YMWIC August 2024 Newsletter

YMWIC Continues to Stay on Track with Strategic Plan

“We must become the change we want to see.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Our sincere thanks to the Foundation for Delaware County for the second of a three-year Impact Grant in support of our Scholars in the YMWIC Summer and After-School Programs.

We thank West Chester University of Pennsylvania for their continued support and partnership with YMWIC and the YMWIC Upward Bound Program.

Thank you to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, for hosting the annual Residential Summer Science Retreat for YMWIC Middle and High School Scholars.

Matthew Wilford, a 2020 YMWIC graduate, fondly remembers his time spent with the Foundation. When asked how we helped to prepare him for life, he responded, "Being a member of YMWIC equipped me with a work ethic, soft skills, and determination. In college, my achievements did not come solely from my academics. The most successful students in college are those who are socially active, get help with their studies, and have a clear focus on their future and present."

After high school graduation, Matthew attended Cheyney University, majoring in Computer Science and Liberal Studies with a concentration in Business Analytics. He graduated in the Spring of 2024. He says, "I had a fantastic college experience. Attending the nation’s oldest HBCU (Historically Black College and University) afforded so many opportunities. Read more.

If you are 18-25 years of age, select this link to join us in a Zoom Information Session on September 4, at 6:30PM, to learn more about the YMWIC Pre-Apprenticeship Program.  

The Pre-Apprenticeship Program is designed to provide our young adults with hands-on experience and mentorship in a rewarding career path. This innovative program aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application, equipping our participants with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in their future careers. Read more.

If you have a student who is a rising 3rd - 11th grade student in the Chester Upland, Coatesville, Kennett Consolidated, Norristown, Phoenixville, Upper Darby, West Chester, or William Penn School Districts, or Horace Furness High School or Martin Luther King High School in Philadelphia, and you are interested in having them become a part of a dynamic and rewarding program, register them for the YMWIC Pre-College After-School and Out-of-School Time Program by selecting these links for the Online Scholar Application and the Scholar Personal Statement.

Our Program provides immersive and hands-on on-site opportunities for experiencing STEM, business, and the ARTS. We offer after-school and out-of-school-time workshops, Community Service events, a Science Expo, and tutoring; as well as College Prep, College Tours, assistance with the college Financial Aid and application process and an opportunity to earn College Scholarships!

Click this link to register for one of our virtual Open-House and Information Sessions, planned for Friday August 23, at 6:00PM; Tuesday, August 27, at 6:00PM; Tuesday, September 3, at 6:30PM; Monday, September 23, at 6:30PM, and Monday, September 30, at 6:30PM. 

We look forward to welcoming all new and returning Scholars to another exciting Program Year!

The last few weeks at the Young Men and Women in Charge Summer STEAM & Language Arts Summer Programs were a whirlwind of discovery, creativity, and unrelenting commitment to achieve goals. Our dedicated Scholars were deeply immersed in their science projects, diligently applying themselves to both the experimentation and preparation stages. Read more.

As the OST Summer Program at Martin Luther King High School came to a close, our Scholars had the opportunity to reflect on their journey. Throughout the camp, they visited four college campuses to learn about campus life, academic requirements, dormitory life and financial aid. The MLK Scholars enhanced their math and ELA as they prepared for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year. The Scholars enhanced their financial literacy skills, learned about entrepreneurship, and presented a real non-profit organization project at their end-of-summer dinner and banquet event. The Scholars picked up the existing MLK Non-Profit business that was created during the spring. They created their budget, defined their fundraising project and two of their four community service projects for the 2024-2025 Program Year. The Scholars presented their projects to their parents and guests during the end-of-summer banquet. They will be presenting their entrepreneurship projects to the Martin Luther King High School principal in the upcoming weeks; this presentation was great practice. Read more.

The last few weeks of the Coatesville and Upper Darby Upward Bound Programs were packed with Nanoscience, entrepreneurship and career development experiences. Dr. Brandon Mitchell led the Scholars in an innovative Nanoscience experience in his state-of-the-art lab on the West Chester University of PA campus. Following several weeks of learning about digital electronics, the Scholars applied their experiences using sensors within the Arduino platform to write code. The Scholars applied their customized circuits to the automotive industry. Read more.

