Welcome to the Alumni Update. We are proud of the accomplishments of our alumni who are attending college, serving in the armed forces, and working. Each year Step Up offers alumni in college the opportunity to apply for the Step Ahead grant, which is awarded to the students who continue to demonstrate commitment to academic achievement, community service and responsible leadership.

The Step Ahead Awards Committee met on September 8, 2008 to decide upon this year's recipients. Twenty four students, the highest number since the award's inception, applied, with twenty two students being granted awards. The 2008 recipients impressed the committee with their continued commitment to academic achievement, community service, leadership and Step Up itself. Many thanks go to the advisory board members, program directors, students and mentors who worked on the committee. A special thanks goes to advisory Board Tim Sullivan and Sullivan, Shulman and Freeberg for generously supplying space for meeting.

This year's recipients are

• Caroline Bastarache, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Mildred Bautista, Massachusetts College of Art, May 2008 graduate
• Sissy Change, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Adiat Disu, Bentley College, May 2008 Graduate
• Truc Duong, Clark University
• Christina Gonzalez, Springfield College
• Kyle Grady, Westfield State College
• Ashley Lebel, Michigan State University
• Abdullah Majidi, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Ozra Majidi, Massachusetts Bay Community College
• Hannah Masse, University of Vermont
• Justine Parsloe, Bucknell College
• Rudy Ramirez, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Yolanda Ramos, Salem State College
• Vinnie Rodriguez, Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Rachel Ruck, University of Cambridge, Graduate Studies at Newman College, England
• Alyse Santoro, Fitchburg State College
• Charles Saulters, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
• Lucianna Silva, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Sarah Sparrow, Graduate School, Southern New Hampshire College; Fall 2008 candidate Graduate Studies, University of Liverpool, England
• Nga Tong, Bowdoin College
• Anna Vacha, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

We wish the alumni continued success in their endeavors.

Our student continue to servie their communities as mentors and tutors for youth, as counselors in Summerbridge, as presidents of student organizations, as athletes, and as soldiers.

Many of the alumni have done well during the beginnings of their college careers. Here is a list of colleges they are presently attending:
Alabama State University, American International College, Atlantic Union College, Bentley College,  Berklee College of Music, Bowdoin College, Bridgewater State College, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Fitchburg State College, Framingham State College, Emmanuel College, Hampton College, Howard University, Jonson & Wales College, Massachusetts Bay Community College, Mount Wachusett Community College, Pine Manor College, Quinsigamond Community College, Regis College, Southern New Hampshire University, Suffolk University, University of Massachusetts at Amherst,

Several other alumni are proudly serving their country as part of
The US Marine Corps, The US Army and The National Guard.