   New York, NY – Mercy College and Roads to Success (RTS) have partnered to offer high school students from low-income households and immigrants a unique opportunity to earn college credit by taking Introduction to Cybersecurity classes.
This summer, 14 students enrolled in the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), with RTS as their provider, took a Mercy College Introduction to Cybersecurity class at Mercy’s Manhattan Campus located in Herald Square. The students successfully completed the intensive class and gained critical knowledge and tuition-free credits towards a college degree. “Mercy College is committed to increasing opportunity for all driven students, regardless of background,” said Scorpio Rogers, Ph.D., Vice President of Mercy College's Bronx and Manhattan Campuses. “We’re proud to partner with RTS and invest in the talent of these young people.” “We are dedicated to knocking down barriers to college access,” said Sheila Duke, CEO of Roads to Success. “This collaboration allowed our students to envision bigger futures for themselves.” In just five life-changing weeks, the summer course provided underserved students with an opportunity many believed was out of reach. Beyond gaining college credits, participants developed confidence, knowledge, and support systems to continue pursuing higher education, STEM fields and career goals once unimaginable. “Even without citizenship yet, I'm grateful for college credit while still in high school. I'm a step ahead now,” said Jessenia, 15, one of the participants. “This chance impacts my college path immensely. It's helping me balance work, school, and college prep while staying focused. I'm so grateful because not many get this opportunity. It's empowering me and teaching me how college works,” shared Angel, 17, another participating student. What makes this partnership truly unique is its innovative approach to empowering undocumented youth and non-native English speakers. Roads to Success and Mercy College provided critical language and translation support, breaking down barriers to enable all students to engage fully. “As a Spanish speaker still learning English, having lessons translated was key for me to truly engage with course material and succeed,” remarked one of the non-English speaking students in the program. Mercy College, the largest private, non-profit Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in the region, has long been committed to college access. The College received national attention last year when it earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education, a national certification for intentionally serving Latino students. Forty-four percent of Mercy’s undergraduate student population is Hispanic and Many of them are first-generation college students. Mercy’s Cybersecurity Program is recognized nationally, designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Roads to Success has impacted over 15,000 underserved New York City youth through programs focused on college access, career development, social-emotional learning, and leadership this year. Over 85% of RTS students identify as youth of color and/or immigrant youth. RTS partners with NYC high schools, prioritizing those with higher rates of economic disadvantages, to ensure all students receive guidance and support to navigate future success regardless of background. About Mercy College Founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy College is an independent, coeducational college that offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs within six schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Nursing, Liberal Arts and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The vibrancy of the College culture is sustained by a diverse student body from around the region. The College offers campuses in Dobbs Ferry, the Bronx and Manhattan as well as online offerings. For more information, visit www.mercy.edu. About Roads to Success The mission of Roads to Success is to inspire and empower all young people to take control of their future. We envision a future where youth from all backgrounds are given a fair and equitable chance to be inspired, connected, and to discover their own path to thrive. For more information visit www.roadstosuccess.org.
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Roads to Success Rings Nasdaq Opening Bell, Gaining Global Recognition for Empowering NYC Youth.8/1/2023  New York, NY (August 1, 2023) - This morning, Roads to Success (RTS) rang the opening bell at the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in Times Square, marking a watershed moment for the nonprofit.
RTS staff, students, board members and supporters gathered to take part in the iconic bell ringing ceremony. For 20 minutes, RTS' name shone brightly on the Nasdaq tower and ticker as the group opened the day's trading. Founded in 2004, RTS empowers underserved youth across NYC's five boroughs through pioneering out-of-school-time programs focused on academic support, leadership development, career exposure, college access, and social-emotional growth. RTS Executive Director Sheila Duke shared, “This incredible honor brings much-deserved visibility to our organization’s vital work guiding over 50,000 young New Yorkers toward graduation, purpose and possibility." The ceremony comes on the heels of RTS' 7th Annual Youth Leadership Summit and the launch of their Summer Rising enrichment camps and Summer Youth Employment Program, which have already served thousands of youths this summer. Ringing the Nasdaq bell validates decades of impact in overlooked communities. RTS staff were inspired as they saw their efforts recognized on a global stage. The recognition motivates students to continue reaching boldly for their dreams. While proud of how far we have come, RTS remains dedicated to expanding opportunities for NYC youth. Duke said, "Our work uplifting students is far from over. This energizes us to empower even more exceptional youth.” About Roads to Success The mission of Roads to Success is to inspire and empower all young people to take control of their future. We envision a future where youth from all backgrounds are given a fair and equitable chance to be inspired, connected, and to discover their own path to thrive. Learn more at www.roadstosuccess.org. Contact: Vidhi Guleria Marketing & Communications Manager vidhi@roadstosuccess.org |
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All rights reserved. Roads to Success is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit recognized by he IRS. Tax ID Number: 11-3599459
Privacy Policy | Donor Privacy Policy | Webmaster | Contact Us
All rights reserved. Roads to Success is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit recognized by he IRS. Tax ID Number: 11-3599459