In This Issue
Kenyan scholar relishes education opportunities
Race for the Future a success!
Summer is the season for community involvement
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CollegeBound eNews

April 2010
CollegeBound Foundation | 300 Water Street, Suite 300  | Baltimore, MD 21202
Kenyan scholar relishes education opportunities
Kenya brings one scholar new appreciation of US education 
 
By Daniel Muchai
CollegeBound Scholar
 
daniel muchai april 2010 scholar spotlightI was born in Nairobi, Kenya and immigrated to the United States at 8 years old. Education is a priority in my family and my parents always envisioned their children receiving a higher education. Growing up in the United States has been a blessing because I have had much better opportunities than I would have received in Kenya.

When I was in elementary and middle school, I did not care about school and my grades.  I had the opportunity to go back to Nairobi during this time in my life and I was able to reprioritize and get my education back on track.  During my visit, I was reminded about the challenges many students face in their quest for education.  In Nairobi, students have to pay to attend school; many families do not have the money so students are forced to drop out.

Even with a host of barriers, I learned that students in Kenya excel in math and science and many students do whatever it takes to work hard and stay in school.  I discovered that the material covered in Nairobi was the same as in the US, and I recall feeling very guilty for not working as hard as I could in school and taking my situation for granted.  During my trip back to the US, I reflected on my experiences and decided to change my ways, which led me to begin thinking about college.

With hard work and dedication, I graduated in the top 5% of my class at National Academy Foundation. I was accepted to five universities and ultimately decided to attend the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.  In the fall of 2008 I left Baltimore and headed to UMES to achieve my goals, declaring my major in Hotel & Restaurant Management.

Since starting college, I have learned two essential life lessons: the importance of time management and the significance of knowing your values and setting goals. I have learned to keep my values and goals at the forefront of my mind to ensure my priorities are in check. A college education is extremely expensive and I know that I need to concentrate on my studies and I am thankful for the opportunity, because not everyone gets the chance to obtain a college degree.
When I graduate in 2012, I hope to work in hotel management.  My interest in the hospitality industry originally grew out of my love of travel and my love for being hospitable to others.  After taking hospitality & tourism classes at NAF, I knew I wanted to make a career out of it.  Not only did I learn about a booming industry and a future career, but I also had the opportunity to shadow people within the industry and participate in hands-on activities, which helped foster my growing interest.

I owe many thanks to my teachers at National Academy Foundation and to the CollegeBound Foundation. The encouragement, assistance and support you provide keep me striving for my best.  
 
Daniel Muchai is finishing his sophomore year at University of Maryland Eastern Shore and has a 3.66 cumulative GPA. He is the recipient of a CollegeBound Foundation Last Dollar Grant.
 
Race for the Future a success!
 
CollegeBound's 2nd Annual 5K Race for the Future, held April 17th, was a hit. The weather was gorgeous, the course was challenging, and our participants had a lot of fun! We are already looking forward to next year's race! Enjoy the photos below, and view the whole album online.
 
The race winners are listed below. All runners can find their results here.
 
2010 5K photo collage
Photos courtesy of Black Moon Photography. 
 
2nd Annual 5K Race for the Future Winners
 

1st place, Top Male Finisher                Jason Crockett

2nd place, Top Male Finisher              Joel Gladfelter

3rd place, Top Male Finisher               Neville Anderson

 

1st place, Top Female Finisher            Jennifer St Germain

2nd place, Top Female Finisher          Carrie Boyd

3rd place, Top Female Finisher           Meagan O'Hara

 

Top Male Finisher, 15 & Under           Jonathan Ellis

Top Female Finisher, 15 & Under       Sydney Brown

 

Top Male Finisher, 16-19                    Kevin Johnson, JR

Top Female Finisher, 16-19                No Finisher       

 

Top Male Finisher, 20-29                    Japheth Clark

Top Female Finisher, 20-29                Alexis Sacks

 

Top Male Finisher, 30-39                    Drew Tanenbaum

Top Female Finisher, 30-39                Katie Gallagher

 

Top Male Finisher, 40-49                    Michael Harris

Top Female Finisher, 40-49                Shirley Villagaray

 

Top Male Finisher, 50-59                    Richard Bett

Top Female Finisher, 50-59                Gale Rasin

 

Top Male Finisher, 60-69                    Howard Lloyd

Top Female Finisher, 60-69                Frances Daum

 

Top Male Finisher, 70 & Over              No Finisher       

Top Female Finisher, 70 & Over          No Finisher
Summer is the season for community involvement
 
Many students consider summer time a free-for-all of sleeping in, trips to the beach, and best of all, no school! While a months-long vacation should be cherished, the summer is also a great opportunity for kids to grow, explore new things and, yes, learn. Summer volunteer activities are a great way for scholars to do all those things and stave off boredom.
 
Here is a list of organizations in the Baltimore area that offer summer volunteer oppportunities for people of all ages:
 

Alzheimer's Association - Maryland Chapter

American Red Cross of Central Maryland 
Idealist.org
    (Search engine for opportunities, local and around the world.)
 
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