Pictured are (clockwise from left): Salutatorian Kimberly Hill, Moses Moy, D’Andre Jackson, Valedictorian Maty Gil, Brenda Aquino, and Justin Evans. Brenda, D’Andre, and Justin graduated in the top 15 percent of their class. Brenda and Moses were the female and male winners of the 2009 HISD Board of Education awards. while on a visit the The White House. HOUSTON—HISD pioneered the early college high school concept in Texas when it launched the state’s first such campus in the fall of 2003. Now, HISD’s second early college campus, Empowerment College Preparatory High School, is living up to its name by empowering students to achieve their college education dreams and realize their career aspirations. The school held its inaugural commencement exercises for the Class of 2009 on May 30, at the Kingdom Builders Center. Thirty students crossed the stage that afternoon to receive their diplomas, to the thunderous applause and cheering of hundreds of friends and relatives watching.
Valedictorian Maty Gil observed that while Empowerment may have lacked some of the more traditional aspects of high-schools campuses—such as lockers, a stand-alone building, and extracurricular activities—the school itself more than made up for its deficiencies in what it gave to its students—the opportunity to get a head start on college classes for free and to set an example for others to follow.
Other students who graduated from Empowerment noted that their experiences had given them a new sense of faith in themselves. Collectively, Empowerment’s graduating seniors earned just over $204,000 in scholarships. They will attend such schools as the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, Prairie View A&M University, St. Edward’s University, Texas Southern University, Houston Baptist University, Lamar University, Texas Tech University, and Hope College in Michigan. Board of Education member Paula M. Harris, presented selected students with the annual Board of Education awards for leadership and achievement. Brenda Aquino was named the top female student, while Moses Moy was named the top male student. Faruqe Ahmed, Stephon Roy, La’Dale Thomas, Brittni Thompson, and Cassandra Ybarra also earned honorable mentions. Lieutenant General (retired) Russel Honoré, declined an invitation to give the commencement speech at the United States Military Academy at West Point in order to be at Empowerment. Applications for enrollment are currently being accepted for next year’s ninth-grade class. Call 713-732-9231 for more information.(credits to HISD web site)