pops focus news letter 2012 final 7

MAY

POPS FOCUSPOPS FOCUS Newsletter

FinalistIN THIS ISSUE

POPS Law Enforcement Symposium

College Tour 2012 Page 2

Ashley Slyveraof

Evans High School

POPS Highlight!

A group of excited POPS students visited Florida A&M University and Florida State University as part of the 2012 College Tour. The students strolled the campuses while learning about college life and the application process.

The tour continued with a memorable bus trip to Washington, DC. For many of our students this was their first time traveling “north”. The discussed questionable laws in cherry blossoms, rocky hills, and Florida. After the hearing, Florida crisp cool March air made for a great Congresswoman and community first impression. activist, Corrine Brown, and Georgia Congressman and civil

rights leader, John Lewis provided the large group of teens with words of inspiration, prior to taking pictures on the steps of Capitol Hill. By visiting the prestigious universities, participating in the political process, and visiting an array of historical sites, we know that our students now

The students also visited the know that they have no limitations! Rayburn Building where there was a congressional hearing on the Trayvon Martin tragedy. The students listened while members of Congress

The buses headed to Howard and Georgetown Universities where students individually discussed their preferences after being educated on student life at each of the schools. Both campuses provided the students with valuable information.

col e t u s to all hassee,

The leg o r T a r da nd W shi ton, wer

Flo i a a ng DC e nfo g t ble! u r e ta

Page 5

Creative Writing Skills Workshop

Written by S. Welcome, Counselor

Orlando/Osceola

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program

A Message FromDwight Mitchell, District Manager

We would like to thank all our communitypartners and high schools for helping tomake 2012 an epic year. Our studentshave worked very hard to maintain goodgrades and character. I am honored toadvocate for our dedicated young professionals. We strive to provide the very best for students, while preparingthem for greater challenges.

Remember: “You are Always on Interview”

A Note from our CEO Board Chairman Supports POPS Students

POPS FOCUS NEWSLETTER

Law Enforcement Career Symposium

with his monk-like focus on the colorful hulas proving that guys can hula too! For our push-up contest, our winners were A erson Cantaire and Donnetra Wilson of Jones High.

POPS Talent Show Fundraiser generated The final act of the evening was delivered by more than funds. It raised community Oak Ridge POPS student Sakelya Bea. She awareness and a new sense of identify in all performed a heartfelt and engaging hip hop who graced the stage. song where both lyrics and beat was

customized to communicate to the POPS Students from all Orlando area schools organization a message of “Thanks.” The participated and had the opportunity to song was well performed and moving.showcase their skills for $100.00 cash! From classic songs like “Hero” by Mariah Carey to Sakelya 11th grade, took home the cash! original numbers, students showed so much Coming in 2nd place was Tanish Marshall of talent. Evans High with a beautiful acapella solo

rendition of Jasmine Sullivan’s “Lions, Tigers, The judges were radio personality from Star and Bears.” In 3rd place was Reginald 94.5, Jojo, local poet/singer extraordinaire “Reggie” Warren of Osceola High School Terance Jones, and State Senate hopeful singing Katy Perry’s “Firework.” Victoria Siplin. Guest performer, Jonathan De Jesus, junior at Jones High School, gave a In attendance was our POPS Chairman of the spectacular and sobering dose of spoken word Board Walter Hawkins, Vice-Chair, Vernice poetry. The performance was a great fit since Atkins-Bradley, Board member Ghenet POPS focuses on effective writing and Sequar, POPS CEO Barbara Newton, and presentation skills. business owner Michael Kimbrough whose

venue, Pine Hills Community Performing During intermission, we decided to mix things Arts Center, was used for the event. Although up with a hula hoop and a push-up contest there was one big winner, we all took home while DJ Wade kept the energy on point. memories of a great show!Evans student Ronard Green ended up on top

nd

More than 100 professionally dressed teens from POPS attended a Law Enforcement Career workshop on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the FAMU College of Law in Orlando. Students heard dynamic presentations from the Honorable Judge Faye Allen, Orange County Deputy Sheriff Curtis Barnes, FBI Agent Alexis Brignoni, Associate Dean Professor Ruth Witherspoon, Orange County Forensics representative Leroy Parker, and Orange County homicide detectives M. Verret and Teresa Sprague.

The students were very interested in learning about

exciting career opportunities in law enforcement and used the opportunity to ask questions

about various careers.

It is an honor and pleasure to

connect with you as the

CEO/President of the POPS

family. I take great pride in

representing our organization

throughout the country.

Congratulations to all of our

students who have excelled this

year and to all of our “2012

Seniors” who will be graduating

in the coming months. Be

Proud Take Pride and Enjoy

your Moment of Celebration.

