BRYC's Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Report

FISCAL YEAR 2018 annual report

Photo by Kenneth White, Jr., Class of 2018

BRYC’s Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Report was written by the Fellows — because there will be nothing about us without us. 4 5 6 7 8 18

fellow letter about us c/o 2018 impact finances features

First Four-Year Fellows. Snapshots. HBCU S . College Fellows. Alumni.

Team. Board of Directors. VIP S . Guardians. Partners. Supporters. Friends.

By: Ja’Colby Freeman, Class of 2019

It all began with Mrs. Flowers informing my mother about BRYC after 8th grade. I had no clue what I was stepping into when I applied. My frst year was pure enlightenment; I began to realize just how important my decisions would become in high school. I came into the program with a stubborn mindset, a know-it-all attitude, all while remaining introverted. My frst weeks I discovered I would be learning a lot, and that I would have to open up and engage with the community BRYC fosters. I discovered it was a safe place, one that allowed me to get to know things I couldn’t understand about people who weren’t like me — and vice versa.

What makes BRYC special is not its resources for students like me; it’s what they teach us to do with them. They teach us to self-advocate, by far my most important BRYC lesson. For me, that means putting myself out there, building relationships in and outside of the organization. It means being okay with not knowing and asking questions when I don’t. That’s been especially true during the college process, which has presented so many things I thought I understood but didn’t have a clue about. Self-advocacy means telling my story, being proud even of the most bitter parts of my past so I could welcome a better future. All of this has been scary, but that’s what BRYC does: pushes Fellows to embrace fear as opportunity. The result? I’ve been exposed to a more colorful world. I’ve also been inspired by BRYC’s altruism to share the knowledge and skills it has imparted to me with non-BRYC peers. After all, the need BRYC addresses extends far beyond its walls.

BRYC is well-known for ACT prep, college support, and programs about leadership. It’s so much more. In my weakest moments, there was a family for me at BRYC, a support system that uplifted and pushed me toward relentless growth. From academics, to service, to performing arts, BRYC was and still is there for all of it, helping turn my raw potential into endless possibilities. I look back on my four years with gratitude for the place I’ve maximized my wingspan. Now I’m ready to fy.

Photo by Christian Riley, Class of 2018

ABOUT US

HISTORY

BRYC was founded in 2009 when Daniel Kahn, then a high school teacher, recognized that a lack of resources would preclude even his highest-achieving students from the college success they were capable of realizing.

NEED

There are many driven students in our region’s public high schools who, with the proper tools, would access the postsecondary opportunities they deserve and need in order to be economically mobile. But, they lack support at a pivotal time in their scholastic and personal journeys. There is a widely-held misconception that students who perform well academically and follow the rules will certainly realize college success. This assumption generally holds true for students from educated, affuent families, but it underestimates resource gaps that cause nine of every ten low-income students who enter four-year college to drop out — and many not to apply at all.

MISSION

The Baton Rouge Youth Coalition prepares high-achieving, under-resourced high school students to enter, excel in, and graduate from college so they can become full participants in society.

VISION

Provide our Fellows the best college-preparatory resources money can buy –for free.

CORE PURPOSE: CHOICE

Encouraging our Fellows and Team to make empowering choices that will lead to the choices they want in their lives

CORE COMPETENCIES College

• Personalized admissions, fnancial aid, matriculation, and college persistence support

• Standardized test preparation and development of selfregulated learning skills

Consciousness

• Honing of verbal communication and critical thinking skills through analysis of social issues

• Training to craft effective personal statements for college and scholarship applications

Community

• Ever-growing network of resources and relationships — and coaching on effective self-advocacy

• Empowering support system of motivated youth and caring, highly-qualifed adults

CORE VALUES

Our Core Values express what matters most to us, each with a hand symbol for easy recall and, well, fun. Beneath them are “Empowering Choices,” the specifc ways BRYC Community members live out our values daily.

