The Mentoring & Support Services Program at Ocala Middle School celebrated youth promotion during the “2015 Honoring Our Grads Celebration.” Over 200 youth, parents, volunteers, mentors, teachers, and community members attended the celebration held on June 9, 2015.
This celebration is a time to honor the achievements and promotion of all of our students. The theme this year, ‘Si Se Puede’ was chosen by program youth as a recognition that success is a group effort. The students decorated the room with quotes and pictures highlighting the spirit of ‘Si Se Puede.’
The night started with a performance from the Mariachi Tradicional de Alum Rock, a community arts program comprised of Alum Rock Elementary School District students. While guest enjoyed a delicious dinner donated by local businesses, the Mt. Pleasant High School Folklorico group performed traditional Mexican dancing.
Our students were awarded certificates of completion and the students who went the extra mile received the Girish & Datta Shah Award for Academic Excellence. The Girish & Datta Shah Award for Academic Excellence is an incentive plan that recognizes leadership and academic honors at each of the grade levels – sixth, seventh and eighth grades – and also provides specific prizes for freshmen who have completed the Ocala program and then gone on to sustain academic excellence during their first year of high school.
Thank you to our event supporters: Sprouts, Costco, Zanotto’s Market, Tropicana Foods, Safeway, Target, Super Taqueria, Mi Pueblo, La Mexicana Panaderia, Bui Phong Bakery, Josie Yanez & Orchard Supply Hardward; and thank you to ARCC supporters for investing in ARCC so that we can continue to provide critical services for youth.
To see all the event pictures, visit our FACEBOOK page!