Hard work and perseverance

has brought you here and I

continue to wish the very best

for your future. I also applaud

our parents and staff for

volunteering and assisting when

needed.

Attends White House Initiativeon behalf of POPS Program

Barbara

Barbara B. NewtonWritten by S. Welcome, Counselor

Walter Hawkins, Board Chair (left)


POPS FACTS

93 %

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Congressman John Lewis Speaks to POPS Students

Congresswoman Maxine Waters Encourages POPS Students

Fire Careers and Explorations

Career choice is something every student must make soon. POPS gave the students of Wekiva and Oak Ridge High Schools an eye opening experience. Roderick Williams, Assistant Chief of the City of Orlando’s Fire Department, visited both campuses and spoke to the students about possible career paths within the Fire Industry.

Students stayed after school to take part in the hour long presentation and were able to ask in-depth questions about the fire academy and careers within the firefighter organization.

The audience was intrigued to learn that as much as 80% of the calls answered by firefighters are not fire related, but more related to emergency care. Assistant Chief Williams was successful in demonstrating the direct correlation of employment as fire fighters, paramedics and first responders since most students were naive to their relationship.

He stressed the importance of education as the basic foundation to success in any career by saying, “Education is inevitable if you are expecting to move up in whichever career path you choose. You may get it now or later, but eventually.”

Students left the work session enthused about the possibility of a firefighting career. Many who were not interested at first, left with an open mind. Assistant Chief Williams provided the group with information on joining the Fire Explorer program.

Interested candidates must be 14-21 years old.Maintain a 2.0 GPA or above.Hair must be above the ears, with no facial hair.Must attend a two hour meeting every other Tuesday night from 7-9:00pm.Be accountable on calls, events and meetings. Maintain a professional attitude and appearance.Provide your own black boots, belt, and socks. For more information call Aaron Stover at 407-928-1678.

Joining the Fire Explorer Program

Students have been accepted intoa two (2) or four (4) year college

99%Will be promoted to their

next grade level.

(407) 843-1202

Assistant Fire Chief Roderick Williams takesphoto with POPS students, Counselor Welcome, and Principal Bradshaw at Oakridge High School

IN THIS PHOTO

POPS Students Historical Photos

POPS Alumnus

Laidy Salamanca

Written by A. Nelson, Counselor


POPS Osceola Students Enjoy A “Girls Day Out”

Ms. A. Nelson, POPS Counselor and Jamie Paul, Center Manager of City of Kissimmee, took students to the Mall at Millenia for a clothing adventure and day to remember. Katey, Sales Manager at Macy’s joined the party and provided professional “dress for success” services to each student. The students spent four hours exploring and learning everything from proper clothing foundations, business and casual attire, shoes, fragrances, make-up and accessories.

The group then left Macy’s with bags in hand. They were then warmly accepted by the staff of the White House Black Market Department Store. There the girls received “red carpet” treatment in the boutique-styled store as personal assistants, Alana and Shontae, took them on a whimsical bliss of femininity through dress. They learned proper ways to mix and match clothing and still be stylish, age appropriate, and professional.

Senator Gary Siplin supports community

and POPS

Gary Siplin is a democratic member of the Florida Senate representing the 19th district. In 2003, he became the first

African American Senator from Central Florida. Siplin has a B.A. in Political Sciences from Johnson C. Smith

University, an M.A. in Public and International Affairs and a Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law.

He is married to Victoria and they have two children Joshua and Jacob.

Senator Gary Siplin is an eternal advocate for the youth in the community, and many of the legislative initiatives

that he advocates for are focused on the many issues that young people are experiencing.

Mr. Siplin can show his advocacy for the youth in many ways, from proposing a law in the State of Florida,

advocating for funding from the many “funding pots” of the Florida Legislature, and by assisting programs like

POPS to continue helping our youth in our Florida communities.

As a legislator he is always in the front of the issues affecting our children and youth and also solving issues

affecting our district. Currently Senator Gary Siplin is hosting a radio show that is also very popular on the internet

called “Truth 2 Power”, on Rejoice 1140 on Thursdays at 2pm. There, he discusses on air issues that are affecting

our community.

Test Your Knowledge1. What is the term used for the United States dollars deposited in banks outside of United States?

