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Executive Leadership Team from Newport News Shipbuilding announced as sponsors of the
Class of 2020, to provide annual college scholarships
Newport News, VA – An Achievable Dream (AAD) announced the executive leadership team from Newport News Shipbuilding as the sponsors of the Class of 2020 during the 27th Annual Tennis Ball gala on Saturday, November 16. As class sponsors, the leadership team have personally committed to providing annual merit scholarships for each member of the class for each year they attend college and maintain a certain grade point average. The graduates of the Class of 2020, who were honored in a special ceremony at the 27th Annual Tennis Ball, will be known as the Newport News Shipbuilding Scholars.
“We wanted to sponsor the Class of 2020 so that they will never forget where they came from,” shares Jennifer Boykin, President of Newport News Shipbuilding. “The Class of 2020 is ready to fly and they will go on to achieve anything that they want to, but with this support that the sponsorship provides, they will always know that they have a place to come home to.” Guests at the 27th Annual Tennis Ball celebrated the Class of 2020 and heard from AAD alumnus, Isaiah Lucas, SGA President at Old Dominion University, during the evening’s inspirational program.
Class sponsorship of An Achievable Dream graduates is a concept dating from 1992 when the late Walter Segaloff, AAD founder, and local businessman, rallied the Newport News business community behind the program. Each year since 2001, businesses and individuals have stepped forward to serve as class sponsors, ensuring that finances are not a limitation for AAD graduates attending college. On average, 90% of An Achievable Dream graduates have continued to a two or four-year college or trade school, while 10% have joined the military or entered the workforce.
Segaloff, who passed away in 2013, founded An Achievable Dream on the belief that, “given the right tools and opportunity, all students can succeed.” Segaloff’s vision has helped level the playing field for thousands of students since the program’s inception in 1992.
Previous class sponsors are: the Frank and Marie Blechman Foundation (2001);Mary Hughes, owner, Hampton Roads Harley-Davidson (2002, 2012); Michelle Jacobs, former president of the Lee Group (2003); Chesapeake Bay Seafood House Restaurants, in honor of Alan and Beverley Diamonstein (2004); Caleb and Virginia West and Dollar Tree Stores (2005); Smithfield Foods (2006, 2015); W.M.Jordan Company (2007); Ferguson Enterprises (2008); NC and Linda Hardee (2009, 2010); Bay Electric Company and the Biagas Family (2011); Aubrey and Peggy Layne (2013); Mike and Nancy Petters (2014); Charles and Mari Ann Banks and Ferguson Enterprises (2016);Ferguson Enterprises and the Fass Family (2017); the Levin and Friedberg Families (2018); and Charles and Mari Ann Banks (2019), Executive Leadership Team of Newport News Shipbuilding (2020).
Visit AchievableDream.org to learn more.
About An Achievable Dream:
An Achievable Dream (AAD) develops independent, productive citizens through a Social,
Academic, and Moral Education (SAME®) curriculum. Dedicated to the belief that all children
can learn and succeed, AAD operates schools in partnership with Newport News Public
Schools and Virginia Beach City Public Schools, and AAD Certified Academy in Henrico County
near Richmond, Virginia.
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