Hustle: Go Hard

• Master the material

• Invest in passions

• Plan and execute

Integrity: Be Just

• Know what’s going on

• Represent yourself proudly

• Honor your values

Community: Maximize BRYC

• Love one another

• Show up for BRYC

• Seize opportunities

LANGUAGE MATTERS

• CF/A: College Fellows (in college) and Alumni (graduated)

• Fellows: our amazing high school students

• Guardians: Fellows’ parents and guardians

• Team: passionate adults who work at BRYC

• VIPs: our dedicated volunteers

finances

You have to spend money to make money - clichéd and so true. Fiscal Year 2018 was about capacity building, which required a signifcant frontend investment. Most notably we added three full-time positions. A deeper bench, while more expensive initially, has led to increased programmatic and administrative effectiveness and, in the long term, fnancial effciency.

Thanks to the addition of Associate Director of College Programs Chelsea Werner, BRYC served 83 Senior Fellows in FY18, compared to 51 the year prior. Director of Development and Communication Leigh Phillips assumed all donor management responsibilities, freeing Executive Director Lucas Spielfogel to focus on major gifts to ensure BRYC’s long-term fnancial future. Finally, Managing Director of Community Programs Joshua Howard launched our frst formal suite of post-high school supports while codifying BRYC’s “Community Model,” our best impression of a residential college system. Strategic investments in highly-qualifed staff, our most valuable resource, has born fruit evident in this annual report and which you will see in communication in the months and years to come!

BRYC significantly enhanced all facets of internal controls and reporting during FY18. Financial integrity was improved through increased staff specialization and board involvement in expense approval, and the reporting cycle was reduced from 40 to 15 days.

- Kevin Knobloch, Board Treasurer

38% Individual

*BRYCleveragedanadditional$200,000+inin-kindcontributions.

revenue $840,025 EXPENSES $920,338

*BRYC’sForm990andannualfnancialreview/auditareavailableuponrequest.

20% Corporate

9% Occupancy

41% Foundation

1% Earned

19% Administrative

72% Program

jamarcus 2018 persistence hbcu hustle madison legacy spelman community bea lsu stem first gen college fellows mentors

ULL alumni gates southern amanda four-years rhodes the howard five questbridge EMMA snapshots garrinecia integrity grinnell tyler brcc morehouse southeastern trailblazers full participants in society features

A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

By: Lucas Spielfogel

When I met our first official class of Freshmen Fellows in the fall of 2014, I remember thinking they were so young, that it would be an eternity before I wished them good luck in college. A blink and four years later, the group that exemplified BRYC Fellowship has matriculated to colleges across the state and nation.

This powerhouse of a cohort entered BRYC at a time when I was rethinking what the organization should mean to its young people. As we grew, that year to 100 Fellows, I wondered how we would be able to serve more and more youth while maintaining the intimate sense of community which was lauded as BRYC’s secret sauce. The answer was Fellow engagement. Our youth had to own BRYC, and these bold freshmen were fit to lead that charge.

The original members of the Class of 2018 embodied the Empowering Choice “show up for BRYC.” Programs, parties, trips, special initiatives, it didn’t matter. They were present in full force and vocal about their peers’ needing to do the same to be proud of being Fellows, contribute as least as much as you reap, and leave BRYC in better shape than you found it. They did that and then some. Theirs is a legacy of leadership.

LEGACY RINGS

At the 2018 Fellowship Banquet, BRYC introduced a new tradition, “legacy rings,” to honor our first official group of four-year Fellows. We hope these rings forever remind four-years of our appreciation for their long-term commitment to and impact on BRYC.

Our first four-years gave us the confidence to see BRYC as a community whose collective impact is far greater than the sum of its college-preparatory resources. Rather its power is its people its young people most of all. It’s fitting we would send these leaders off as we prepare to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. Their tenure defined BRYC and will inform our next decade. We are grateful for them and don’t doubt what their influence will be in college and beyond.

CENTENARY COLLEGE OF LOUISIANA

Shreveport, LA

Markayla Collins

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE

Baton Rouge, LA

Deventria Curtis, Nyah Johnson, Rodney Nganga

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY

Greensboro, NC

Andrea Loyd

RHODES COLLEGE

Memphis, TN

Garrinecia Singleton

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE

Baton Rouge, LA

Katelyn Guillory

TULANE UNIVERSITY

New Orleans, LA

Nelly Bruce

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE

Lafayette, LA

Zhane Harris, Imani McCullam, Jeanne Smith

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

Coral Gables, FL

Shayla Hastings

SNAPSHOTS

This Grinnell sophomore and computer science and theatre double major spent summer 2018 as a researcher for Digital Bridges for Humanistic Inquiry, a threeyear initiative funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and focused on the development of digital tools and methods to strengthen teaching and research in the humanities.