Five Keys to Finding the Right Career

by Timothy Biju – Upper Darby Chapter

One of the most critical decisions in a person's life will probably be the choice of career. A suitable career brings personal values, interests, and skills together in a job and working culture that matches an individual's personality. Some critical elements of finding a correct career path include self-awareness, researching careers, skill development, and networking. One may enhance their chances of building a fulfilling and long-lasting career by understanding and enforcing these factors.

1. Find Yourself

Self-Assessment

The first step in making a career choice is to understand yourself. In essence, self-assessment provides the foundation necessary for relating your values, interests, skills, and personality to possible careers. By conducting an effective self-assessment, a person can look at their passions and real motivators. Read more.

This summer, the West Chester site was buzzing with activity and learning, thanks to the incredible dedication of our volunteers. We are immensely grateful for their time, effort, and passion in supporting our Scholars.

A special shout-out goes to Mr. Aravind (at lower right in photo), who has been a consistent presence each week, assisting our Scholars with their Science Projects. His expertise and enthusiasm have greatly enhanced our Scholars' learning experience, sparking curiosity and fostering a love for science. We would also like to recognize Ms. Tami and Ms. Carol, who, during their visit with Ms. Lainie, generously spent part of their time helping our Scholars with their Display Boards. Their creativity and support have been invaluable in helping our Scholars showcase their hard work and achievements.

Thank you, Mr. Aravind and others who volunteered, for your unwavering support and dedication. Your contributions have made a significant impact on our Program and have helped create a positive and enriching environment for our Scholars. We are truly fortunate to have such wonderful volunteers in our community!

YMWIC 11th Annual Scholarship & STEM Golf Classic



IT'S ALMOST HERE! Join us on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the fabulous Penn Oaks Golf Club in a Scramble Golf Tournament and Fundraiser to support our Scholarship Program for the Young Men and Women In Charge (YMWIC) Foundation, Inc. You will meet our Scholars, network, and have fun as you help us raise scholarship funds.

Golfers will receive gifts and enjoy an open buffet lunch and an open buffet dinner. There will be prizes for our guests and winners. For non-golfers, please join us for the evening banquet and networking dinner event, which will include a delicious buffet dinner and much more. We plan to raffle a Caribbean trip for two to Punta Cana to include air-fare and an all-inclusive resort. Click here to register for this eagerly-anticipated event.

SAVE THE DATE for the YMWIC 19th Annual College & Career Expo!

The YMWIC 19th Annual College & Career Expo will take place on Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 9:00AM to 2:00PM at Henderson High School in West Chester, PA. College, Corporate, and Career representatives will provide Scholars and Parents with valuable career and college information on topics including: College Readiness and Admissions Qualifications, the College Application Process, FAFSA Form Process, Financial Literacy, STEM Careers, Personal Branding, Apprenticeships, Interviewing Skills

And much more!

Families and Community Members:

You can register to attend the YMWIC 19th Annual College & Career Expo by selecting this link.

College and University Representatives and Corporate and Community Partners:

You are invited to interact one-on-one with YMWIC Scholars and their families at the YMWIC 19th Annual College & Career Expo. To register to take part at this exciting event as a Workshop Presenter or Expo Exhibitor, click here.

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 timeframe.

Additional volunteer opportunities include:

• Event committee participation with the Golf Outing, 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.

Keep up with our Scholars and Program! You can stay on top of what YMWIC Scholars are doing by following us on both of our social media platforms, Instagram and Meta (formerly Facebook). This is a great way to receive constant updates on what’s happening at YMWIC. All you must do is go on your Instagram and/or Meta (Facebook) app and type YMWICscholars. Once you see our logo pop up, click Follow. Drop a Comment to say hello! Welcome to our social media family! Looking forward to seeing you join in on the fun.  



To connect with us online on Meta/Facebook, select this Link! To stay up to date with what’s happening at YMWIC via Instagram, you can select this Link.

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.