2. Can you name the three branches of the United States Government?

3. What famous French couple discovered the element known as radium?

4. Can you name the mathematician who discovered that the square of a right triangle hypotenuse is equal to sum of the square of the other two

2 2 2 sides? Hint: a + b = c

5. Who won Super Bowl 2012? The score?

6. What is the name of the popular Chinese Language being taught in the United States?

7. Can you name the prime minister of Canada?

8. Who created Facebook?

9. Who wrote the poem “The Raven”?

10. What is the name of the artist who painted the Mona Lisa?

11. Can you name the organization in Washington D.C. that controls the United States money supply?

12. What is the largest city in the United States in terms of land area?

Answers on Page 5

Evans Principal and Senator Siplin

Senator Siplin greets POPS students at Evans HS parade.


POPS Student Reporters on National News

POPS students sat face to face with elite members of Congress, such as Sheila Jackson Lee, John Coyers, Corrine Brown, Fredrica Wilson and Maxine Waters who were discussing the Trayvon Martin case.

Trayvon Martin is the 17 year-old teenager who was shot while walking back from a convenience store in Sanford, FL. While sitting in the hearing. We were emotionally moved by the brief speeches and personal views of each presenter. The hearing opened the floor to a numerous amount of justifiable opinions.

We began considering several factors such as: stereotyping should not dictate how you are treated; your race or ethnicity should not diminish the equal protection rights that everyone should be granted; and the way Trayvon performed and participated while in school had absolutely nothing to do with who he was or how he should be judged.

Congresswoman Wilson stated that an arrest should be made and she would not rest until it happened. She also added that she has buried too many black boys and is tired of it.

Congressman Green spoke of justice prevailing and he was sure that probable cause existed to make an arrest. Green believes that a hoodie does not make you a criminal and today males and females have both become victims of what they wear.

Wilson plans to introduce legislation to establish a Federal Commission to thoroughly study the social status of African-American men and boys.

Creative Writing Skills Workshop

Written by Toni Thomas and Kristen Horne

At POPS, we are dedicated to improving the quality of life for ourstudents by providing the tools and resources necessary to positively impact the welfare of each and every student. However,we need the community, businesses, parents, and individuals to invest in this process.

The only way we can maintain and improve our statistics is throughsupporters like YOU! We are looking for: businesses and organizations who can provide summer internships to our studentsstarting in June; sponsors who can help us make our monthlyworkshops even more memorable; and individuals who are willingto make a difference in a teenager’s life through a one-time ormonthly investment.

We invite you to make a positive impact on a young person’s life!

Please visit and Click “DONATE”.

Did you know that 97% of POPS seniors completed high schoolin 2011 and 98% of those who completed high school continued tosecondary education opportunities?

www.popsinc.org

POPS Corner

In the midst of this past NBA All-Star and Nascar’s Daytona 500 weekend, 75 plusprofessionally dressed teens from the POPS program showed up early Saturdaymorning at the FAMU Collegeof Law for their second writing skills workshop.

Mr. Cameron Hopewill andfive other popular and influential

poets in the Orlando area (Prostell Thomas, Terance Jones, Akil

Harrell, Wade Brown and POPS Counselor Shawn Welcome) facilitated this dynamic workshop which included the teaching and

demonstration of journaling, memoirs, haiku’s, staccatos, and short stories. All students were highly engaged as these poets prefaced

each section by performingpoems of their own,

by referencing current hip-hop lyrics, and structuring movies and sitcoms to make certain points. All in all, students learned how creative writing relates to college writing success and possible careers in the future.

Dorcas Dillard, Development Director

Written by S. Welcome, Counselor

1. Eurodollars 2. Executive, Legislative, and Judicial 3. Pierre and Marie Curie 4. Pythagoras 5. New York Giants 21-17 6. Mandarin Chinese 7. Stephen Joseph Harper 8. Mark Zuckerberg 9. Edgar Allen Poe10. Leonard da Vinci11. Federal Reserve Bank12. Jacksonville, FL

Test Answers

http://www.popsinc.org

Counselors CornerLife after high school is a feat all youth have to take on andconquer. Students are encouraged to prepare themselves for the road to success. POPS students are becoming moreand more successful in their endeavors because they areadhering to the teachings and the utilizing the wealth of resources afforded to them at school and within the POPSorganization.

POPS students are strongly encouraged in the area of character development. Creating or adopting words to live by is something the students are admonished to do as means of personal accountability and development of character. Dr. A. R. Bernard once eloquently stated, “Character and success must growparallel to each other. Once character flat lines, failure to success is inevitable.” With that, POPS students are constantlychallenged to maintain integrity in and out of their school environment.

Quotes Submitted by: C’Andre Codner (Wekiva High School)

“Excuses are monuments of nothingness. Those who use them seldom amount to anything.”

“The future belongs to them who believe in the beauty of their dreams” ~ Eleanore Roosevelt

Things Every Student Should Know...