RAPID-FIRE UPDATES ON OUR COLLEGE FELLOWS AND ALUMNI

Even after the Great Flood displaced her at the start of 12th grade, this Southeastern Louisiana University sophomore and communication major is excelling. She spent freshman year writing for The Lion’s Roar Newspaper and was recognized by Southeastern’s Residence Hall Association for a 3.5+ GPA during her frst semester.

This LSU senior is majoring in information systems and design — with a focus on information technology — and will graduate in May 2019 with an eye toward full-time cyber security jobs. Meanwhile he’s active in Delta Sigma Pi, an LSU business school fraternity that helps its members connect with professional opportunities.

This Southern junior and mechanical engineering major spent summer 2018 in Ghana designing an inexpensive, energy-effcient water system to reduce excess fuoride in local drinking water. Darrell’s currently training to become the next president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and, like Kamesha, volunteers as a BRYC Freshmen Mentor.

Breaks from college often mean the end of college. Not for this LSU sophomore and biology major who, after a brief hiatus to care for her son, is poised to earn her bachelor’s degree. Kamesha also volunteers as a BRYC Freshmen Mentor, supporting 9th-grade Fellows through their high school transition.

With bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dom is dean of students at Glacier Creek Middle in Madison, where he’s responsible for promoting positive behavioral expectations, overseeing discipline, and coordinating academic and behavioral interventions. He’s also on a district-level committee focused on identifying and retaining educators of color.

This 2018 Spelman College graduate and psychology major is pursuing joint graduate degrees a Juris Doctorate and Master’s of Social Work at Columbia University. Long term she will advocate for foster care youth, a career path Brittany’s uniquely suited to. Besides being brilliant and relentless, she was a foster youth herself.

This Morehouse Man, economics major, and Chinese minor was in BRYC’s second class. He earned his bachelor’s in May 2016 and currently works outside of Atlanta as a business analyst for Mansfeld Power and Gas, a natural gas company. Long term Jonathan aspires to start his own management consulting frm.

This neuroscience major and Aikido (martial arts) enthusiast graduated from Tulane in May 2018 and is preparing to apply for medical school by taking prerequisite courses at LSU and studying for the MCAT. Future Dr. Chike has also found time to assist with a BRYC fundraiser and tutor Fellows in science and math.

This Baton Rouge Community College second-year and criminal justice major gets buckets as a women’s basketball team walkon. When not working part-time, attending class, or breaking ankles, Jasmine inspires 9th-graders as a BRYC Freshmen Mentor. Next fall she’ll transfer to Southern University, where after two years she’ll earn her bachelor’s.

Obinna Chike

Jasmine Watson

Jordan Brumfeld

Jonathan Scott

Brittany Butler

Obuchi Adikema

Kamesha Brumfeld

Dominique Ricks

Darrell Moses

Brianna Hawkins

THE HOWARD

By: Emily Nichols, Class of 2019

Howard University brings to mind images of fabulous homecomings, vibrant Greek life, and the celebration of Black higher education. Howard also conjures visions of distinguished alumni like Thurgood Marshall, Taraji P. Henson, and Chadwick Boseman. In fall 2018, fve Fellows embarked for Howard hoping to become part of the school’s storied narrative. Affectionately dubbed “The Howard Five,” Myles Gordon, Christalyn Hill, Jeanette Jackson, Malik Johnson, and Donovan Thomas have begun their journeys of fostering change in the world at The Howard University!

Starting freshman year, each of The Five wondered, “Will I have friends?...Thrive hundreds of miles away from home?... Receive the support I need for academic success?” Those fears were quelled from the moment they arrived on campus and experienced Howard’s rich learning environment and engaging instruction.

