Thursday, March 15, 2012WARREN, Ohio -- Several graduates of Inspiring Minds, an enrichment program for under-represented youth, have been selected to further their education with some of the country’s most prestigious organizations. Inspiring Minds programs focus on education and exposure to new experiences as a means of building confidence and strengthening character.
Brad Smith, currently a student at Full Sail University in Florida, has been accepted into the Disney Training Intern Program. Deonte’ Stubbs, a John F. Kennedy High School graduate and a student at Wilmington College, has been awarded a theater scholarship to attend Niagara University in Niagara, N.Y., and Warren G. Harding graduate Shawn’a King, currently studying at Alabama A&M University, has been accepted into NASA’s summer internship program.
In addition, a Harding senior currently enrolled in the Inspiring Minds program, Ja'laya Provitt, has been awarded a National Merit Scholarship, said Deryck Toles, Inspiring Minds founder and executive director. “These students are perfect examples of what can be achieved in spite of growing up in a difficult environment,” Toles noted, adding that each of these students had the will to succeed and took full advantage of the opportunities that Inspiring Minds provided.
One component of the program involves student trips to different cities and colleges. “Learning what’s possible and what opportunities are out there really has an impact on these kids,” Toles said. Students have traveled to such places as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City in the United States and as far away as Puerto Rico.
On April 27, the program will honor graduating seniors and present scholarships at the 6th annual Inspiring Minds Gala at St. Demetrios Community Center in Warren. The public is invited. For ticket information, call 330-469-6729.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.