Coordinator (College of Arts & Sciences), Chemical Hygiene Officer (Environmental Health & Radiation Safety (Hawk Hill Campus)
• Community Leadership Award: Marie Hegarty -- Project Management Institute, Delaware Valley Chapter (PMI-DVC), Chapter Board member, VP, Membership & Volunteers

Join us as we celebrate our Scholars and Community Leaders and 15 glorious years of hosting this evening of fellowship and fun! To register to attend this amazing event or to make a donation, use this link.

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If you would like to sponsor this popular event, make a donation, or purchase an ad in our Souvenir Program Booklet, please click here.

YMWIC STEAM & Language Arts 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 Chester Upland, Coatesville, Norristown, Phoenixville, Upper Darby, and West Chester School Districts, and Martin Luther King High School in Philadelphia scheduled Mondays - Thursdays from June 16 - July 24, 2025.

To let us know you are interested in having your student(s) attend as we plan this summer's enrichment programs, click here. We will reach out to you with an Application link with specific dates, times, and locations for your School District after details have been finalized.

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

March 5 – 9, 2025: National Society of Black Engineers Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois

April 14 – 18, 2025: College Tour to Ohio State University, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania State University, Saint Vincent College, and Robert Morris University

April – May, 2025: Job Shadowing Period*

April 26, 2025: Robotics Team Competition at Glen Mills, Maryland

May 22, 2025: 15th Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet*

June 16 – July 24, 2025: Summer 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.

Beginning this month, we will spotlight a member of our Operations Staff. These dedicated staff members fulfill many of the crucial functions of the day-to-day operation of the Foundation; and without them, our success would not be possible.

February's Featured Operations Staff is Ellis Manning, YMWIC's current Accountant. Ellis joined YMWIC in November of 2024; and though he joined us to help with bookkeeping, his contributions have since grown to include various vital operations such as analyzing financial data and supporting grant reporting.

A native of Washington, DC, Ellis pursued Philosophy and History in his college education. He went on to develop a rigorous career as a Restauranteur for a number of years, and his interest in the accounting side of restaurant management inspired him to pursue a second degree in Accounting. Read more.

YMWIC is looking for Tutors to support our local chapters for elementary and secondary education in math, ELA 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 businesses that 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 if you would like to consider our YMWIC Foundation, Inc., as the recipient of your company's EITC funds.