Myles complimented the university’s small classes and professors’ instructional techniques saying, “My professors ask a lot of questions, and we get to have a lot of discussions. They keep the students engaged.” He echoes the sentiments of thousands of students attending historically-Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, who appreciate the intimate and captivating environment. Many have noted that smaller class sizes allow for dialogue that prompts students to consider a wide range of perspectives, preparing them to become impactful citizens post-college.

These College Fellows have also been moved by their peers. “Hearing what other people have accomplished pushes you to go out and try new stuff to build your character, résumé, and knowledge,” Christalyn said. “Everybody has been president of something or established their own club. It makes you feel like you’re not doing enough, but it pushes you as well.”

The Howard Five have also been inspired and supported by the two College Fellows in Howard’s Class of 2021, Armani Brown and Markelle Dunn. When asked about her experience attending one of the most highly regarded HBCUs in the nation, Armani said, “Going to an HBCU gives you the space to defne and truly embody Black excellence. It’s almost like going to a cookout, but before the cookout, you have class.”

For its prestige and impressive students and faculty, Howard has been compared to Ivy League schools, but there is a key difference. HBCUs — like Southern, Spelman, BethuneCookman, Howard, and many others — remind us that Black Americans had to fght and die for equal access to postsecondary education, and in so many ways that fght continues today. These institutions bring Black history and culture into focus and create spaces where students who are used to feeling marginalized feel valued and united. HBCUs highlight the incredible diversity among Black people while celebrating the intellectual and cultural power that bonds us. The Howard Five attest to being reminded of their strength as Black individuals and have been inspired to pave the way for future students, as alumni have for them.

We look forward to seeing the impact The Howard Five will make as they join a legacy of College Fellows and Alumni who attend and have graduated from HBCUs across the country. More than that, we look for them to strengthen a tradition of Black postsecondary education that prepares students not just for professional excellence but also to become full participants in society.

26% of BRYC’s College Fellows attend HBCUs

33% of BRYC’s Alumni graduated from HBCUs

Malik and Myles’ photos by Christian Riley, Class of 2018

From top to bottom: Donovan Thomas, Myles Gordon, Jeanette Jackson, Malik Johnson, Christalyn Hill

to an HBCU gives you the space to define and truly embody Black excellence. It’s almost like going to a cookout, but before the cookout, you have class.”

By: Ivori Teasette, Class of 2019

WhenI hear the phrase “A Man of Morehouse,” College Fellow JaMarcus Spears’ smiling face and effervescent personality come to mind. The oldest of six siblings, he sets a great example, at home and beyond. At Central High School, JaMarcus was an athletic trainer for the football and volleyball teams and also served as a student ambassador. His junior year, he was dead set on attending Howard University, but he ultimately landed at Morehouse, a top historically Black college, where he is majoring in biology with dreams of becoming a sports medicine physician for an NFL team.

Although a departure from Howard, Morehouse fts JaMarcus well. An all-male college, Morehouse has a rich legacy and unique campus environment which JaMarcus says he feels welcomed and at home in. Adapting to campus has not been a problem, as he did plenty of research before moving in.

I learned JaMarcus won’t become a “Morehouse Man” until he graduates. “I can’t tell you what it means to be a ‘Morehouse Man’ because I am not one yet,” JaMarcus said. “I am a ‘Man of Morehouse.’ Being a ‘Man of Morehouse’ means representing yourself very well and holding yourself to high standards. We don’t settle, and we don’t give up. As a ‘Man of Morehouse’, it is our mission to become active, ethical leaders in our communities while uplifting the people around us.”

JaMarcus gives BRYC a lot of credit for his personal development despite joining in 2017 at the beginning of his senior year, later in high school than most Fellows do. That year his schedule allowed him to be fully committed to the program’s heavy demands. He said BRYC gave him a space where he could learn to be himself at all times, which came in handy when he learned he would not be progressing as a fnalist for the Gates Scholarship. When he found out he would not advance, his frst reaction was sadness, of course, but he later realized God had better things in store for him and that it was not the end of the world. With the BRYC Team and Fellows there to comfort him, he kept pushing forward, remembering setbacks are necessary parts of pursuing greatness.

