A PUBLICATION THE OF CITYSQUASH

An Urban Youth Enrichment Program DECEMBER 2018

ROAD SCHOLARS GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK Expanding horizons and making memories through travel. Gatlinburg, TN Middle school students stop to camp in the Appalachian Mountains on their There is something unique about a road trip, where often the journey is as memorable as way to St. Louis. With the growing the destination. It is no surprise that team member feedback consistently rates travel—and the popularity of CitySquash’s Wilderness camaraderie it provides—as the most impactful part of the CitySquash experience. Club, more and more team members are enjoying the outdoors. Travel is introduced as a core part of the CitySquash experience as early as the elementary school level. For many, trips with CitySquash are the first time spent away from home. Our annual team wilderness retreat brings our entire team to Lake Placid, NY for a week of hiking, team- building, and leadership development. During spring break, our staff plans and leads multi-day Spring Enrichment Tours for groups of students. This past year, our six spring tours hit 14 cities WASHINGTON MONUMENT and covered over 7,000 miles. And though sites like the National Aquarium or the Gateway Arch Washington, DC are highlights, it is often the little things that leave the most cherished memories. “I have connected Amaya Diggs gets the perfect shot more with my teammates,” said junior Seth Canales, reminiscing about the high school tour. as part of our Brooklyn team’s trip “My favorite part was when we prepared a meal together. It was challenging but we learned new to our nation’s capital. Other stops skills such as communication, working together, and patience.” included the Air and Space Museum, Travel not only opens the world of possibility to our students but also lays the foundation for the the National Museum of African comfort and confidence required to navigate the transitions to boarding school, college, and beyond. American History and Culture, and Thank you to all who have helped make these experiences possible! the National Portrait Gallery.

MASS MoCA CITYSQUASH BUS North Adams, MA On the Road Xitlaly Santos and the high school Spring Our 14-passenger bus is the backbone Enrichment Tour take in the Sol LeWitt of the CitySquash fleet, helping our Wall Drawing Retrospective as part of team members travel to 26 different their visit to the Massachusetts Museum tournaments, 14 different cities, and of Contemporary Art. over 7,000 miles of enrichment tours last year.

MAKING COURTING THEIR MARK SUCCESS! Our alumni are leading the way in Hard work and dedicated coaches the community. help bring home more titles.

This fall, CitySquash alum Chris It was a banner year on court for our Fernandez was named the new Men’s and CitySquash team members. As always, our Women’s Head Squash Coach of Dickinson coaches and team members were on the road College. Fernandez first stepped onto the most weekends of the 2017-18 junior squash squash court in 2004 as part of the third season, participating in 26 tournaments with cohort ever to try out for CitySquash. Chris 340 total tournament entries—not to mention went on to win a scholarship to the Canterbury an additional 20 competitive matches with School in and then moved on to other clubs and urban squash programs. St. Lawrence University, where as a senior, he This winter, our BU13, GU15 and BU17 teams captained the men’s squash team that finished were victorious in their respective divisions at #2 in the country. For the past three years, he the SEA Urban Team Nationals in New York. has served as CitySquash’s Director of Squash In June, Randy Guzman, Maury Escalona, in the Bronx. “I am truly grateful for such Squash + Education Alliance, the umbrella Lizbeth Barroso, Caleb Boateng, and Joana an opportunity and look forward to making organization of the urban squash movement, Pacheco won their respective divisions at urban squash, Dickinson, and everyone who’s becoming the first urban squash alum to serve the Urban Individual Nationals at Amherst supported me proud,” Fernandez said. Both of in that capacity. Manuela Perez is also serving and Williams Colleges, bringing CitySquash’s senior Andreina Benedith closed out her Dickinson’s teams finished in the top 20 in the urban squash more formally, having just joined tally of Urban National Titles to 101— college career at the #3 spot on the ladder by country last year. the Junior Board of CitySquash, becoming a national record. winning five out of her last six matches. Chris is not the only CitySquash alum the first CitySquash alum to do so. Both Jesse Other highlights include Caleb Boateng One secret to our success has been the to have taken a key leadership role in their and Manuela look forward to bringing their winning the U.S. Middle School Team enthusiasm to seek extra time on court outside community. Jessenia Pacheco was recently experience and perspective to help guide the Championships as part of the Brunswick normal programming hours. Coach Bryan elected to the Board of Directors of the next generation of urban squashers. School, becoming the first urban squash Patterson’s weekly morning squash club has student to be in the lineup of a U.S. National elementary and middle schoolers on court Championship-winning team. Hobart & before school at 6:30am, our Elite Effort group William Smith freshman Joana Pacheco and participates in extra training during school I AM“ TRULY GRATEFUL FOR sophomore Karina Lazaro combined to go year weekends, and this summer, CitySquash SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY AND 20-8 on the season to help lead their team to secured 31 squash camp opportunities. LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING the Epps Cup, and Franklin & Marshall When there is court time available, our players URBAN SQUASH, DICKINSON, come running! AND EVERYONE WHO’S SUPPORTED ME PROUD. Chris Fernandez Above Coach Raheem Logan embraces Randy Guzman after he captures Brooklyn’s first individual Above Chris Fernandez will Urban National Title. be taking charge of two Left Giselle Ciriaco (L) top-20 squash programs at and Lizbeth Barroso Dickinson College. (R) made it an all- Right Chris, seen here with CitySquash affair in the teammate Tanesha Jackson, GU15 Championship joined CitySquash back in Final at Urban Individual 2004 as a 6th grader from Nationals. Middle School 45. THE BOAST • DECEMBER 2018 THE BOAST • DECEMBER 2018

