ZACHARY
SOWMA student and BSU Scholar Zachary celebrates his graduation with Bridgewater State University President Frederick W. Clark. Zachary faced many hardships growing up, including homelessness, but always stayed focused on his education. He will continue his studies at the University of Houston, where he plans to pursue a master's degree in applied financial mathematics. This year Zachary was inducted into the National Mathematics Honorary Society (Pi Mu Epsilon).
APRYL
SOWMA's High School Plus Coordinator Cassandra Dockray always knew she would one day stand alongside SOWMA student Apryl at her graduation. Here they celebrate Apryl's accomplishments and associate's degree from Massasoit Community College. Apryl is heading to Bridgewater State University this fall - with the support of Cassandra and SOWMA's High School Plus program.
ANA
SOWMA mentor Beth Young met Ana when she was facing homelessness and motherhood as a high school student in Brockton. The two met regularly throughout Ana's high school and college years. Last month Ana's daughter Briana proudly watched as her mother received her BSU diploma in social work. Briana has been a SOWMA student since kindergarten and is looking forward to holding her own college diploma one day!
JESSICA
Jessica is beaming with pride at her Massasoit Community College graduation. This fall she will attend Salem State University to study early childhood education. Jessica has been a SOWMA student since 7th grade. We know that she'll make the best teacher and role model as she pursues her bachelor's degree.
SEFORA
Sefora, a BSU Scholar has been a SOWMA student since her senior year at Brockton High School. She is all smiles with Cheryl Opper on her graduation day. Sefora plans to attend graduate school after obtaining experience in a managerial role at a health care agency.
SHANTARIA
Shantaria is camera-shy but her accomplishments are loud and clear after successfully completing her associate's degree at Massasoit Community College. She's off to BSU this fall to study social work.
Kids helping Kids is growing part of SOWMA’s work. Student volunteers of all ages bring their passion and talents to SOWMA to help those less fortunate. Kids Helping Kids fosters leadership skills and builds community service and connection. That’s exactly what Isabel (“Izzie”) Berkenblit decided to do as part of her Bat Mitzvah project.
Izzie decided to support School on Wheels’ students through what she named the “Izzie Project.” She combined her love for sewing with her passion for helping children and made custom-designed pillowcases for our students. She turned to her Girl Scout troop for help – and received donated material from friend Robin Salvas, pictured above. Izzie and her newly created team donated more than 200 pillowcases for children experiencing homelessness.
Catherine Duncan was honored at the New Year's Eve Patriots game as being the “volunteer of the year” by the New England Patriots and was presented a check for $5,000 to School on Wheels of Massachusetts by Robert Kraft. She was honored for her work tutoring with School on Wheels of Massachusetts.
Letter from Lindsay Opper to her mom, Cheryl Opper, founder and executive director,
School on Wheels of Massachusetts
November 16, 2017
In 9th grade, my mom brought in a new family member to live with us: School on Wheels of MA (SOWMA). After school, I would get off the bus and come home to backpack supplies dropped off on our front porch, a basement that looked like a CVS and various people gathered around our kitchen table. Many of nights I would walk downstairs to turn off the living room tv (located directly below my bedroom).
The living room was where my mom continued to work on grants & other important SOWMA materials late into the night. It become a nightly ritual for me to come downstairs and turn off Tom Bergeren’s booming voice as he announced the next Dancing With The Stars contestant eliminated. I then would clear the Lean Cuisine from the coffee table, remove my mom’s glasses from her sleeping face & set her laptop aside. Never once did my mom wake up the next day and complain about her massive workload or how tired she felt. Instead she would wake up re-energized. Ready to go out and be a voice for the kids.
Hats off to our 2017 graduates!
Lorenz
Lorenz graduated with perfect attendance from Brockton High School despite overwhelming odds. With the help of his SOWMA tutors and his undeterred focus, he went on to Massasoit Community College, where he graduated with honors. Lorenz was nominated by SOWMA for the Bridgewater State University Scholar's Program. Last month he was presented with his diploma, and BSU's prestigious "Award for Student Excellence," given for outstanding scholastic and extra curricular activities. Read about Lorenz and School on Wheels here as Beverly Beckham captures his story - and SOWMA's - in a Boston Globe feature.
Sade
Four years ago Sade arrived at the Elms College School of Nursing, nervous but excited to begin her college career. Sade recalls walking into her dorm room with SOWMA founder and executive director Cheryl Opper, who was carrying dorm supplies and setting her up in a place she'd call home for the next four years. Diploma in hand, Sade's now studying for her nursing boards and looking forward to a career that blends her commitment to caring for others with her new-found scientific knowledge. Congrats to Sade!
LucnaliE
Lucnalie is the consummate role model for her younger sister, Lovely. A 2017 graduate of Massasoit Community College, Lucnalie this fall will continue her education at University of Massachusetts Amherst majoring in biology. Lucnalie and her siblings lost their mother at a young age and were raised in foster care. Despite hardships, Lucnalie is determined to blaze a trail for her siblings to lead them to a brighter future through education and hard work.
Nicole
Shortly after the Boston Marathon bombings, Nicole and her family found themselves giving up an affordable housing opportunity in order to accommodate a victim of the bombings. Faced with homelessness, Nicole reached out to SOWMA after seeing a Facebook post about educational support and asked for help. She was placed with a volunteer mentor, given customized school supplies, and taught the skills she needed to stay focused on her education. Today Nicole is the proud recipient of a college degree from Bridgewater State University. Read more about Nicole on NECN's feature here.