Jermaine and Jada are the next Spearses to be Fellows, joining an organization whose value JaMarcus very much believes in. “It is very important for students to begin to get invested in programs like BRYC because that investment is an investment in your life. BRYC is here for our betterment, not just academically but physically and mentally as well. The amount of resources that BRYC offers is needed in the world today for our youth.”

BRYC has made such a strong impression on JaMarcus that he wants to launch a similar initiative one day. It’s no surprise he is one of our most engaged College Fellows, a special person I expect will accomplish big things in the future.

Photo by Kenneth White, Jr., Class of 2018

You never know what someone has overcome. That’s an understatement for College Fellow Garrinecia Singleton, who suffered an abusive childhood at the hands of a family member. Instead of derailing her, her challenging experience drives her to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and support defenseless adolescents while spreading awareness of predatory behavior. She’s on her way. Garrinecia graduated from Scotlandville Magnet High School in May 2018 and now attends a top liberal arts school, Rhodes College, in Memphis, Tenn. on a scholarship worth more than $250,000.

Garrinecia was part of BRYC’s frst class of four-year Fellows. While achieving near-perfect grades in high school, she was active in BRYC and other activities, like track, Youth Leadership Council, and Robotics Club. For her courage and perseverance in the face of sexual violence, she was named a 2018 Louisiana Public Broadcasting “Young Hero,” and for her academic excellence, she was named a Gates Scholarship fnalist — meaning that, of an applicant pool of tens of thousands, she was among 600 fnal candidates.

Her persistence is something to marvel at. In the face of a deeply traumatic experience, Garrinecia survived and much more. She remained driven to attend college so she could fulfll her long-term goal of supporting other vulnerable youth. Though extremely diffcult, she channeled her energy into school, sports, and telling her story through beautiful, heartfelt college essays that moved the Rhodes’ admissions team. I know they inspired me.

For anyone going through any type of trauma who is afraid to speak up, find that one person in this world who you trust more than anyone, no matter who it is. As a victim, I know it’s not easy to just come out and say it, but having that one person you could go to for anything will be your main anchor for everything. For those who feel they do not have that connection with anyone — write. Writing will help you register and release some of those confusing emotions you may be feeling. Know that you do not deserve to be going through anything you may be facing no matter your race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.

- Garrinecia Singleton

By: Ashlei Smith, Class of 2020

Garrinecia credits BRYC with helping to keep her motivated during the toughest times, but the credit is really hers.

Garrinecia says her experience at Rhodes so far has been amazing. While adjusting to new people and cuisines, she’s staying opened-minded about all college has to offer, in and outside the classroom. She’s also taking care of herself. Garrinecia sees a counselor on campus weekly, attends group sessions, and has been catching up on all the sleep she missed during high school. Her career aspiration remains supporting sexual assault survivors, both through counseling and educating young people on healthy relationships. To that end, she is majoring in psychology and intends to volunteer in the community at organizations focused on reproductive rights, like Sister Reach and Planned Parenthood.

There was a time Garrinecia dreamed of becoming an aerospace engineer but later realized she felt no passion toward it. Now she’s driven by a greater purpose, to leverage her experience and education in service of others. There were many times she wanted to give up, but her longterm vision wouldn’t let her. She urges Fellows to operate with the same tenacity and take advantage of all BRYC provides, especially its supportive community. “BRYC’s loving environment never hesitated to be honest with me and push me to try new things,” Garrinecia said. Speaking as a Fellow, Garrinecia pushes me, and I can’t wait to see all she achieves.

Photo by Kenneth White, Jr., Class of 2018

BEHIND the SCENES

By: Stephanie Howard, Class of 2019 & Leigh Phillips

College

Fellow and soon-to-be University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduate Emma Lacy has taken advantage of every opportunity offered to her in college in order to discover her perfect future career in flm production. But Emma’s journey to flm production was neither straightforward nor easy.

Deeply affected by her mother’s untimely death and family fnancial diffculties, Emma credits her College Mentor, Bree, with keeping her grounded during her trying high school years. “Had (God) not used mentors to impart wisdom in my life, I probably wouldn’t be as far as I am now,” Emma said. Emma’s circle of support included her pastors, to whom Emma’s mother gave domiciliary custody before her death. Emma overcame the signifcant emotional and physical transition of living under a new roof and with an adoptive family, graduating from Mentorship Academy as her class’s salutatorian.

