College Access & Success

The Next Chapter Begins: Celebrating the Class of 2026

The Class of 2026 is CollegeBound! With years of hard work, persistence, service to their communities, and support from our College Access & Success and Girls’+ Education teams, the students graduated from high school with joy and hope for a bright future ahead. They are ready to embark on college, service, and career options, with scholarships and financial aid packages locked in for their next adventure. Congratulations, graduates!

Commencement Highlights

Across 36 partner high schools in New York City, Buffalo, and Rochester, over 3,000 graduates took their next bold steps toward college, meaningful careers, and service to their communities. Each festively decorated mortarboard represented countless hours of hard work, self-discipline, and growth! The wisdom shared during these ceremonies captured the spirit of possibility ahead.

For the Young Women’s Leadership School of Queens’ (TYWLS Queens) 20th anniversary, New York Attorney General Letitia James served as Commencement Speaker and shook hands with each graduate who crossed the stage. She shared powerful affirmations with the graduates, acknowledging that they grew up in a world that expects too much from young women, especially young women of color.

A graduate in a white cap and gown receives a diploma from a woman on stage, with other graduates and yellow and blue balloons in the background. — *NYS Attorney General Letitia James congratulates the Class of 2026 at TYWLS Queens*

This school taught you that young women deserve every opportunity to lead, learn, create, question, build, and thrive. Today is the beginning of a new chapter where you get to choose every day what kind of woman you want to become.
Letitia James,
New York State Attorney General

Kindness is holding the door for someone else. Passion is noticing someone else in need and choosing to take action. Your accomplishments will not be measured solely by your titles and salaries, but by the impact you have on others.
Bernardo Ascona,
Principal, Union square academy

A graduate in a blue cap and gown receives a diploma from a man in a tan suit on stage during the Class of 2026 graduation ceremony — *Union Square Academy* *Graduation*

Student Leaders Inspire the Class of 2026

A Class of 2026 student in a white graduation gown and cap speaks at a podium on stage — *Sofia will enroll at SUNY Stony Brook University.*

Although we may have come from a small school, we have big dreams and aspirations. I hope that wherever we go, whether to work, college, the military, trade or vocational school, that we act as leaders, not as followers. The world should watch out for the TYWLS Class of 2026, because we are now powerful women with big dreams.
Sofia,
Valedictorian,
The Young Women’s Leadership School of Queens

We can work together to fight against atrocities in this world. As impressive as our individual accomplishments are, it’s not about you or me as individuals but about us. None of us are successful unless we are all successful. None of us are safe until all of us are safe. None of us are free until all of us are free.
Itzel,
Valedictorian,
Bronx Envision Academy

A graduate in a blue cap and gown holds a diploma cover on a Bronx Envision Academy backdrop, wearing a white sash that reads Valedictorian. — *Itzel is the first graduate of Bronx Envision Academy to attend Gettysburg College.*

A student in a red graduation gown receives an award from the principal on stage — *Michael will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology*

“By chance and by choice, I found my place here. I realized discomfort doesn’t always mean something is wrong. It can mean you’ve reached a turning point.”
Michael,
Salutatorian,
Union Square Academy

Scholarships That Make Their College Dreams Possible

Behind every graduate stood a team of our dedicated directors of college counseling (DCCs), educators, and family members whose belief and support made this milestone possible. Among this year’s celebrated class are several scholarship winners whose accolades are turning their college dreams into reality.

Two young people in formal attire pose in front of a backdrop with graduation caps and diplomas illustrated in blue, orange, and yellow. — *DCC Rebecca Partap* *with her student Alvin at the New Visions Awards Reception*

An impressive 45 Student Leadership Network seniors have won a New Visions or Beattie Scholarship to support college and career pathways. Awards range from one-time $2,000 grants to multiyear $20,000 awards. Alvin is among four students in our network to secure the top honors and plans to attend Boston University.

With support from our DCCs on the application process, students secured prestigious scholarships to turn their college dreams into reality. Fernanda will attend Haverford College with a full-tuition Questbridge scholarship, while Chamely will apply a New Visions award to Barnard College. Ricardo will attend SUNY Binghamton University with support from the Hagan Scholarship for expenses and study abroad opportunities.

Three students stand side by side, posing for a photo in front of a backdrop with graduation caps and diplomas. — *Class of 2026: Fernanda, Chamely, and Ricardo*

A student in a suit holds two certificates and a medal, standing in front of a backdrop with graduation-themed illustrations celebrating the Class of 2026. — *Class of 2026: Mohamad*

Emmanuel is heading to Penn State University Park this fall with a Jordan Brand Wings Scholarship, one of only 34 students selected nationwide! Facilitated by a partnership with our College Persistence team, this nomination-only scholarship helps fill the gap between financial aid and the total cost of attending college.

Jordyn and Gretchen, graduates of Girls Academic Leadership Academy, a Young Women’s Leadership affiliate in Los Angeles, earned George and Irene Epstein Memorial Scholarships to support STEM studies in college. Jordyn plans to major in computer science, and Gretchen will study statistics and data science.

Two young women stand side by side, each holding a framed scholarship certificate — *Class of 2026: Jordyn and Gretchen*

A young person wearing glasses and a black sweater over a white shirt smiles at the camera, with a background featuring graduation caps and diplomas in blue and orange outlines. — *Class of 2026: Mohamad*

Mohamad is the valedictorian of International Preparatory High School, a CollegeBound Initiative partner school, and is heading to the University at Buffalo. He was honored at the Buffalo Public Schools’ Scholastic Achievement Recognition Dinner as one of the top three seniors from each public, private, and parochial high school across Western New York.

With support from their DCC, two TYWLS Astoria graduates secured competitive Gates Scholarships to cover the costs of college not covered by financial aid, including tuition, fees, books, housing, and food. Parveen will attend St. John’s University, and Ruyam will enroll at the University of Southern California.

Two young women with long dark hair stand side by side wearing Class of 2026 college sweatshirts, one for St. John’s University and one for USC — *Class of 2026: Parveen and Ruyam*

We are thrilled to celebrate 14 recipients of the prestigious Posse Foundation and QuestBridge Scholarships among our graduating class in New York City, and our Young Women’s Leadership affiliate GLOW Academy’s first-ever QuestBridge Scholar at the Wilmington, North Carolina school. These highly competitive programs offer full-tuition college scholarships and tailored college transition support following intensive, months-long applications.

Photo Gallery

As we watch these graduates embark on their next chapters, we see proof of what’s possible when barriers to educational access are removed for all students. The future has never looked brighter. Congratulations, Class of 2026 graduates!