Celebrate Good Times! NAF Spotlights NYC Academies’ Successes in the 2024-2025 School Year

As the 2024-25 school year has come to an end, it presents a valuable opportunity to reflect on and celebrate all of the successful achievements! NAF is proud to spotlight our NYC academies, students, alumni, and educators who have made gone above and beyond and earned impressive scholarships, awards, internships, and more.

Check out this year’s highlights below!

2025 NAF Women in Tourism Student Award:

This scholarship, in the amount of $2,000, is awarded to one graduating female student in a New York City NAF Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. Emely V. from the High School for Enterprise, Business & Technology, AOHT, was featured in the 4^th Annual Women in Tourism Luncheon commemorative journal, on May 20^th, at City Winery Pier 57 -11th Avenue at Hudson River, New York City, and acknowledged as the 2025 award recipient. Congratulations!

2025 NYC Academy Foundation’s Scholarships of Excellence:

The NYC Academy Foundation’s Excellence Scholarship was created to support New York City NAF students who have successfully completed the required program of study and are on track to achieve NAFTrack Certification — an employability credential, designed by education and business leaders, that acts as NAF’s seal of college and career readiness. The mission of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to graduating NYC NAF students, who have been accepted into and are enrolled in undergraduate study in community colleges, colleges, trade schools, and universities. The Excellence Scholarship principally targets two and four-year academic programs including, but not limited to fields such as business, finance, IT, health sciences, hospitality & tourism, and engineering.

This scholarship is presented to NYC NAF graduating seniors who have met the requirements for achieving NAFTrack Certification – completing career-focused course requirements, participating in the continuum of work-based learning experiences (career awareness and career exploration), satisfactory completion of a career preparation internship experience, or alternative internship experience. The student has demonstrated gaining a greater understanding of the world of work by participating in several work-based learning opportunities throughout the years, all while maintaining an impressive GPA.

Award Winners:

• Isabela B., Academy of Finance and Enterprise, AOF
• Jayden P., Business of Sports School, AOF
• Mikhail V., James Madison High School, AOF
• Sochikamji C., Bronx School of Law & Finance, AOF
• Camila R., The High School for Enterprise, Business & Technology, AOHT

2025 Today’s Girl, Tomorrow’s Woman (TGTW) Scholarship:

The TGTW Scholarship was created to support self-identifying, college-bound women who demonstrate exceptional academic performance, leadership, and a commitment to community service. The recipient’s impressive GPA, extensive involvement in extracurricular activities, and inspiring essay responses make them a standout candidate.

As a recipient of this scholarship, young women are granted $1,000 to bolster their educational pursuits. Moreover, they will be welcomed into a supportive network committed to nurturing their development and inspiring them to give back. Congratulations to Ursula G., from the Academy of Finance and Enterprise!

2025 NAF Alumni Award (Awarded at NAF Next 2025 Conference):

Atul Kapoor, (Academy of Finance & Enterprise Alumnus, 2009, Long Island City, NY; VP of Engineering, Stack Blue)

Atul exemplifies the essence of an outstanding NAF alumnus through his unwavering commitment to giving back. As a graduate of the Academy of Finance & Enterprise, he has leveraged his success in the financial and engineering industries to become a pillar of support for NAF and its students. Atul’s leadership roles, including Co-Chair for the NYC NAF Advisory Board and Member of the Academy of Finance & Enterprise Advisory Board, demonstrate his dedication to shaping the future of NAF programs. He also actively engages with students as an alumni presenter in schools and he has been instrumental in fundraising efforts, ensuring that NAF can continue to provide high-quality educational experiences.

Atul’s commitment to creating opportunities for students is clear through his support of internship programs and participation in Future Ready Labs in NYC, directly contributing to students’ career readiness. Moreover, his professional achievements act as a testament to the potential impact of NAF programs. Atul’s career progression from a NAF alumnus to a Managing Director at a major financial institution to a VP at a technology solutions firm showcases the long-term value of NAF education.

He is currently working to bring a summer internship program that blends his entrepreneurial experience and the framework of NAF to 25 local high school students.

NAF Next 2025 in Aurora, Colorado (July 7-10):

NAF’s signature professional development conference welcomed over 800 attendees across the NAF Network. The conference featured tailored sessions that provided insights, strategies, and best practices.  

NYC Academies Represented: 

• Academy of Finance and Enterprise 
• Business of Sports School 
• The High School for Enterprise, Business, & Technology 

We were delighted to have several NYC academy educators and leaders who not only attended but also presented sessions at NAF Next. Attendees included Leo Gordon, VP of Career and Technical Education High Schools of the United Federation of Teachers, and Sterling Roberson, retired and former VP of Career and Technical Education High Schools of the United Federation of Teachers.  

“Professional Development & Interactive Learning Through Footwear”  

• Vanessa Rucker, Assistant Principal at the Business of Sports School 
• Sabrina Labossiere, Good Things & The Business of Sports School 

“Your Journey to Success” 

• Janina Morones, Assistant Principal, Academy of Finance and Enterprise 
• Lorena Izzo, NAF Director, Academy of Finance and Enterprise 

NAF National Partner Internship Program – NYC Summer 2025 Internship offers:

 Verizon:

• A. Portalatin, Academy of Finance & Enterprise, AOF
• T. Tjandra, Academy of Finance & Enterprise, AOF
• S. Blount, High School of Economics and Finance, AOF
• D. Klin, James Madison High School, AOIT
• J. Lee, James Madison High School, AOIT

Future Ready Cornell University Campus Experience Tour:

This July, in collaboration with our partners at NFTE and Cornell University, 40 10th and 11th grade NAF students and chaperones from the Academy of Finance and Enterprise AOF, High School of Economics and Finance AOF, High School for Enterprise, Business & Technology AOHT, Manhattan Bridges High School AOE, and United Charter High School for Advanced Math and Science IV AOIT, attended the Future Ready Cornell University Campus Experience Tour.

Students had the valuable opportunity to explore the Cornell University campus; learn more about the undergraduate programs; meet college professors; discover how to become a strong candidate for college admission; attend an essay writing workshop; and more! 

NYC NAF Speaks 1.0 Program – Fall 2024:

The NYC NAF Speaks 1.0 Program is all about helping sophomore, junior, and senior NAF students sharpen their communication and leadership skills through hands-on experience in public speaking. Over the course of six workshops, students tackled different speaking roles, explored various speech styles, and practiced giving (and receiving) feedback. Together, we build the kind of confidence that’ll serve them well in their professional lives.

This year, 26 NYC NAF students from 5 schools, officially graduated from the program. On graduation day, they displayed their skills in front of their fellow participants, classmates, family, and some special guests—it was a proud moment all around.

Participating Schools:

• Academy of Finance and Enterprise
• High School of Economics and Finance
• Jacqueline K. Onassis High School
• James Madison High School
• Susan E. Wagner High School