Emma has come a long way since then, never forgetting her past but very much focused on her future. Originally a creative writing major, she is now poised to graduate in a few short months with a Bachelor’s in Communication with a focus on broadcasting. While many students don’t discover their dream careers until months or years after graduation, if ever, Emma discovered hers by connecting with hands-on experiences in her chosen feld.

During her senior year, she has produced several news packages alongside her classmates and Lafayette-area broadcast professionals, including a Christmas show that aired on KATC3, one of Acadiana’s primary news channels. Another local outlet, AOC Community Media, ran three of Emma’s video packages on a live newscast and has since offered her an internship she will undertake in the spring of 2019.

But Emma’s stories don’t just have a local reach. She’s submitted her work to television stations around the country to receive feedback and connect with professionals in her feld. Emma’s most interesting piece involved investigating a Lafayette cold case murder from 1974. Her journalistic excellence, conveyed through a series of her published and unpublished works, recently earned her a $2,000 scholarship from the Press Club of New Orleans.

Although a talented journalist and writer, Emma has discovered she most enjoys being behind the scenes. She loves every aspect of the technical side of broadcasting, from photography and videography, to sound-mixing and running the teleprompter, and everything in between. She admits to dreading the painstaking nature of editing but is willing to do anything to gain experience. Just this year, Emma has volunteered on flm sets for The Nightmare Shark, Raging 13, and The Stick-Up to sharpen all skills that will prepare her for future opportunities.

Following her May 17, 2019 graduation, a date Emma instantly and proudly shares, she will apply to the Disney College Program, a Walt Disney Company internship that would provide her with professional development in the entertainment realm.

Emma cites work ethic and tenacity as the main sources of her success. “My major, although liberal arts, wasn’t necessarily easy,” Emma explained. “You have to be willing to put in the work and time and effort and patience because nothing comes easily. That’s what I’ve learned throughout the course of my academic career and is why I’ve been able to be successful.”

While Emma would prefer not to appear on your television screen any time soon, you may well fnd her name in the credits of a future blockbuster.

Photo by Kenneth White, Jr., Class of 2018

BEYOND BR

By: Kenya Carney, Class of 2020

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, College Fellow Tyler Williams thought his only options for college would be within the Capital area. The Scotlandville Magnet High School graduate was initially skeptical of joining BRYC, wondering if he’d fnd value in it. He eventually realized the organization offered nothing but good things for him, including opening his eyes to the vast postsecondary possibilities outside Louisiana.

Tyler entered his senior year with a 29 on the ACT and near-perfect grades. He’d had little exposure to colleges other than Southern and LSU but was open to expanding his horizons. He decided to apply for the QuestBridge National College Match program, which connects high-achieving, low-income high school students with full scholarships at its “partner colleges” — some of the best in the country. The process is daunting, but Tyler took it on and was successful, ultimately being “matched” with his top-choice school, Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. Although it isn’t the most well-known QuestBridge partner college, Grinnell is a top liberal arts school and a standout for improving college access and affordability.

Although Grinnell is a predominantly white college, the opposite of Tyler’s Scotlandville experience, he has transitioned smoothly. In fact, he has excelled, not only as a computer science major but a campus leader and young entrepreneur. Tyler is president of the Concerned Black Students Association (CBS), which was in jeopardy of folding due to a lack of leadership when Tyler made the decision to run for offce. Tyler has also launched a couple of on-campus ventures, including a barbershop and a company called “Stix,” which sells stick-shaped waffes and has a web-based app Tyler built that lets students place orders from all over campus. He has even thrived outside the country, studying computer science at the University of Ghana in Accra during spring of his junior year.

Tyler has also done well professionally. In the summers after his sophomore and junior years, Tyler interned as a software engineer at John Deere and was offered a full-time job which he later turned down. That’s because, after he graduates in May 2019, he will move to New York City to begin working as a technology consultant at Adobe, a worldrenowned computer software company. His risk-taking and hard work have paid off.