BOARD CHARACTER NEW MILESTONES OF DIRECTORS IN THEIR OWN WORDS Sanford M. Schwartz COUNTS FOR BROOKLYN! Founder & Chair Excerpts from Admissions Essays Social Emotional Learning takes From high school admissions to success on court, Kim Huchro President off thanks to new partnerships. big things are happening at CitySquash’s newest site. Nick Burgin An Urban Youth Silvia Campo ERIC MOLINA GISELLE Enrichment Program Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has CitySquash’s Brooklyn site achieved two Buzz Doherty CABRERA on being a boarding been an increasingly important focus within new milestones amidst another year of growth. www.citysquash.org Teri Galluccio school student from on overcoming a education and youth development work. Recent Team members Karolina Majewska and research holds that building SEL competencies, Mariya Novosad become the first two students Mailing Address David Ganek the Bronx. learning disability. such as self-awareness and goal-management, from the site to earn scholarships to boarding Michael Luskin P.O. Box 619 is as crucial, if not more, to later academic and growth as well as provide feedback to program school. Karolina now attends the Lawrenceville Fordham Station Ben Mandel personal success as grades and test scores. design. Both programs were piloted last year, School and Mariya attends the . Tours: a shorter trip to Philadelphia, and a road Bronx, NY 10458 Gerry Murray In many ways, it is the kind of work and the CitySquash middle school program was The third student in our placement program, trip to Atlanta via Washington D.C. and the CitySquash has long been doing—providing recognized by the Student Success Network Catherine Wang, earned admission to Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. (718) 220-7400 Peter Nicol students with an opportunity to belong in a as a “bright spot” for having a statistically Brooklyn Tech, one of New York City’s Exciting changes are also on the horizon Jerry Ouderkirk FRESHMAN AT HOBART & WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES FRESHMAN AT MT. HOLYOKE COLLEGE [email protected] high expectations, high support environment significant effect on two SEL competencies: specialized high schools, rounding out a stellar for this programming year. A new partnership Palmer Page I have realized that being different is a good thing in a world Eventually, I got a wonderful CitySquash tutor named Jasmine that cultivates discipline and commitment. growth mindset and belonging. “This, to me, first year of high school admissions. On the with M.S. 136 in Sunset Park brought in a Julia Pershan where people are so much alike. I am different for not being a who helped me catch up. And through it all, I learned what More recently, CitySquash has built on this is the core of our work,” said Academic Chair squash front, Randy Guzman became the first new group of 6th graders and the program typical kid from the Bronx or a typical St. George’s student. really makes a scholar. It means more than just grades or labels; foundation, introducing “circles,” special and Director of Middle School Academics Brooklyn student to win an individual Urban welcomed two new staff members:Grace Gillian Steel Colin UPCOMING I am different because of the things I do but I am also proud of it means never giving up and working as hard as you can to meeting times designed to encourage and Murfree. “If our programming is targeting the National Championship, advancing through Saliba is the Brooklyn program’s first EVENTS Laura Trevelyan where I come from and who I am. Boarding school has taught achieve your goals, no matter the obstacles. I never thought that support team members to discuss day-to-day right things and we, as a staff, are educated on an all-CitySquash semifinal to win the BU13 Director of Placement and Jordyn Matthews Brian Walsh me that in today’s world, which can be filled with so much fear, I would ever make it with the rest of the “Honors kids,” or be adolescent challenges, as well as meditation the best practices of how to achieve them, the title at Williams College in June. It is hard to oversees all the Brooklyn curricula as Director Jeffrey P. Wiegand you must not be afraid of being yourself. selected by my school to give a National Honor Society speech. to ease the transition between academics greatness and talent of our team members will believe that it was just four years ago that this of Academics. Battle of Brooklyn But my mom did. and squash. always shine through.” inaugural cohort of Brooklyn CitySquashers Tim Wyant November 30 – Another big change is the tools available picked up a racquet for the first time. Above Twins Angelina and Ashanti Amastal December 1 to measure and provide feedback about these In the classroom, the team was hard at support their teammates at the second competencies. CitySquash is excited to work reading books such as A Long Walk to Water The Heights Casino BROOKLYN annual Battle of Brooklyn at Poly Prep. partner with the Student Success Network and Islandborn, honing their math skills on Khan & Poly Prep Country BOARD Below CitySquash alum and mentor Freddy and Hello Insight by integrating surveys Above Team building at Academy, and improving their grades. Spring Day School our Lake Placid retreat Hernandez cheered on Brooklyn team Buzz Doherty designed to measure and capture SEL break saw two different Spring Enrichment has become a staple of members Ryan Gayle, Deondre Curry, and Chair