FirstGraduate Goes to Prom 2024!

saturday evening M ay 11, 2024

Welcome

Dear Friends,

On behalf of First Graduate’s Board of Directors, staff, interns, and students, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your presence at our first-ever Prom! Your support means the world to us.

After many years of hosting Cap & Gown, we wanted to find another way to thank you, our donors, volunteers, and community partners, while highlighting the work of our team and the students we serve. Your participation in this event helps us elevate First Graduate and further our mission of championing education equity and access.

Since 2001, First Graduate has been a beacon of hope for San Francisco’s first-generation students, guiding them from middle school through college and into their early careers. Tonight’s featured students are living proof of the transformative power of our work.

We can only do our work with you—our community partners and allies. So, when our ebullient auctioneer asks you to raise your numbers high for the Live Auction and Fund-A-Need, I hope you will heed her call. We are welcoming 37 new students into our new cohort, but at least 160 more from five schools are knocking on our door to receive our services; please help us welcome them in.

Let’s celebrate together this evening, knowing that we are helping to ensure a stronger future for all of us.

With much gratitude,

Terri Forman Chief Executive Officer

Evening Program

Reception

Fine Fare & Beverages

Dancing Program

Gopa Dasari, Event Chair

Ryan Baum, First Graduate President

LIVE AUCTION

Auctioneer Extraordinaire – Juliette Vara

Prom Court Introduction

Alex Lazo, First Graduate Alumnus & Board Member

Prom Court

Abigail • Janely • Indelisa

Closing Remarks

Dancing & Dessert

“I am very proud of each of you graduates for your hard work and perseverance. You give me joy and I look forward to following your choices for the future. Congratulations to you all.”

ANN-EVE

HAZEN First Graduate Founder

Sponsors

Thank you to our Prom Sponsors!

LEAD SPONSOR

ACHIEVE

Barulich-Jacobsen Family

BELIEVE

Julie and Greg Flynn

INSPIRE

Ryan Baum

Gopa Dasari

Susan E. Knowles

Jenina Soto

Rosemary Arriada-Keiper

CONGRATULATIONS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES!

Where are you heading?

Ash Aguilar Hernandez

Graduating from San Francisco School of the Arts

Exciting options include: University of San Francisco, California College of the Arts, Ohio State University, San Francisco State University, Fresno State University, University of California

Merced, Southern California Institute of Architecture to possibly study Architecture

Holly Ahkiong

Graduating from Balboa High School

Exciting options include: University of Massachusetts

Emely Alvarado Gomez

Graduating from Balboa High School

Jacqueline Campos

Graduating from Lowell High School

Exciting options include: San Francisco State University to possibly study Business

Janely Castañon

Graduating from George Washington High School

Exciting options include: University of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, California State University Pomona, Northern Arizona University to possibly study Biology

Madeline Gomez

Graduating from City Arts & Leadership Academy

Exciting options include: University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, California State University East Bay, University of California Merced to possibly study Business & Psychology

Keila Hernandez Chel

Graduating from Lowell High School

Exciting options include: San Jose State University to possibly study Business

Mitch Hernandez Serrano

Graduating from San Francisco School of the Arts

Exciting options include: City College of San Francisco

Kyle Huang

Graduating from Archbishop Riordan

Exciting options include: University of Rochester

Geovanny Leiva

Graduating from City Arts & Leadership Academy

Exciting options include: San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, Sacramento State University, California State University East Bay, University of California Merced, University of Pacific to possibly study Mechanical Engineering

Andrei Literato

Graduating from Lowell High School

Exciting options include: San Francisco State University, University of California Merced

Alizon Lopez

Graduating from San Francisco School of the Arts

Exciting options include: University of the Pacific to study Music

Winder Manueles Amaya

Graduating from City Arts & Leadership Academy

Exciting options include: San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, Sacramento State University, California State University East Bay to study Construction Management

Isaiah Murillo

Graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School

Exciting options include: City College of San Francisco

Alicia Paredes Tomayo

Graduating from Wallenberg High School

Exciting options include: City College of San Francisco

Arman Perez

Graduating from Balboa High School

Exciting options include: San Jose State University , Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly Pomona, San Francisco State University

Pablo Ramirez Rodriguez

Graduating from City Arts & Leadership Academy

Exciting options include: San Francisco State University, San Jose State University to possibly study Architecture

Vanessa Villalpando

Graduating from City Arts & Leadership Academy

Please note: College acceptances have been delayed due to glitches with the FAFSA application process.

