November 2021 News
YMWIC is Moving to Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
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Quote of the Month
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
-- Nelson Mandela
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Hello, YMWIC Supporters,
YMWIC was fortunate to once again host our Annual College & Career Expo at B. Reed Henderson High School with almost 300 participants. It was exciting to see and be able to interact with Scholars, their families, and our Partners. In addition, we partnered with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to almost 500 children and adults. Both events were a success, as all were enriched and benefited from the wealth of information they received and the ability to receive vaccines.
Following last year's successful event, YMWIC will participate in GivingTuesday again this year. GivingTuesday will take place on November 30, 2021. This Global Day of GivingTuesday gives donors, such as yourselves, to support the nonprofit organization of your choice, while keeping your donation dollars local. You have the ability to share where you care. We ask that you consider investing in YMWIC and support our Mission, “To empower and prepare economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented youth to excel and become leaders in STEM careers.” Your generous donation will enable us to continue to improve and grow our programming and to provide scholarships to our Scholars.
Our Foundation continues to flourish as we build our infrastructure. In the near future, we will be relocating to a new headquarters located at Cheyney University and will purchase a 15-passenger van to transport Scholars to and from program activities. Once again, none of this would be possible without you, our Donors and Partners; and we give you a heartfelt thank you for your generosity.
With gratitude,
Richard Roberts, III
(610) 340-2844
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YMWIC MISSION:
To empower and prepare economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented youth to excel and become leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers through academic tutoring, mentoring and financial assistance programs, accomplished by leveraging alliances with K-12 school districts, universities, corporations, and our committed partners.
YMWIC CORE VALUES:
We Believe we can significantly impact the future of our youth through education and extraordinary leadership.
We Value Commitment, Honor and Accountability and through these principles we are dedicated to the tradition of excellence in serving our youth, our partners and our community.
We Promote Engagement and Collaboration by treating all people with respect and sincerity to create an environment of openness where shared success can be achieved.
We Demonstrate Quality by working efficiently and effectively to continuously improve our programs for the benefit of our Scholars.
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GivingTuesday is November 30, 2021. This global day of giving allows generous donors like you to transform the lives of our Scholars, their families, and our communities. You can help make the change you wish to see. Once again, YMWIC is excited to participate in this year’s 2021 GivingTuesday. We’re certain you want your dollars spent locally and wisely. Will you consider investing in YMWIC Foundation, Inc., to support and champion our Mission to shape the future of our STEM professionals while having a positive impact on their families and our communities? Please contribute to make a difference. For an even greater impact, consider making a recurring donation.
Select this link to receive a reminder on November 30, 2021 to make your GivingTuesday donation to YMWIC.
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Thank You for Your Continued Support |
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YMWIC is expanding its program into Philadelphia. Thanks to the generosity of Glaxo Smithkline (GSK), YMWIC received funding to launch our program in two locations within the City of Brotherly Love. We thank GSK for your generosity and look forward to a lasting partnership. |
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Special thanks to the Sponsors of the 2021 YMWIC 16th Annual College & Career Expo and Free COVID Vaccination Event. Teva Pharmaceuticals was Title Sponsor for the event and LaFrance was also a Sponsor. We thank them for their generous support of our annual event.
YMWIC is now able to provide additional transportation support to many of our Scholars. Thanks to the generosity of Justamere Foundation, YMWIC is now able to purchase a 15-passenger van. This comes at an opportune time in our growth plans.
We also thank Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for their partnership at the College Expo by providing COVID-19 vaccines to 488 participants and the community.
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Thank you to ifm Efector, Inc. for your Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation to support the YMWIC Robotics program. |
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November’s featured Superintendent is Dr. Craig L. Parkinson of the Chester Upland School District. Dr. Parkinson graduated from Millersville University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and earned a Master’s Degree in Education from West Chester University. He was a practicing social worker for eight years before entering the field of education. He held multiple positions in education including special education teacher, administrator, Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, and Principal. During the 15 years in his positions of Assistant Principal and High School Building Principal in the Phoenixville Area School District, Dr. Parkinson had the opportunity to help transition the school district into one of the top districts in the state of Pennsylvania as well as the country. Read more.
