Student Track Participants and Mentors
High School Participants
My name is Alan, but my friends prefer to call me “A. J.” I am a 17-year-old male attending the Met High School in the urban area of Providence, Rhode Island. School used to be a struggle for me; tests and books really weren’t my strong suit. It was at the Met where my passion for business and marketing started to take flight. My interest in business is now what my school curriculum is based around, with different projects and selective college classes included. I am now doing well in school, showing to my onlookers every day the real me and my real passions.
Academically, Alexander has consistently maintained a high-honor grade point average while participating in the most rigorous level of study offered by Taconic High School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He has earned varsity letters in both hockey and soccer and successfully competed in several programs with the Science and Engineering Academy. He has also taken advantage of travel opportunities offered by the school, including field trips to Boston and Washington, D.C., and a 10-day trip to Costa Rica. Prior to high school, he was the recipient of a Catholic Schools Advocacy Award and elected “Super Kid” by his seventh grade teachers. He has grown into a bright young man, with a strong work ethic and a healthy thirst for knowledge. These traits, along with his consistent interest in both the engineering and aviation fields, have him looking ahead to college with great anticipation.
My name is Cody. I am 17 years old and will be 18 in September. I am a junior at Bath High School in Lima, Ohio, and on the honor roll. I want to study genetic engineering when I am in college, as well as robotic engineering. I was born in Phoenix, Arizona. I have two siblings: one brother, Kyle, who is eight; and one sister, Angie, who is 10. I lived in North Carolina from the age of 5 through 11, when my family moved back to Ohio. I love to read and learn about computers.
My name is Darryl. I am in the 11th grade going into the 12th grade at Advanced Technology Academy. I live in Detroit, Michigan, with both of my parents. I am very interested in the field of engineering. I plan on making engineering my major in college. I am currently looking into colleges I would like to attend once I graduate from high school. I am carrying a 3.5 G.P.A. I’m a very likable person—I get along very well with people.
Jessica is currently a sophomore at Taconic High School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and is enrolled in the Science and Engineering Academy where the Ford PAS curriculum is taught. She participated in the Regional Science Fair, where she won third place, and then moved on to the Massachusetts State Fair. She is very interested in science, in which she hopes to pursue a career. At her school, she is also in the Latin Club and on the Student Council. Some of her hobbies include barrel racing on horseback, music, traveling, reading, and theater. Jessica is excited to attend the Ford PAS conference and is looking forward to furthering her participation in the Ford PAS curriculum.
My name is Johnitta. I am currently a senior at Southeastern High School in Detroit, Michigan. I am 18 years old. I’m attending Jackson State University as my post-secondary plan. I have had a consecutive G.P.A. of 4.0 during my senior year. I have been a student at Southeastern High School for two years, where I have also been an active part of Ford PAS. Ford PAS has offered a lot of opportunities to many of the students within the class. There were field trips to various colleges, including a trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the National Society of Black Engineers Convention. That was great opportunity for me; I really enjoyed it. I attended Coffeeville High School in Coffeeville, Mississippi, from 8th to 10th grade. My future plans are to become an accountant, a cosmetologist, and a computer engineer.
My name is Pedro, and I was born in Providence, R.I. When I was around the age of five, my parents decided to move back to Puerto Rico for me to experience and learn about the culture they had grown up in. By the time that I was eight, I had traveled back and forth from Puerto Rico to the United States four times. Growing up was hard. In the second grade, I attended Fox Point Elementary, where I started doing theatre. Theatre has helped me in so many different ways, from reading, writing, presenting, and others. Next year, I will be celebrating my 10 years of experience in theatre and will be moving to better things and opening new doors.
My name is Sandibel. I am in the 10th grade at La Academia: Partnership Charter School. I am a teen mom with two daughters, and I’m an assistant manager at a local retail store. I am trying to accomplish my goals of finishing school, studying something I enjoy doing, and getting my own place to live. I come from a big family. I’m proud of myself for getting as far as I am today. I give thanks to God every day for putting all the teachers, friends, and family members in my life that influenced me to try harder. I try my hardest to be a good role model for my younger sisters. I love to learn new things as long as it keeps my interest. I am a curious person. I’m helpful, respectful, caring, hardworking, honest, friendly, and trustworthy. These are the things that make me who I am. I am excited to be here at the conference.
