History Of Say Yes To Education-Hartford Chapter


Say Yes to Education is a comprehensive student support program which aims to help at-risk students build productive lives by preparing them for college or advanced vocational training. The Say Yes to Education Program began in 1987, when University of Pennsylvania Trustee George Weiss and his wife, Dianne, offered to pay post-secondary school tuition for the 112 sixth grade graduates of the West Belmont Elementary School in West Philadelphia. This tuition offer is a motivational component for developing a support program for the students,
which includes counseling, tutoring, mentoring, summer programs and cultural enrichment activities.

October 1990 marked the inception of the Hartford chapter of Say Yes to Education, when 76 fifth grade students from Annie Fisher Elementary School came to the University of Hartford and received the same promise of assistance with tuition costs at either the University of Hartford or other accredited post-secondary institutions. The University of Hartford gift was linked with what is now called the Hartford Scholars Program, which provides half-tuition at the university for Hartford Public School graduates.

Say Yes to Education's Hartford Chapter had several goals:

As of June 2005 the Hartford chapter of Say Yes To Education ended.

Our accomplishments were that sixty out of the seventy six students graduated from high school, that's seventy nine percent. Fifty eight of the sixty high school graduates attempted some type of post secondary education.

Abrahams, Nikaki Bachelors University of Hartford
Addman, Dwaine Bachelors Mercy College
Barrett, Titania Bachelors UPENN
Bascoe, Duwaine Bachelors Morehouse College
Bramwell, Latecia Bachelors Morgan State University
Chever, Syreeta Bachelors St. Augustine
Davis, Tanesha Bachelors Central CT State University
Foy, Jamaal Bachelors Springfield College
Guthrie, Natoya Bachelors Teikyo Post University
Hudson, Heron Bachelors Howard University 
Jackson, Andrea Bachelors College of New Rochelle
Johnson, Derrick Bachelors Virginia State University
King, Jatonda Bachelors University of New Haven
Kokaram, Ryan Bachelors UPENN
Mack, Destinee Bachelors Fordham University
Miller, Janielle Bachelors American International College
Mundell, Karole Bachelors Johnson & Wales '06
Peggins, Vernell Bachelors Wesleyan University
Roane, Morgan Bachelors Fairfield University
Robinson, LaToiya Bachelors University of Hartford
Smith, Lenise Bachelors Howard University 
Tillman, Staria Bachelors St. Josephs College '06
Webb, Cheryl Bachelors Penn State University
Williams, Keena Bachelors Johnson C. Smith
Campbell, Alex Associates University of Hartford
Dawkins, Ansley Associates Manchester Community College
Jackson, Delshawn Associates Hesser Junior College
Lawson, Sonya Associates Goodwin College
Llewellyn, Karl Associates University of Hartford
London, Oneica Associates University of Hartford
James, Hartnell Associates Ashworth College '06
Bryan, Andrew Certificate Fox Business Institute
Campbell, Nick Certificate Baran Institute
Cox, Sherrelle Certificate Capital Community College
Hamilton, Angeline Certificate Fox Business Institute
Knighton, Gerald Certificate New England Technical Institute
Mickens, Gabrielle Certificate CT Culinary Institute
Shannon, Alan Certificate Fox Business Institute
Stuart, Katie Certificate Capital Community College
Thomas, Stephen Certificate Fox Business Institute
Torres-Rodrigez, Madeline Certificate Fox Business Institute
Williams, Shante Certificate CT Institute of Hair Design

 

Say Yes to Education Staff
Founder: George Weiss
Director: Connie J. Coles , Hartford Chapter
Project Coordinator: Jarrod McMillian
Financial Coordinator: Louise Melanson
Sponsors: Mort Handel
                Irma Handel
                John Berman