HYA Events

expose 1st generation college bound youth and their parents to a college campus environment

inform students of college admission requirements and various “alternative admission programs”

reinforce  the importance of academic responsibilities, goals, and values

Diamon Simpson’09,  Omar Samhan’10, and Mickey McConnell’11 visited elementary/ middle school in the Oakland, Hayward, Tracy, Novato and Richmond School Districts.  

They spoke of the importance of hard work, effort and perseverance in the classroom.  Serving as youth role models “on and off the court” during their record breaking seasons.  In 2011-12, HYA-”O”Zone Youth Nights honors Saint Mary’s College basketball senior,  Rob Jones ’12, an exemplary self-determined young man of courage and dedication.

Educational research have shown college exposure in elementary and middle school provide an essential vision of success.  HYA is committed to providing the vision your child may need.

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AVID Testimonials

Tracy Unified 2009

 Best Field Trip, Ever!

Dear Mr. Tom Brown,

I enjoyed the speech you gave at St Mary’s College. You really inspired people to better their lives. The statistical factsthat you gave about latinos and blacks dropping out of school, and not going forward with their lives, really touched me. Being a young latina, I do not want to be part of the statistics. Listening to you makes me want to do good in college, and finish college. Thank you for your words of wisdom

Veronica Loazo, Tracy Unified School District AVID program

Dear Diamon Simpson,

Thank you for putting on a really good show against USF! I admire you a lot because I heard you that you didn’t come from a wealthy family, like me. You give me hope that it doesn’t matter how rich and wealthy you are; you can always try to go to college. Also, I give you the best of luck that you go to the NBA.

Michael Diaz, AVID student

Tom Brown, HYA Youth Outreach & 'Avid' Keynote Speaker 2009, 2010

Dear Tom Brown,

Thank you very much for “inspiring” me to succeed. I appreciate the way you spoke to us, and told us that their is nobody in the world that can tell us we cannot be a success in school. That we CAN succeed. Also, thanks for telling us that we should never give up. That we should try, and try until we accomplish our goals. Thanks for giving us the hope to try and succeed

Dalia Garcia, Tracy Unified School District

Dear Student Ambassadors,

Thank you for giving us the tour of Saint Mary’s College, and for taking some of your time for giving us the tour. The campus was “awesome.” We thank you for also being so nice to us, ans we wish we could go some other time.

Sincerely,

Missael Ohaidez

Dear Mr. Carroll,

Thank you for providing us with the pizzas and a nice dining hall. Everything was so good, the [pizza] and the nice dining hall. I really liked it! It was the best part of the entire night. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Sincerely,

Kimberly Tostado

Dear  SMC Basketball Team,

We enjoyed watching the basketball game against the U.S.F. Dons.  Diamon Simpson was a beast on the rebounds & scoring that night. Many of my students (Monte Vista School-Tracy) had never been seen a college or college basketball game. We had to leave after the 1st quarter due to the late starting time, but it was fun!

Diamon Simpson '09, poses with young fans after the Diamon Center Night#2 @ McKeon Pavilion, Moraga

Dear Tom Brown,

As a Monte Vista Middle School student, I want to thank you for your time, and inspiring speech you gave us. Out of all the speakers, you’re the one that caught my attention. Your background from where you came from,to where you’re at now is such a big accomplishment. When they said, “you are not college material”……what I admire most from you—that despite what people told you, you kept going; not letting anything stop you. It was more than a pleasure to have met you. Once again, I’d like to thank youfor everything and look forward to seing you again sometime.

Gerardo Michel, Monte Vista Mibble School (one of the guys who sat in front of you in the bleachers)

Ms Tomlin ’81 (AVID Coordinator, Tracy Unified School District)

I really would like to thank you for planning this trip and putiing everything togethet for AVID students. I have really enjoyed my trip, and the motivational speakers really inspired me to apply there. The college is extremely beautiful, and I am most definitely considering applying there for college. Thanks for everything–this trip was very special

Alyssa Huerta, Grade 11