Prom Court

Abigail Tamerat

8th

grader

at Everett Middle School

Abigail Tamerat is an 8th grader in our FG22 cohort at Everett Middle School. Abby will be attending Galileo High School next year and is passionate about sports, especially basketball. She is a bright and charismatic student who makes a great impression on everyone she meets! Abby is interested in medicine and hopes to make her family proud by being the first in her family to graduate from college.

At this event, the Middle School team was hosted by BSSP for a Career Day. They learned about the company’s operations and engaged in conversations with its employees, learning about career options in digital advertising.

Our 8th graders were preparing for high school transitions, including applications, interviews, and resume building. Volunteers supported our students during this event, Interview Day, helping them to refine their interview skills for high school and future opportunities.

At this event, the Middle School team was hosted by DoorDash for a Career Day

We celebrated and reconnected with our alumni reminiscing on shared experiences and celebrating their successes.

At this event, the Middle School team was hosted by the Oceanic Society for a Career Day. They learned about the organization’s operations and engaged in conversations with the team while conducting marine biology experiments on the Bay.

The Golden State Warriors hosted middle school students at the Chase Center for a Career Day. They heard about the company’s operations and learned about sports career options other than being on the court.

Accenture hosted us for an interactive Resume Workshop tailored for high school and college students. It helped to enhance our student’s resume writing skills and gained valuable insights to stand out in the competitive job market.

Prom Court

Janely Castañon

Senior at George Washington High School

First Graduate Class of 2018

Janely has been one of First Graduate’s most active students since she joined in the 6th grade. She has taken advantage of all the educational and career events offered by the program and is constantly finding ways to build community within her cohort. She is excited to graduate high school and pursue her education to achieve her dream of one day becoming an Orthodontist.

Prom Court

Indelisa Romo

Sophomore at San Francisco State University

Indelisa joined First Graduate in her middle school years and has been active since. Indelisa is a Biology student at San Francisco State University. She is interested in becoming a doctor and is working towards that goal.

Believe. Achieve. Inspire.

Auctioneer

Juliette Vara

Juliette is a professional benefit auctioneer working with non-profits and schools to help put some ‘fun’ in fundraising. For five years up until the pandemic shut down live events, Juliette was the Pre-Show Host and loosely dubbed the audience hype gal for the world renowned Grand Ole Opry where she welcomed a global audience of 4,400 people each night to the iconic show ‘That Made Country Music Famous.’ When she’s not on the auction stage, Juliette freelances as a producer for ABC shows including Good Morning America and 20/20. We are thrilled to have her with us on May 11th in San Francisco!

LiveAuction

THANK YOU to all of our Live Auction Item Donors – with a special shout out and thanks to Mark Hamilton and Lauri Paul, Linda Richardson, and Seth Tarver for the extraordinary lift they did to put these special experiences together!

1. Golden State Warriors package

brought to us by the Warriors and Mark Hamilton

The package includes FOUR Warriors tickets to a 2024-25 regular season game of your choice plus a basketball signed by Warriors Shooting Guard Gary Payton, II and Swag! T-shirts to don, pens to keep the stats, and glasses to look the part while enjoying your game time at Chase Center.

2. Home dining experience with Chef Kevin!

Plan your personalized menu with Chef Kevin and prepare for a special culinary experience for four that is rounded out by a fabulous wine from the coveted Diamond and Kay Wine collection – the winery of Golden State Warriors Klay Thompson. The date will be scheduled directly with Chef Kevin.

Last year, First Graduate Board Member Marvell Allen was the winning bidder and says the “dinner and experience were delicious!”

Make this your experience this time!

Chefkevin.com

LiveAuction

3. “Day on the Bay with Captain Chris Remer”

Captain Chris invites 6 friends to enjoy a full day of sailing on his 34’ Catalina sailboat out on the San Francisco Bay while enjoying fine wines and a gourmet lunch. He recommends joining him on Opening Day –which was April 28th this year – and participate in the parade of boats that is a colorful and annual tradition. Or, arrange to go out on any day that works for you, except Fleet Week and 4th of July – of course it is weather dependent so everyone is assured a picture-perfect day that easily reminds us why we live here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

4. A Day in the Kitchen with Violet Witchel

Violet is a Bay Area-based food content creator with more than 2.5 Million followers on TikTok and Instagram. 2.5 Million!

She has been transfixing the world as one of the world’s top food creators. Violet has been featured on Today, in Business Insider, and Mashed for her creations specializing in healthy and delicious simple meals. She invites FOUR friends to enjoy a day in her kitchen, where she will give a step-by-step cooking lesson while offering charcuterie and a wine tasting. As a memory of the day, you will take home your creation, a custom recipe card, and a case of wine!

5. SF Giants package (seats right behind home plate and swag) plus MoMos dining after! Dispense with FOMO and start bidding on these four seats directly behind Home Plate at a regular 2025 Oracle Park home season game of your choice plus a $250 gift card to MoMos (right across the street from Oracle Park!)