1. College application deadlines are Nov. 1st (early bird catches the worms)

2. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications for those beginning college in summer is April 1st. (FAFSA results are what colleges use to gauge qualified students for additional scholarship/grant dollars)

3. A GPA of 3.0 and above increases your chances of receiving scholarships for college.

4. KNOW YOUR NUMBERS!!! SAT, ACT, FCAT scores and cumulative GPA

5. Extra-curricular activities and community service are intricately related to college acceptances and scholarships. (In order to BE something, DO something)

6. ACT and SAT test scores are important to college acceptance and admission. Please be sure to see your local high school guidance office and/or campus college and career center.

7. NCAA Clearing House registrations for athletes seeking scholarships and participation in college level athletics should be completed after sophomore year and updated accordingly each year thereafter.


POPS AROUND TOWNPOPS AROUND TOWN

************

On Saturday, April 28 WESH 2 TV reporterTalitha Vickers, Zoraya Suarez from PNCFinancial Services, and Moses Maylor, Sr. from K&G Superstore provided 150 students from POPS with valuable informationon “Dressing and Presenting for Success”.

POPS students learned the three

“P’s” of success: Preparation, Practice and

Presentation. Parents of the students

participated in a separate workshop on

financial aid, scholarships, and applying to

college by Karemah Campbell, Florida

A&M University and Geri McCormick, Florida

Department of Education.


The workshop was heldat the Soiree Banquet and Convention Center. Bright Future Electric was the presenting sponsor,Soiree donated space for the parent workshop, and B.I.C. Sounds donated the audio for the event.

TD Bank, through the TD Charitable Foundation, recently provided POPSa grant in Orange County as part of the bank’s commitment to giving back tothe community. The funds from the TD Charitable Foundation will be usedfor the 2012-2013 workshop on financial management and planning. Moreinformation on the Foundation is available at www.TDBank.com

Students Prepare to Conquer the WorkforceWritten by Dorcas Dillard

Students demonstrate a mock interview with Talitha Vickers, WESH 2 T.V.

.

Zoraya Suarez, PNC Financialand Dwight Mitchell, POPS

Moses Maylor, K&G Rep. gives valuable tips on business attire


POPS FOCUS

NEWSLETTER1401 W.Colonial Dr.Orlando, FL 32804

(Addressee)(Street Address)(City, State,, Zip Code)

Evans High School College

Evania Cajuste Valencia College (Bridges)Constantine Davis Seminole State/Valencia (Bridges)Kwanteshia English Bethune/Benedict/Claflin/Seminole State/TuskegeeNatasha Goolcharran University Of Florida (Top 10% of her class)Khalif Hollimon Valencia CollegeEphraim Jean-Baptiste Santa Fe College/FAMU/University of FloridaMochella Malcolm Seminole StateOran Maxwell Benedict College/Penn State UniversityErica Porter Seminole StateTony Sutton Benedict CollegeAshley Sylvera University of Florida/Florida Atlantic UniversityTishan White Buffalo/York/St. Johns

Jones High School

Lovely Beaubrun University of Florida/FAMUShakuria Burney Canisius CollegeKhadijah Hall Hampton UniversityJavonni Hampton FAMU (Ms. Jones High - 2012)Samantha Lundy University of TampaKendrick Turner Edward-Waters College/University of FloridaDonnetra Wilson Seminole State College

Oak Ridge High School College

Gabrielle Browne University of Central Florida/Santa Fe College/ValenciaNasseeka Denis University of FloridaJabriyla Ferguson Santa Fe CollegeSnousha Glaude University of South FloridaEdison Joseph Santa Fe CollegeViet Nguyen Johnson & Wales UniversityNadeje Pierre Santa Fe College

College

National Honor Society Inductees

Dashari Kearse-11th Brittani Powell-11thShantasha Laing-11th Folashade John-11thKendrick Turner-12th Khadijah Hall-12thSamantha Lundy-12th Natalie Graham-11thSarah Merine-11th Ruth Ann Robinson-11thShakuria Burney-12th Alexis Serrano-12thKristyn Ross-12th Georgina Wright-11th

Wekiva High School College

Jayln Addison CAU/University of North CarolinaAtriphinique Ash University of Central FloridaDevante Ballou ValenciaIssania Celius UCF/Florida A&M UniversityLeslie Chambers ValenciaReggine Cheeseborough Bethune-CookmanJanelle Clarke University of Florida/USFKeyana Evans-Hood ValenciaChrissandra McIntosh ValenciaTiana Morris ValenciaJonathan Pereira-Auz ValenciaBriana Rodriguez Orlando Tech – NursingJulia Schaffer University of South FloridaMarcus Washington Webber

POPS Student College

Acceptances

pops focus news letter 2012 final 7

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