Haitian native and Boston Public Schools student receives annual scholarship to pursue college education

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS / ACCESSWIRE / December 20, 2024 / On Thursday, Nov. 21, Mass Mentoring Partnership, an affiliate of MENTOR, hosted the organization's Annual Cheers! To Mentoring fundraising event, which was held at The Sporting Club at the OMNI Seaport Boston Hotel.

Joined by community business and philanthropic leaders to celebrate and honor the impact of the organization's work in expanding the mentoring movement across the Commonwealth, MMP and corporate partner, ALKU, also announced John D. O'Bryant High School senior Elnos Edouard as the recipient of their annual $30,000 academic scholarship.

Edouard's personal story is one of remarkable persistence, which resonated strongly with the members of the scholarship committee, ultimately leading to his being named the recipient. He spent much of his childhood managing health issues, spending time split between his home country of Haiti and Canada, where he would travel for treatment. When this tumultuous time began to cause difficulty for Edouard in focusing on school, and building friendships and connections, he found a mentor in his then-chorus teacher, Jermaine ‘JT' Tulloch.

"JT was the first person to actually reach out a hand and say, "I'm here to help you", wrote Edouard in his application. "He didn't have to, and I wasn't exactly giving him a reason to. But that's the kind of person he is - he saw something in me, even when I wasn't showing my best side. At first, it was just about helping me get my grades together, but over time, it became more than that. JT started shaping the way I think and act outside of school too. He taught me how to carry myself, how to deal with challenges, and how to think ahead about the kind of person I want to become."

"Out of the more than 100 applications received, Elnos' story immediately stuck out to me - not just because of his academic achievements, but because of the profound impact mentorship has had on his life," said Elvis Bisonó, ALKU's Community Engagement Coordinator and ALKU Scholarship Board Member. "His story is a testament to the power of having someone who believes in you at the right moment. Had it not been for his mentor stepping in at a pivotal time, his path may have taken a very different direction. This scholarship celebrates the powerful impact of positive mentorship, and we are honored to support Elnos on his education journey."

"ALKU consistently shows their understanding of the importance of mentorship by supporting our mission here at MMP, and through their dedication to providing mentorship opportunities within their own community," shared Cynthia K. Orellana, Ph.D, President and CEO of Mass Mentoring Partnership and member of the selection committee. "The power of healthy, consistent relationships is highlighted in their teams, and we feel strongly that ALKU stands as a great example for how mentoring can truly create a positive impact in all facets of life and work. The ALKU Scholarship has grown and evolved over its 10 years, centering developmental frameworks in the scholarship application assessment and review process. This is a life-changing opportunity for scholars and MMP is grateful to be part of this tradition. I was certainly honored to read the profound strengths reflected in the stories of the scholars and excited for what they will do next."

Jermaine and Elnos were joined by three young men from the Boston Public School's Academic Mentoring Program, who presented their writings from their recently published collection of poems, short stories and journal entries, Mentoring Matters: Volume 1 (available for digital download on Amazon. The night was also an opportunity to celebrate the work of Raw Art Works, a therapeutic art program located in Lynn, Massachusetts, member of the Mentoring Matching Grants cohort of MMP, who displayed works from participants in their most recent exhibit.

All funds raised at the event go directly toward providing free training, capacity building, and advocacy support to MMP's community of program partners.

To learn more about Mass Mentoring Partnership's Cheers! To Mentoring event and ongoing campaign, check out www.massmentors.org/cheers-to-mentoring/

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About Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP): Founded in 1992, Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) is the only statewide organization dedicated to strategically expanding quality mentoring relationships throughout Massachusetts. MMP serves more than 320 mentoring programs and youth-serving organizations statewide, supporting over 40,000 young people. Our program network includes schools, state agencies, faith-based organizations, community nonprofits, businesses, and colleges. MMP provides resources to the mentoring and youth-serving field through a variety of avenues, including training, site-based technical assistance and quality-based consultation, regional convenings, and gatherings, and statewide research. Additionally, MMP advocates for increased public and private resources to build the capacity of the Massachusetts mentoring movement.

About ALKU: ALKU is one of the nation's fastest-growing staffing firms, facilitating critical solutions for businesses by providing highly specialized consultants across cutting edge industries including IT and life sciences. With more than 500+ employees across seven locations nationwide, ALKU generates more than $600 million in annual revenue. ALKU's Have Fun Working Hard® company culture focuses on employee retention and growth, training and development and a highly specialized division-led operation model. ALKU is headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts.

About MENTOR: MENTOR is the unifying champion for expanding the quality and quantity of mentoring relationships across the United States. For nearly 35 years, MENTOR has expanded opportunities for young people by building a youth mentoring field and movement. The result: a more than 10-fold increase in young people in structured mentoring relationships. Today, MENTOR is the primary resource and expert for the youth mentoring field, representing a movement that meets young people everywhere they are - from schools, to workplaces, and beyond. MENTOR operates in collaboration with 25 local Affiliates across the country.

SOURCE: Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP)