Greenwich Students Are AVID For Education

Graduation for Greenwich High School seniors is officially scheduled for Friday evening.

But a group of 16 GHS seniors got a jumpstart on their classmates with their own graduation ceremony three days ahead of the official June 21 ceremony.

The 16 students are members of the inaugural AVID - Advancement Via Individual Determination- class and they held a graduation recognition ceremony at the University of Connecticut-Stamford campus on June 18. The students completed an intense four-year program designed to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges. This year's class members all are the first in their families planning to attend college.

There are now 120 students participating in the program that was initiated in 2009 with a grant from the Greenwich Alliance for Education.

In addition to celebrating the seniors, who each received a personalized proclamation from Gov. Dannel Malloy, there also was recognition of the 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students, and welcome the incoming 9th grade AVID class. Each graduate also received a $500 stipend for college supplies from the Needs Clearing House, a private - public benefit partnership organized by Greenwich resident Joe Kaliko and state Rep. Fred Camillo of Old Greenwich.

The inaugural AVID class includes:
Brian Alba
Victor Arenas
Jenny Cespedes
Nadja DaCosta
Donna Dali
Gabriel Dali
Solmaria Figueroa
Gabriela Franchin
Natan Kurt
Edna Navarro
Sal Nevega
Andres Ortega Flores
Miguel Ramis
Manuela Rincon
Stephanie Rodas
Annie Zheng