Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County celebrated 160 graduating seniors on May 11 at the Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds in a triumphant College Decision Day event. All 160 students in the program achieved a 100 percent graduation rate, collectively earning more than $1.6 million in scholarship funding with the support of mentors, donors and community partners.
The celebration, modeled after College Decision Day for athletes, featured graduates walking across the stage and donning hats representing the colleges and trade programs they will attend this fall, a powerful visual of promise and accomplishment.
Nicole Cummings, a Wellington High School and Florida Atlantic University alumna who serves as program manager at Jupiter’s Aerojet Rocketdyne, delivered the keynote address. Cummings is part of the team that built the engine powering the Artemis II rocket in NASA’s historic mission around the moon. With 20 years in the aerospace industry, she shared her journey from Palm Beach County classrooms to the forefront of space exploration, urging graduates to embrace determination and the power of education.
“I can’t express the joy and gratitude I’ve experienced lately. The doors that have opened have been blessings beyond words. Thank you, Take Stock in Children, for inviting me to be your keynote speaker. It was amazing to watch the smiles on the graduates’ faces as they announced their choices!” Cummings said.
Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County provides college scholarships, mentoring and academic coaching to underserved youth through a multi-year wraparound model that supports students from middle school through postsecondary completion.
“This event is about celebrating not just where our students have been, but where they are going,” Take Stock in Children CEO Nancy Stellway said. “Having someone like Nicole, who walked these same halls and reached the stars, shows our graduates that their dreams are within reach.”
The event also featured remarks from Florida Atlantic University First Lady Jillian Hasner and was attended by community members, families and mentors who have supported the students throughout their journey.
Visit www.takestockpalmbeach.org to learn more.
