Graduation Dreams Fulfilled “I Have a Dream" celebrates the graduation of thirteen Dreamers and awards college scholarships. I have a dream.
I am a Dreamer.
I believe in my dream.
My family believes in me.
My sponsors believe in me.
My family, my teachers, my sponsors – I won’t let you down.
I am going to stay in school, work hard, and study hard.
I am going to go all the way to college and make it big.
I am proud to be a Dreamer.
I have a dream. This is the pledge that was made over ten years ago by thirteen very special elementary school children as they were inducted into the “I Have a Dream” program in the Broadway and Casa Dreamer Classes. The Dreamers stood in front of their family and friends and vowed that they would “go all the way to college and make it big.” “I Have a Dream” staff and Class Sponsors (Linda Shoemaker & Steve Brett and Debbie Lane & Steve Szabo) made the commitment to never give up on them, no matter what. After a decade of hard work, perseverance, and many obstacles, these Dreamers are fulfilling their dreams of high school graduation and are on their way to college and of course “making it big.” According to Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley School Districts, only 50-56% of these low-income, at-risk students (majority of them Hispanic) were expected to graduate from high school. That was before “I Have a Dream” intervened with its early dropout prevention program. Today, “I Have a Dream” is proud to report that over 90 percent graduated this spring, and 86 percent are continuing on to post-secondary education, both college and vocational compared to 9-15% of their peers. They all had obstacles and economic barriers to overcome, but in the program they all have one thing in common – opportunity. Each Dreamer is eligible for an “I Have a Dream” scholarship, which provides up to $4,500 per year to the higher education setting of the student’s choice. 
On May 13th, “I Have a Dream” hosted a special graduation ceremony for the Dreamers and their families at the Xilinx Retreat Center in Longmont. These Dreamers were awarded their scholarships for higher education and were acknowledged for their achievements in the “I Have a Dream” program. Click here to see a profiles of the graduates. “Our Dreamers have gone through so much and have worked so hard to get to graduation day,” said Lori Canova, chief executive officer. “We are extremely proud of them and we know that their futures are bright.” |