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YMWIC 16th Annual College Expo Recap |
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The YMWIC 16th Annual College & Career Expo and Free COVID Vaccination Event took place on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at B. Reed Henderson High School in West Chester, PA. We were so excited to be able to meet in person again this year! Masked Scholars, families from all of our seven chapters, and community members attended. During the morning sessions, they received invaluable information from our dynamic workshop presenters Martina Walls, Justin Menda, Jimmy White, Theresa Gibson, Steven Bistany, Billy Haviland, Susan Lombardi, and Linda Pacewicz about topics relating to preparing for and financing college, exploring careers, staying healthy, and more. Read more.
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Chester Upland Chapter: Zion Lawrence is one of our new Scholars, joining the Chester Upland Chapter this year. As a 10th grade student at STEM Academy at Showalter, he’s earned Distinguished Honor Roll status the first marking period. Zion is grateful for a chance encounter he and his grandfather had with Mr. Roberts after school one day. He told them about YMWIC and how it would benefit Zion. Since joining the Foundation, Zion most likes the YMWIC environment and how nice, kind and helpful everyone is. He appreciates how he has already noticed improvement in his social and communication skills. Read more.
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Coatesville Chapter: Stefan Fialkowski is in the 12th grade at Coatesville Area Senior High. He first learned of YMWIC at a school assembly and has enjoyed all of the opportunities YMWIC has given him to interact with representatives from colleges and corporate partners. YMWIC activities, resources, and staff have also helped prepare him with the path to his future by exposing him to opportunities and learning activities he will need to be successful. Stefan plans to work to become a Materials Scientist.
Stefan’s hobbies are robotics, gaming and camping. His advice to students who are considering YMWIC is to, “Take every opportunity given to do something you want to do or you haven't tried before.” That’s great advice, Stefan, we agree.
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Norristown Chapter: Dayanis Morales Salgado is a new member in our Norristown Chapter this year and is in the 8th grade at Eisenhower Science & Technology Leadership Academy. At YMWIC, she most enjoys the sense of community and mutual support it fosters among its members. Since joining, she says that she has been encouraged to step outside of her comfort zone and try new things.
In the future, Dayanis would like to be a surgeon. At the YMWIC College & Career Expo, her interest was piqued by Penn Medicine and their MD Program at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Phoenixville Chapter: Scholar Cameron English is new to YMWIC this year. He says, “I am an 8th grade student at Phoenixville Middle School. I joined YMWIC in October of this year. So far, I am most impressed by learning so much about science and STEM. I like this because I’d like to be a Computer Engineer or a Scientist after graduating from college. Although it’s early, I think I would like to attend Drexel, Pitt (University of Pittsburgh, Penn State or the University of Maryland.”
My advice to younger Scholars, “Work hard now so that things will be easier later.” Read more.
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Upper Darby Chapter: Olaoluwayemi Dayo Haverford High School where he is in the 9th grade. He joined YMWIC in January, 2021. When asked what he enjoys most about YMWIC, he replied, “Even though I haven’t been in the YMWIC Foundation for long, I enjoy the information I learn during the workshops and the opportunity the Science Expo provided.”
Olaoluwayemi plans on becoming an entrepreneur but is also considering becoming a doctor first to get funds for his business later on. Read more.
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West Chester Chapter: Diana Morales Viveros attends West Chester East High School and is in her senior year. It was her mother who introduced her to YMWIC. Since joining, she has most enjoyed the people involved in it saying, “Everyone is so nice, and it is just a comfortable place to be in. It has prepared me for college.” As a member of YMWIC, Diana has gained more confidence in her public speaking. She is has had the opportunity to connect with companies that could possibly help her in the future. Read more.
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William Penn Chapter: Inza Soumaro is in the 8th grade at Penn Wood Middle School. Inza learned of YMWIC after his mother attended an Open House and registered him. He most enjoys doing science experiments in the workshops. Inza expects that he will be ahead of other students when he attends college as a result of participating in YMWIC. He wants to be an engineer who creates and constructs buildings.
