Reaching Higher: First Class of Hartford Promise Scholars Graduate College

The inaugural class of Hartford Promise students – 75 strong – graduated at the completion of four years of college this spring.  Two of the Hartford Promise scholars delivered messages to their fellow graduates, and the community, as part of the hour-long Night of Promise celebration webinar this month, honoring the college graduation of Hartford’s first class of Promise Scholars.  Here are two of those messages:

We need more Black and Brown social workers, therapist, psychologists, doctors, lawyers, etc.  We all see how the injustices of societal systems continue to play out and repeat themselves.  We have to be the ones to speak out and be the change that this country needs.  I’ve chosen to be a LCSW because of what I’ve witnessed in my community and within my own family. 

We have a way higher chance of getting lost in, and/or hurt by, these systems, and it is extremely unfair.  Systemic racism is the ultimate reason why it is so hard for us to do well in life, and get ahead.  This country was never made in our favor.  And until everyone understands that, we will not be able to put an end to things like police brutality, and the murder of Black people. 

“We have to be the ones to speak out and be the change that this country needs. .”

Hartford Promise will continue to be what motivates me to do and want better for my city by providing me with the resources and community necessary to get through college and even COVID-19. I’ve been able to sharpen my focus on what really matters, and better determine my purpose in life.  Thank you Hartford Promise for everything, and to everyone in my class, congratulations, we made it this far. 

We cannot stop. This is bigger than me, and this is bigger than you. Now literally (we are) Hartford’s Promise to create a bright future and better our community.

Ashia Robinson, Tufts University graduate, BA-Clinical Psychology

First and foremost, congratulations to everyone tuning in tonight.  You all deserve the world for your accomplishments and I wish I could give that to you all. 

I empathize with your pain, with your loss, with your disappointment.  I share your feelings of hopelessness, restlessness, and even feelings of futility.  But I want you all to know this in no way diminishes the four years of effort you put in.  This is not the zenith of what we can achieve. There is more to come. 

“We are ambitious, we are resilient, we are impressive and we are graceful in our ability to endure the unexpected.”

You all matter, and we are not a class that will be forgotten.  I want to assure you that we are all in this together.  Because overshadows and perhaps even neglects the unique circumstances and challenges we will face. But I can assure you that we as a Hartford Promise community can be there for one another in the numerous challenges we face and we can foster an atmosphere of care to help us all through these trying times. 

I am proud of how far we’ve all come.  Prouder to be part of this cohort.  We are ambitious, we are resilient, we are impressive and we are graceful in our ability to endure the unexpected.  In getting through this, we will serve as an inspiration for the next generation of scholars.

Keep on keeping your head up, and pushing through.  There’s more for you to achieve.   So, to you all, to us, congratulations, and a job well done.

Yaw Owusu Darko, University of Connecticut graduate, BA-Psychology, Minor-Cognitive Science

To learn more about Hartford Promise, visit www.hartfordpromise.org. To watch the entire hour, go to https://livestream.com/accounts/22723452/nightofpromise/videos/207333536. To become a Promise Scholar, students must attend a Hartford Public High School continuously since 9th grade, be a Hartford resident throughout high school, have a 93 % or better cumulative attendance record during high school and have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or better on a 4.0 scale in high school.  The Hartford Promise Award is a last-dollar scholarship. This means that the award is given after all individual grants, financial aid, and other scholarships have been applied to the scholar’s account.  Promise Scholars will receive a college scholarship of up to $20,000.  Students attending any accredited, not-for-profit 4-year college or university will receive up to $5,000 per year if attending full time.