Gates Millenium Scholar
Summer 2009
Vinnie can afford to speak softly. His accomplishments speak for themselves. [Enrolling in Fall 2009] at Chicago’s Columbia College, one of the top music business schools in the country, he brings something to the table, having performed around town with his hip-hop group, Turf Noize.
“I want to be a record producer,” he says. “I’m gonna do that.”
Vinnie has that kind of confidence. He’s been an accomplished athlete as well as a high-performing student at Roosevelt’s math and science-oriented POWER Academy (3.50 GPA). He also has left an impression on the youth of his St. Johns neighborhood, having mentored and taught children at James John Elementary School for three years.
“That’s the best part of my day,” Vinnie says. “I just like kids.”
For all of his self-assurance, Vinnie still marvels remembering the day [in the spring of 2009] when he learned he’d become a Gates Millennium Scholar, which will fund his post-high school education.
“It doesn’t happen to people from St. Johns,” he says. His mentor, Hanif Fazal of [Open Meadow’s] youth empowerment program Step Up, says such things do happen to young men like Vinnie, who walked a straight path even as friends veered toward trouble.
“He is an example of what is possible,” Fazal says. “He has made a lot of great choices along the way and learned from some of the wrong choices.”
Your gift of $250 buys materials, supplies, and transportation for service learning activities for 24 students for a school year.
Vinnie can afford to speak softly. His accomplishments speak for themselves. [Enrolling in Fall 2009] at Chicago’s Columbia College, one of the top music business schools in the country, he brings something to the table, having performed around town with his hip-hop group, Turf Noize.
“I want to be a record producer,” he says. “I’m gonna do that.”
Vinnie has that kind of confidence. He’s been an accomplished athlete as well as a high-performing student at Roosevelt’s math and science-oriented POWER Academy (3.50 GPA). He also has left an impression on the youth of his St. Johns neighborhood, having mentored and taught children at James John Elementary School for three years.
“That’s the best part of my day,” Vinnie says. “I just like kids.”
For all of his self-assurance, Vinnie still marvels remembering the day [in the spring of 2009] when he learned he’d become a Gates Millennium Scholar, which will fund his post-high school education.
“It doesn’t happen to people from St. Johns,” he says. His mentor, Hanif Fazal of [Open Meadow’s] youth empowerment program Step Up, says such things do happen to young men like Vinnie, who walked a straight path even as friends veered toward trouble.
“He is an example of what is possible,” Fazal says. “He has made a lot of great choices along the way and learned from some of the wrong choices.”
Your gift of $250 buys materials, supplies, and transportation for service learning activities for 24 students for a school year.
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