Inza’s hobbies are playing online video games with his friends, hanging out with them, and playing basketball and football. Read more.
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Workshops #4 were filled with fun and learning. Future Stars and Pluto Scholars made “rockets” out of paper, tape, and weights with direction from YMWIC partner, DaVinci Science. At the same time, Neptune Scholars also worked with DaVinci Science volunteers using baking soda and other common household chemicals to create chemical reactions. High School Scholars learned computer coding using the Python coding language with Lockheed Martin volunteers. Parents reinforced their commitment to the Foundation by learning about volunteer needs for our upcoming events and committing to volunteer activities and tasks in support of the Scholars.
In our Workshops #5, Scholars worked on their science projects. They were able to catch up to the project milestones, gather experiment materials, and plan their schedules to complete the next project phases. YMWIC partners and tutors will be available to assist Scholars in all phases of their projects during Project Support which is scheduled several days each week and Saturdays at Headquarters.
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The YMWIC Robotics Club meets on Saturdays at our Headquarters and is open to Scholars in all grades. Over the last two months, the younger Scholars have been working to navigate their robots to a series of locations on their obstacle mat. They programed their robots using the programing language C and have now mastered moving their robots.
Our high school Scholars first worked to develop the design for our basic robot to create what we are calling the YMWIC Standard Demobot. After the design phase was completed, the more experienced Scholars have been working to make sure that all of our robots have the same configuration for the wheels, servos, sensors, and camera.
The Scholars who are new to robotics have been learning to program the robots, and have learned to use the motors and servos to navigate the robot and pick up items. Several of our high school Scholars have been tasked with teaching programming to the younger Scholars and the newer high school Scholars.
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Featured Volunteer and Family Member |
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Ruth Montes-Ocampo and her brother Vincente Montes have been members of the YMWIC Coatesville chapter since 2019. She says, “We decided to join YMWIC, because it gave students of color the opportunity to reach their goals and make them feel that they do matter.” She likes the way Mr. Roberts and others take time out to help students succeed academically. She adds, “They also help students prepare to be successful in college and show them that they can get accepted into the school of their dreams, and/or to the school they would like to attend. I like how they give Scholars the tools necessary to succeed and offer internships in career areas based on their college major.” Read more.
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Enrollment is Open for 2021-2022 Program Year |
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Enrollment is still open for 3rd - 11th grade students in the Chester Upland, Coatesville, Norristown, Phoenixville, Upper Darby, West Chester, and William Penn School Districts. If you are interested in becoming an active member of YMWIC and securing your future, you can visit our website at ymwicfoundation.org to learn more about the Foundation and how we will benefit your Scholar and your family.
Please spread the word about YMWIC and forward this Newsletter to your family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, or anyone who may be interested in this exceptional program focused on academic excellence. Use this link to complete an inquiry form, and we will contact you to tell you more about YMWIC and how it benefits students and their families.
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2021 Annual Holiday Party & Family Giving Event
YMWIC invites you to participate in our 2021 Annual Holiday Party & Family Giving Event. This year we are able to once again celebrate with each other on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Peirce Middle School in West Chester, PA, with a potluck dinner. There will be games, music, mingling, and of course, great food! Each of the seven YMWIC Chapters will assist a designated family in need residing within that Chapter community. We reach out to our partners to find needy families, such as single mothers with small children, and will assist these seven families with food, gifts and gift cards to brighten their holiday seasons.
If you would like to join us in supporting these families, you can make a donation. Please be generous in your giving, the minimum donation is $15. Make your donation by Saturday, November 27th by mailing your check to YMWIC, P.O. Box 1954, West Chester, PA 19380, or selecting this link.
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YMWIC 11th Annual Science Expo
On March 5, 2022, YMWIC will host our Annual Science Expo. Beginning in September of 2021, YMWIC Scholars selected a science project and used the scientific method to execute their projects. They are required to meet specific deadlines for their project Research Plan, Lab Report, Project Board, and PowerPoint presentation. The culmination of their projects is the presentation and defending of their project at the Expo.