Tarina is a high school senior who attends Southeastern High School of Technology in Detroit, Michigan. She has been in the Ford PAS program for two years and enjoyed every second she spent in the class. Tarina is currently an honor roll student at Southeastern High School of Technology and is actively involved in her community. During her enrollment in the Ford PAS program, she has had the opportunity to attend the National Society of Black Engineers Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and to network with several company executives. The Ford PAS program has prepared Tarina for the business world in countless ways. After high school, she plans to enlist in the United States Air Force and pursue a degree in computer engineering.
Vanessa is currently a sophomore at the Advanced Technology Academy in Dearborn, Michigan. Throughout the school year, she has achieved high honors with a G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher. Her favorite subjects in school are English, Ford PAS, and Webpage Design. In her spare time, she enjoys writing songs, playing her guitar, and designing Web graphics. She is an active member of the NAACP Youth Council and Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit. She hopes to attend Lake Superior State University or the University of Michigan. After she completes high school, she plans to pursue a career in orthodontics.
Wesley is the son of Jeff and Cyndi. He is 18 years old and attends Bath High School (BHS) in Lima, Ohio. He is a leader and is one of the captains of the BHS soccer team. Wesley plans to attend college in the fall of 2007, although he is not sure where he will attend. He is very involved in his church, and he leads worship services in the youth ministry that he attends. Wes has been a Christian since he was seven years old, and he loves Jesus. His faith is a large part of his life.
My name is Wilmary. I am in the 10th grade at La Academia: Partnership Charter School. I am 15 years old. I am currently finishing my project on Women in the Workforce, found in Module 3. It has been very interesting for me to study about the Industrial Revolution, because I have learned a lot about how their way of life was. I am so happy to say that I have good grades and work hard. For this summer, I am also going to study at Penn State in July. I am from Puerto Rico and speak Spanish. I came to Pennsylvania at the beginning of 10th grade. I like living here. I have three brothers and three sisters, but only four of them live with me. One of my sisters and one of my brothers live in Indiana with my father. I also have a stepdad and two brothers and a sister from him and my mom. My goals for life are to go to college and to have my own house and car. I love to garden and to listen to music. I prefer punk rock music. I am very happy to be attending this conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.
College Mentors
My name is Amanda and I live in Berea, Ohio. I am a freshman at Cleveland State University, majoring in biology and minoring in biological engineering. While attending Berea High School, I participated in the Ford PAS program for two years. My favorite unit in the Ford PAS curriculum looked at environmental aspects. Last year, I was given the opportunity to attend the Ford PAS conference in San Antonio, Texas, and I enjoyed the experience. I am a horse fanatic and have been involved with horses for the past 12 years of my life. I am involved in many other organizations, such as 4-H, where I advise younger youth on riding and caring for horses.
Dalilah, affectionately known as “Dali” to her friends and family, is a native Houstonian and a hard-working, full-time student. A junior marketing major, Dali has maintained a high grade point average while holding memberships and offices in numerous campus organizations. Dali is section editor for the Texas Southern University Yearbook, President Elect for the University Programs Council, and a member or the American Marketing Association. More recently, Dali was inducted into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., where she now serves as the Director of Public Relations. Upon graduation, she intends to further her education in graduate school and ultimately pursue a career in real estate.
Jamie was born in Picayune, Mississippi. While living in Picayune, Jamie learned firsthand the agonies of poverty and ignorance. Upon finishing high school, Jamie declared that he would travel elsewhere in hopes of being a success. Since his arrival in Houston, he has completed two years of college at Texas Southern University, where he is majoring in finance. He is the first in his family to attend college and is paving the way for future generations. Because of his extensive list of personal and professional goals, education plays a major role in Jamie’s life. His ultimate goal is to become a Chief Executive Officer of a Fortune 500 company.