There is nothing like experiencing a Giants’ game from right behind home plate, from where you can hear the crack of the bat and see the field as the players in the dugout do. You will also receive a generous collection of San Francisco Giants’ merchandise and swag, including one or more autographed items and bobble heads.

TEAM

Jonathan Aleman Castro, Program Coordinator, High School

Tuka Almamori, Senior Advisor, College and Career Program

Lupita Garcia, Operations Manager

Marcel Glover, Director, Middle School Program

Yoselin Gonzalez-Mendez, Manager, Community Engagement

Alana Zavett Green, Interim Director of Development

Eric Guico, Chief Programs Officer

Mubeenah Shaikh, Senior Manager, College & Career Program

Maanasi Shyno, MS Program Coordinator

Maggie Tarbox, Program Coordinator, Middle School

Seth Tarver, Special Projects Coordinator

Efe Umukoro, High School Program Coordinator

Oscar Murguia Zepeda, Program Manager, High School

INTERNS

A special thanks to the University of San Francisco for partnering with us to provide our interns.

Kelly Aguilar

Cameron Banks

Madison Brown

Karla Cancio

Theo Chapin

Lydia Cunha

Uyen (Le) Len

Alicia Lo

Crystal Perez

Charlynn Pulou

Michelle Yagmourian

CONGRATULATIONS COLLEGE GRADUATES!

So what are your plans after

graduation?

Noemi Cardenas

Graduating Spring 2024 from San Francisco State University

Studying for a B.A. in Child & Adolescent Development to work at a My plans after college are to continue working at a child care center to gain experience. In the future, I’d like to become an elementary school teacher.

Evelyn Guo

Graduating Spring 2024 from UC San Diego

Studying for a B.S. in Cognitive Science with Specialization in Language & Culture to pursue research or design (UI/UX)! Also interested in cognitive science fields (e.g. neuroscience, education, etc.)

XingLin Li

Graduating Summer 2024 from UC Irvine

Studying for a B.A. in Business Economics to pursue child and adolescent development.

Emilio Lopez

Graduating Spring 2024 from CIA - NY Culinary School

Studying for a BPS in Applied Food Studies to pursue food business management or food science.

Elsy Osorio

Graduating Summer 2024 from San Francisco State University

Studying for a B.S. in Biology with a Concentration in Physiology to pursue becoming a physician assistant.

Anthony Rodriguez

Graduating Spring 2024 from UC Santa Cruz

Studying for a B.A. in Business Management Economics to pursue a full-time offer at a consulting company.

Alex V. Soto

Graduating Spring 2024 from San Francisco State University

Studying for a B.S. in Chemistry with a plan to go for a masters and pivot to electrochemistry research.

Ryland Matthew Tom

Graduating Spring 2024 from San Francisco State University

Studying for a B.A. in Philosophy and will continue exploring while possibly looking at becoming a product manager in the tech field.

Melissa Alexia Umanzo

Graduating Spring 2024 from UC Berkeley

Studying for a B.A. Major in Cognitive Science and a Minor in Data Science to pursue data analysis, education, or ed tech.

Kalani Valencia-Chin

Graduating Spring 2024 from Sonoma State University

Studying for a B.A. in Biology & Minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies. I plan to look for medical internships and study for the MCAT after college. I’m becoming a pediatrician so anything medical related.

Mary Wu

Graduating Spring 2024 from St. Olaf College

Studying for a B.S. in Math with a Minor in Statistics and Data Science to pursue data science and business.

Wynnie Xu

Graduating Winter 2023 from University of Arizona

Studying for a B.A. in Psychology with a view on applying to a school/education psychology graduate programs.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ryan Baum, Board President

Jump Associates

Rosemary Arriada-Keiper, Vice President & Governance Chair

Adobe

John A. Spensieri, Vice President & Development Chair

Marvell C. Allen

Millennium Career Advantage, LLC

Neera Bhat Accenture

Gopa Dasari

Fremont Group

Mark Hamilton

Hamilton Zanze

Susan Knowles

UCSF Health

Hanish Rathod, Finance Chair

Zip Recruiter

Tucker Serenbetz, Audit Chair KPMG

Danesha Mead, Immediate Past President

McKinsey & Company

Alex Lazo

The Bay School

Jenina Soto DoorDash

Dionne Teasley UC Berkeley

Shelly Vernick NextRoll

Terri Forman, Chief Executive Officer

ASSOCIATE BOARD

Osa Aigbuza

Alena Byers

Ajay Cheema

Amelia Garcia

Please

Liana Hsu

Alex Lau

James Murray

Allison Wan