CitySquash STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS our SEL programming. Judah El Bey at Urban Team Nationals. Elyse Douglas Talent Show Left Fostering peer Adam Dresher December 19 mentoring relationships Jean Ervasti AMAYA DIGGS RODRIGO HIPOLITO across grade levels Middle School 45 is a priority for the Mike Gantcher She is in the 7th grade He is in the 4th grade at P.S. upcoming year. Brooklyn Racquet Rachel Hines Ceremony at PAVE Academy 205 in the Bronx and always Stephanie Ingrassia in Brooklyn and a seems to have a smile on December 20 Peter Kelly respected leader among his face. Poly Prep Country Ben Oliner AGE her teammates. AGE Day School Meredeth Quick 12 9 CitySquash JAM Spencer Robertson Laura Trevelyan February 7 Years in CitySquash 4 Years in CitySquash 2 NYC Favorite Subject Math Favorite Subject Math The Bash JUNIOR Favorite Books It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini Favorite Books Captain Underpants…the whole series! BOARD May 30 Favorite Food Tacos, ice cream, cheese puffs Favorite Food Spaghetti and meatballs Courtney Burdette Hidden Talent Dancing Hidden Talent Playing guitar CITYSQUASH BY THE NUMBERS University Club, NYC Co-Chair Would Love to Travel to Dubai, Dominican Republic Would Love to Travel to Mexico to visit Grandma and Grandpa Sarah Hall CITYSQUASH Co-Chair What I Love About Brooklyn The people and the shops What I love About the Bronx The Bronx Zoo because of the STAFF John Beam Hero My grandmother and mom snow leopards Terence Li Courtney Bogle Academic Achievement Getting a 101% on a test Hero My mom, dad, and sister Executive Director Lauren Chu Squash Achievement Playing in my first overnight Academic Achievement All 3s and 4s on last year’s report card Alexandra Boillot Gabriella Garr tournament in Philadelphia Squash Achievement Learning to hit a backhand Program Director, Virginia Lake Placid because it was my first Bronx Sam Haig Favorite CitySquash Trip Favorite CitySquash Trip time away from home Peter Feldman Chris Hanson Life Goal To be an inspirational model Director of Strategic Katie Harrison Life Goal To be a good squash player 1 Initiatives 101 Gray Huffard 34 100% 77 Robert Galluccio Keith Merrill Program Director, Brooklyn Manuela Perez Urban National Squash titles high school and college squash of CitySquash high school team members have Giustina Charbonneau Elizabeth Schetman won by CitySquashers, teams have been captained by students have graduated from been admitted to selective Director of High School Josh Schwartz more than any other urban a CitySquasher. high school. prep schools. Academics SCHOOL Scott Sill PRIVATE SCHOOL squash program. Annie Ferreira Charlotte Steel Director of Placement, PLACEMENTS Biby Abrego Cristo Rey High School Bronx Madeleine Sullivan Nineteen more CitySquashers join the Madalein Amoako Episcopal High School Micah Finkelman private school and college ranks. Jesse Brew Director of Elementary BOARD OF School Academics Giselle Ciriaco ADVISORS Tjende D’jibo Trinity-Pawling School Raheem Logan Liam Culman Justin Galarza $20 Director of Squash, There was much to celebrate on the admissions front Brooklyn Danielle Ganek this year as nine CitySquash students were accepted to Brianna Lucero MM+ 92% 98% 39 Kimberly Lucero Jordyn Matthews Annamaria Giordano colleges, and an organization record ten other students Director of Academics, Larry Hilbert won scholarships to selective private schools. To date, Karolina Majewska 77 CitySquash team members have been admitted to private in financial aid scholarships of team members have become of CitySquash high school college students have Brooklyn Carol Ann Rosado Mariya Novosad Kent School schools and 73 have gone off to college. Congratulations have been awarded to gainfully employed within six graduates have gone on competed for their school’s Colin Murfree Elizabeth da to our team members for their successful school placements Director of Middle CitySquash high school and months of college graduation. to college. varsity squash team. Trindade-Asher from the past year: COLLEGE School Academics college students. Anna O’Keefe Giselle Cabrera Mt. Holyoke College Director of College HONORARY Andy Flores Borough of Manhattan Left Madelein Amoako, Access & Success BOARD Community College Justin Galarza, and Brianna Bryan Patterson Ayaan Hirsi Ali Lucero show off their new Billy Fleurima Connecticut College Director of Squash William Douglass school colors. Maya Lopez LaGuardia Community College Valeria Quan Anne Harrison Tyla McKenzie Niagara University Program Associate Stephen Mandel Eric Molina Hobart & William Smith Colleges Luigi Pasquariello Connecticut College Grace Saliba Joseph M. McShane 112 64% 13 5 Director of Placement, Daniel Rosas SUNY Buffalo State Richard Millman Brooklyn Sabrina Teope Colby College Jonathon Power Alexandra Sorbello academic enrichment, outdoor, of high school graduates countries visited by team alumni serve as mentors Volunteer Coordinator Joseph Solanto or squash camp spots were have attended colleges rated members on CitySquash to current CitySquash team Anne Tierney secured this past summer for “most” or “highly” competitive sponsored trips. members. Director of Operations team members. by Barron’s. & William Smithdiplomas. Marisela show offtheirHobart Jocelyn, Felipe, Fernando, and and CitySquashalumJoseAlvarez. Kenneth plays squashwithhismentor bond at Mentor Night. Game mentor, Courtney Bogle, Fatima andherlongtime

