The end of the school year is the beginning of a new adventure for Awesome Ambitions high school graduates in the Kansas City area.
They will become college students this fall and they are getting support from Awesome Ambitions. Founder and President of Awesome Ambitions, 41 Action News Midday Anchor, Cynthia Newsome, awarded scholarships last Saturday, May 6, 2017, at the end-of-the-year celebration for the Awesome Ambitions program.
Kimberly Johnson, Ed.D, Executive Staff Assistant to UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton; organized the closing ceremony that was held on the UMKC campus. More than 30 girls and their parents attended the event. Each girl was recognized for completing the program and scholarships were awarded to ten graduating girls totaling $5,000.
The scholarships were made possible by supporters attending the Awesome Ambitions, Awesome Purse-onality, purse fashion show, luncheon and auction on April 22, 2017, at KCP&L corporate headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. Mid America McDonald's was the Presenting Sponsor. Carolyn Watley, Vice-President, Community Engagement at CBIZ, was the Event Chair.
To see pictures of Awesome Purse-onality, click on this link to the gallery page.
Miss Kansas USA 2017, Catherine Carmichael; Miss Teen Kansas USA, Malerie Moore; and Miss Missouri Teen USA 2017, Sophia Dominguez-Heithoff were guest speakers. The celebrity guest was an internationally renowned singer and songwriter, Kansas City's own, Oleta Adams.
Awesome Ambitions is a free college and career readiness program celebrating 20 years of mentoring high school girls in the Kansas City area. The program started in 1997. Awesome Ambitions girls attend monthly seminars, field trips, and special events--getting help identifying their personal and career goals. Business professional women, volunteering their time, help the girls begin taking steps to identify and achieve their dreams. Girls complete an online application to be enrolled in the program. The girls' parents also have to agree to allow their daughters to be in the program.
Jameria Stevenson is an Awesome Ambitions girl. Stevenson graduates this May from Southeast High School and will attend the American Academy for Dramatic Arts in New York City this fall.
"Awesome Ambitions taught me that I can do it--I can achieve my dreams if I work hard and stay focused," Stevenson said.
More than 60 girls enrolled in the program this school year. More than 3,000 girls have been in the program throughout the 20-year history of the program. Awesome Ambitions will resume this fall offering new and exciting opportunities for even more girls.
"For the first time we are adding eighth graders to our program; so we will be mentoring eighth grade through 12th grade girls in the greater Kansas City area," said Awesome Ambitions President, Cynthia Newsome.
Awesome Ambitions always welcomes adult volunteers and teenage girls who would like to be in the program.
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