Making Waves Academy Celebrates the Class of 2020!
by Making Waves foundation
Richmond, Calif., June 11, 2020 – The Making Waves Academy (MWA) Class of 2020 graduated with two special ceremonies: a June 8-9th “Cap & Gown Pick-Up Celebration,” where students received their graduation regalia and a “Grad Box” filled with celebratory class essentials, and a virtual commencement on the evening of June 11th.
Alton B. Nelson Jr., CEO and Dr. Evangelia Ward-Jackson, Senior School Director hosted the school’s first-ever virtual graduation ceremony, which celebrated 84 students for the Richmond-based public charter school’s senior class. The graduates were also saluted by the Class of 2020’s valedictorians, Jesus V., Bryana G., and Cinthia S., and salutatorians, Felipe V. and Amari-Lynn B.
“Even though their senior year was affected tremendously by a pandemic, our graduates accomplished so much this year,” said Nelson about this year’s graduating class at Making Waves Academy. “That’s why we’re especially thrilled that 98.8% of our graduates of the 17th Wave, have committed to college, following the pattern of the Waves before them.”
Accolades for this year’s graduates were also shared by Making Waves Academy co-founders, John H. and Regina K. Scully.
“The accomplishments of the 17th Wave make us extremely proud of what you have achieved,” John Scully told graduates at the virtual ceremony. “We have every confidence that you will excel in the paths you have chosen and make us so proud.”
Regina Scully added: “These are challenging and unprecedented times in our nation, and though we are not celebrating in the traditional way, we are so impressed that you are achieving your goals with such resolve and perseverance.”
MWA is a tuition-free public charter school that creates a pathway for students to gain acceptance to and graduate from college and ultimately become valuable contributors to the workforce and their communities. Its comprehensive, holistic approach focuses on social-emotional development and individualized coaching through tutoring, mental health support and more, while providing state of the art facilities to further cultivate an active, engaged student community.
For more information about Making Waves Academy, please visit www.makingwavesacademy.org.
ABOUT MAKING WAVES ACADEMY:
Making Waves Academy is a 5th-12th grade public charter school in Richmond, CA committed to rigorously and holistically preparing its students (“Wave-Makers”) to gain acceptance to and graduate from college to ultimately become valuable contributors to the workforce and their communities. Opening in 2007, MWA was born out of a 20-year history of serving youth in Richmond through an afterschool program. Today, MWA educates more than 1,000 historically underrepresented and underserved students from West Contra Costa County.
ABOUT MAKING WAVES FOUNDATION (MWF)
Founded in 1989, Making Waves was created to address the educational needs of socioeconomically disadvantaged youth with limited access to quality schools in Richmond, California. Today, MWF’s mission is to advance opportunities for underserved and historically underrepresented students who are college-bound and career-minded. MWF achieves its mission by supporting the growth of Making Waves Academy, a public charter school, by acquiring, developing, and managing school facilities. MWF also operates a college success program, CAP, which supports nearly 700 students through the successful completion of their college degrees, as quickly and with as little debt as possible.
Making Waves Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit private operating foundation.