Although initially apprehensive, Tyler said leaving home was the best decision he ever made, especially since he’d spent his whole life in the Red Stick. “Outside of Baton Rouge, you become a more well-rounded person and gain different perspectives on what goes on in the world. You’re just stuck in a box if you stay in one place and don’t open your mind and explore outside of your comfort zone,” Tyler said.

When asked what advice he would give other Fellows considering attending college out of state, Tyler said, “Don’t be scared to fail. Your comfort zone is always going to be there. If things go south, you can always come back.” Tyler said that, thanks to BRYC, he was pushed far beyond what he ever thought would be comfortable for him, and he urges all people to do the same.

HEAD IN the CLOUD

By: Nyla Gayle, Class of 2022

By: Nyla Gayle, Class of 2022

Only 3.5 percent of STEM bachelor’s degree holders are Latinas. Alumna Amanda Alfaro is in that small percentage as a graduate of LSU’s College of Engineering and a software engineer at PTS Solutions, Inc. Amanda is a trailblazer for progress, but she’s not stopping at her day job. She serves as an advocate for and mentor to other young women of color seeking to access and advance in STEM felds.

Amanda was born in San Antonio, Tex. and moved to Baton Rouge at the age of seven. Leaving her extended family and moving to a place not many people looked like her was painful, so Amanda turned to academics to help dull that pain. Her commitment to her schoolwork paid off, as she was accepted to Baton Rouge Magnet High School, and later, BRYC.

With BRYC’s resources and support, and the encouragement and guidance of her College Mentor, Lauren, Amanda raised her ACT score signifcantly and gained admission to LSU with zero loan debt. She started off unsure of her major and career path but soon found the perfect ft in computer science.

Amanda enjoyed her high school math and science classes, but witnessing her mother’s friend work with computers fascinated her. The thought of being able to control a computer, particularly in service of others, intrigued her. Computer science’s diverse professional opportunities and real-world applications sealed the deal for Amanda.

Amanda had to adjust to the rigorous computer science classes at LSU but eventually was able to manage her course load, which included business, gaming, and coding classes, and much more. She supplemented her major coursework with communication classes, which helped her address various audiences and clearly present ideas.

As a woman of color in STEM, Amanda believes she is a representative for students from similar backgrounds. She hopes to be an example for what’s possible for minority and frst-generation students interested in felds in

which they are typically underrepresented. Amanda remembers seeing fewer than fve people of color in most of her computer science classes. Although the computer science feld has begun to value diversity more, Amanda found it diffcult to speak up during group projects. She felt voiceless until she found the Women in Computer Science (WICS) club, a place where she built community and confdence.

WICS is dedicated to “the professional and academic development of women and others studying computer science and related felds at LSU.” During her time in WICS, Amanda attended several national conferences, mentored younger students, and served as an offcer in the organization. She will sit on WICS’ Women in Tech Panel later this year, one of the many ways Amanda remains an advocate in the broader community.

During senior year at LSU, Amanda landed an internship with PTS Solutions Inc., where she currently works full-time. As a quality assurance engineer, Amanda develops public safety applications, like computer-aided dispatching software and prison management systems. She feels strongly about her job’s value to society. “Our business is important,” Amanda explained. ”Proper development and testing for our applications has major quality-of-life implications.” More importantly, she connects her work now to her long-time passion for social progress and said that “grappling with and fnding solutions to societal problems has me in the position I’m in today.”

Amanda is one of three people of color and four women in an offce of 17. Being the youngest was intimidating at frst, but she has worked through the initial discomfort and now feels included and valued as a colleague. And Amanda is more purpose-driven than ever. When she steps into her offce, she turns into a superheroine working to better the world through technology and pave the way for young women with similar aspirations.

Photo by Kenneth White, Jr., Class of 2018

ForAlumna Beatrice “Bea” Kariuki, life is all about doing things you love to the fullest. She lives by this principle every day, and her college experience was no exception.

As a Kenyan immigrant who moved to the U.S. in 2011 during ninth grade, Bea had to quickly adjust to South Louisiana culture and a new school in Broadmoor High. She says that, from the beginning, she was determined to reach her dreams of college and understood the privilege she was given to study in the U.S. Most daunting for Bea was how uninformed she was about the American postsecondary education system. That’s where BRYC came in. “I had an idea of the things I wanted to do and where I wanted to be,” Bea said, “but BRYC was that catalyst I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone. BRYC took that fear of not knowing what’s coming, and I’m very grateful for that.”