P.O. Box 619 Fordham Station Bronx, NY 10458 Clyne visitsourBrooklyn site. World #18OliviaBlatchford THE BOAST •DECEMBER2018 garden duringCitySquashServes. Gerardo andCristian cleanupalocal Fox RuninCentral Park. money for cancer research at theTerry Edwin, Miguel,Coby, andJared raise

AT A GLANCE YEAR IN REVIEW

CitySquash is a not-for-profit youth program based in the the NYUCenter for Brain Imaging. Elementary schoolstudents tour Bronx at Fordham University and in Brooklyn at Poly Prep TEAM MEMBERS Country Day School. We help motivated young people from economically disadvantaged households fulfill their atop Mt.Haystack intheAdirondacks. Bronx andBrooklyn middleschoolstudents academic, athletic, and personal potential. TOTAL FIVE KEY GOALS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR STUDENTS + = ENROLLMENT ARE THAT THEY: 230

111 119 • Develop upstanding character

• Improve their academic performance the SEACitizenship Tour. Seth meetsAlRoker on • Become competitive squash players WHERE • Attend high quality high schools THEY ARE PRIVATEPRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOOL • Graduate from college 10%10% at CitySquashReads. Junot Diaz’s Islandborn Boubacar discusses Founded in 2002, CitySquash serves 230 elementary, middle, high school and COLLEGE college students. For our participants, 14%17% CitySquash is an intensive, year-round commitment that starts as early as 3rd grade and lasts through college graduation. Our programming includes BRONX squash, tutoring, mentoring, community BRONX49% service, travel, high school placement, BROOKLYNBROOKLYN 53% college prep, career services and more. 23%24%