Volunteers from many YMWIC corporate partners serve as mentors to the Scholars throughout the project process, and also as judges for the Scholars’ presentation boards and oral presentations. During the afternoon session, you can view all of the science project exhibits. After the exhibits, our dynamic keynote speaker will deliver an inspiring science-related message. Scholars and parents can register here.
If you would like to join the YMWIC team of Sponsors or Partners for our 11th Annual Science Expo, use this link.
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12th Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet
YMWIC will host our 12th Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet. We are excited that this year we can return to having a live event, which will be held at the Valley Forge Sheraton Hotel in King of Prussia, PA! During the Banquet, we showcase our Scholars for their achievements, and reward our senior Scholars with the college scholarships they earned to attend the colleges of their choice. In addition, there will be a Silent Auction, dinner, and a Caribbean trip for two raffle.
We will also honor industry executives who are champions in supporting YMWIC and our communities with the West Impact Award, the Educational Leadership Award for Secondary Education, the Educational Leadership Award for Post-Secondary Education, and the Community Leadership Award.
Join us as we celebrate our Scholars and enjoy an evening of fellowship and fun! To register, use this link.
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YMWIC 9th Annual Scholarship and Golf Classic
Join us on Monday, August 29, 2022, 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, an open buffet lunch, and an open buffet dinner. There will be a Silent Auction and prizes for our guests and winners. For non-golfers, please join us for the evening Banquet and networking dinner event, which will include a buffet dinner, live jazz, and much more. To register, use this link.
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YMWIC 2021 Seniors Plan for their Futures |
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Not only does YMWIC support and nurture our current Scholars, we also encourage Scholars to remain in close contact with us after they graduate from our program, and we continue to keep up with them throughout college. We track their progress and offer support when needed. Here are our current seniors and their post-graduation plans, including what their college majors might be, and the colleges they are considering: |
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Sahdahya Addy: Psychology or Chemistry Colleges: Liberty University (top choice), George Mason University, Virginia Tech, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, West Chester University
Karen Aguilar: Chemistry Colleges: West Chester University and University of Delaware
Stefan Fialkowski: Taking a gap year
Naomi Fuiman: Veterinarian, Zoologist or Physical Therapist Colleges: Elizabethtown, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Newman College
Alexandra Galan Dominguez: Undecided major College: Immaculata University
Brittany Hoopes: Veterinary Technician Colleges: Manor College and Harcum College
Franco Juncal: Business and Marketing: West Chester University
Mark Karikari: Mathematics and Engineering Colleges: Lehigh University, University of Delaware, The College of New Jersey and Swarthmore College
Daniel Mena: Hardware Engineering Colleges: University of Massachusetts, Saint Vincent College, West Chester University
Isabella Mena: Exercise Science and Psychology Colleges: Manhattan College, University of Tampa, Pace University
Diana Morales-Viveros: Architecture Colleges: University of Maryland, Penn State University, Thomas Jefferson University
Pablo Quintero: Colleges: West Chester University, Rosemont College, Temple University and Villanova University
Esteban Ramos-Vilches: Colleges: Drexel University, Saint Joseph’s University, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, University of Richmond
Tamia Satterwhite: Interested in Colleges in Florida and New York
Steven Scherzer, Jr.: Undecided
Lauren Rose Sitek: Biology Colleges: University of Pittsburg, Penn State University, University of Pennsylvania, Millersville University, The University of Maryland, New York University and Columbia University
Faith Williams: Chemistry Colleges: Lincoln University or West Chester University
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Education 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 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 by 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.
Amazon Smile and YMWIC: Using Amazon Smile costs you nothing but can make a world of difference to our Scholars and the resources we provide. When you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. When making online purchases from Amazon, simply search for YMWIC Foundation or YMIC Foundation. Your product cost will not increase when donating to YMWIC.
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Thanks for Your Generous Support |
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