On BRYC’s 2013 Atlanta College Tour, Emory “felt like home,” and Bea decided to apply. She was accepted with a robust fnancial aid package but didn’t stop there, ultimately securing the highly coveted Gates Millennium Scholarship (now called the Gates Scholarship). From an applicant pool of tens of thousands nationwide, Bea was one of 300 to earn the full ride, which follows recipients to whichever colleges they choose to attend.

Bea plunged right into her four years at Emory. She graduated with a degree in neuroscience and behavioral biology, minoring in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. Bea now works full-time in Atlanta as a business immigration analyst at a law frm called Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

Bea urges Fellows not just to get involved on campus but to go all in. “My passions and interests paved the way for the things I ended up being

By: Tanielma Costa, Class of 2020

involved in. Knowing things that interest you, knowing things that you’re passionate about motivates you to be involved in those organizations.”

Indeed she was immersed in furry of activities. Bea saw Emory as her playground to be explored. She speaks of how exhilarating the national Gates conventions in Washington, D.C. were and how they inspired her to take on the roles of vice president, and later, president of Emory’s Gates Scholars chapter. Protesting after the death of Trayvon Martin her freshman year led to many social justice-focused activities in and outside of school, like getting people to register to vote. Bea volunteered through a national service organization, served as president and vice president of the Resident Hall Association, and was a campus ambassador, leading tours and information sessions for prospective students and families. Perhaps her most beloved activity was volunteering at Children’s Healthcare in Atlanta, which led to her summer abroad at University College London prior to her senior year. There she studied healthcare delivery in the United Kingdom and U.S.

I was exhausted just hearing about all Bea has done, but she said, “I wouldn’t take it back.” That’s because each experience was fulflling and meaningful, just like my interview with Bea. As an immigrant, I’m inspired by her example.

Akamo

Michael Ali

Mellyn Baker

Jack Blears

James Burke

Emily Carroll

Angelina Dang

Sean Dobies

Matt Drew

Lexus Hector

Spencer Hellner

David Jozefov

Viet Le

Darian Madere

Tierney McCoy

Kathryn McKee

Danielle Moreau

Abdou Ndiaye

Thu Nguyen

Daniel Pacheco

Edward Shim

Jada Titus

Bryan Tumulty

Alicia Vessel

WRITING COACHES

Jessica Arner

Gillian Foss

Sam Gonzales

Vincent Granata

Sherri Johnson

Anant Kishore

Ashley Mick

Emily Nemens

Charley Silvio

Natasha Strickland

Leland Whitehouse

GUARDIANS OF BRYC

Shawanda Holmes-Ringo

Jasmin Johnson

Dionne McCurry

Walter McLaughlin

Tanisha Mitchell

Angela Reaux

Chakara Spurlock

NONPROFIT PARTNERS

Baton Rouge

Community College

Big Buddy

City Year Baton Rouge

First United Methodist Church

Forward Arts

The Futures Fund

Healthy Blue

Junior League of Baton Rouge

Louisiana State University

MetroMorphosis

Serve Louisiana

Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response

South Louisiana Coalition for Education

Southern University and A&M College

Teach for America - South

Louisiana

SCHOOL PARTNERS

Arlington Preparatory Academy

Baker High

Baton Rouge Magnet High

Belaire High

Broadmoor High

Catholic High

Central High

The Church Academy

Cristo Rey Baton Rouge

Denham Springs High

The Dunham School

East Feliciana High

Episcopal High

Friendship Capitol High

Glen Oaks High

Iberville MSA Academy

Istrouma High

Madison Preparatory Academy

McKinley High

Mentorship Academy

Northeast High

Parkview Baptist

Port Allen High

Scotlandville Magnet High

Southern University Lab

Tara High

University Lab School

Walker High

West Feliciana High

Zachary Christian Academy

Zachary High

TEAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS VIPS GUARDIANS PARTNERS SUPPORTERS FRIENDS

BRYC

The printing of this report was generously made possible by