The Power of Opportunity

On May 8, 2019, NAF hosted its 16th Annual Benefit at the Mandarin Oriental, New York. The Benefit provides a unique opportunity for NAF supporters, advocates, and prospects to meet several of our standout students, who travel from across the country to present projects and share their achievements. It is a powerful moment for cultivating and connecting with partners and is NAF’s most important fundraising event. The Benefit generated nearly $1.5 million to support NAF’s mission, in preparing young people to be college, career, and future ready.

This year, global tech leader, Lenovo, was honored for its long-standing corporate partnership with NAF and the Lenovo Scholar Network. In 2012, NAF, Lenovo, and MIT launched Lenovo Scholars Network, an initiative to encourage high school students to consider careers in STEM by providing them with an innovative curriculum centered on mobile app development and delivery. Each year the program culminates with the Lenovo Scholar Network national mobile app development competition. This year, teams of students from 120 NAF academies across the U.S. spent months developing mobile apps that will be of service in their classrooms and communities. Additionally, Lenovo had worked with NAF to provide students with various work-based learning opportunities, including paid internships. This summer will mark the third year that Lenovo has employed student interns at their North Carolina headquarters.

Matt Zielinski, President of Lenovo North America Intelligent Devices Group, accepted the award on behalf of Lenovo. During his remarks, Matt announced Lenovo’s four-year, $1 million-dollar commitment to creating internships for NAF students at post-secondary institutions in North Carolina, one of Lenovo’s worldwide headquarters. This commitment aligns with NAF’s priority to increase college readiness opportunities and partnerships for future leaders.

The theme of this year’s Benefit was ‘The Power of Opportunity.’ The evening began with a networking reception, with students stationed at tables to display their projects and interact with business leaders. Guests circulated the room to learn about their NAF academy experience. The highlight of the night was a fireside chat with Zielinski and two students, moderated by NAF Chief Executive Officer, JD Hoye. Learn more about student panelists, Rushawn Johnson and Dakota Reynolds below:

Rushawn Johnson

Rushawn J. is a senior at Miami Lakes Educational Center & Technical College, Academy of Information Technology in Miami, Florida. He is the first student of color in his class, to earn the Computing Technology Industry Association A+ (CompTIA A+), which is an entry-level industry certification for those looking to begin or validate their career in IT.

“I don’t think I would know anything about CompTIA if I didn’t come to this high school,” said Rushawn. In the beginning, I wanted to become an astronomer. “I thought about the stars, watched a lot of Discovery with my dad, and that’s probably where I was headed. It wasn’t until my 10th-grade year when I took the CompTIA A+ that my path shifted. My dad took the test before me and missed by a few hundred points. When I passed, and I saw that my dad was proud of me, looked at it as an opportunity. I know that after I graduate I would have to invest money into taking these tests. Why do that when I can get it for free?”

Since then, Rushawn received additional industry certifications, including CompTIA Cloud+, Cisco Certified Entry-level Network Technician (CCENT), and Microsoft Technology Associate & Networking Fundamentals (MTANF). Every certification that Rushawn has been presented with, he has earned on his first try. Now, he gives back by helping his peers prepare to receive their certifications too. Rushawn plans to attend Florida International University in the fall and one day own a technology company.

Dakota Reynolds

Dakota Reynolds is a senior at Hamburg High School, Academy of Finance in Hamburg, NY. Since she was five years old, Dakota has volunteered at the Resurrection Life Food Pantry. Learning the importance of giving back from a young age has influenced Dakota’s intentions for her future –pursuing a career in Marine Mammal Rescue and Rehab. After college, she wants to take her experience with marine rescue and work in a third world country and volunteer with the Peace Corps. Although finance is not related to the subjects Dakota will study in college, she believes her academy experience equipped her with professional skills and afforded opportunities she otherwise wouldn’t have had access to.

This summer, Dakota will defer a year of college at Florida Keys Community College, to participate in a student exchange program in Tasmania, Australia. The opportunity to participate in this program came through the local rotary club, which Dakota was connected to from the academy’s advisory board. Dakota will live with a host family, attend classes, and find local rescue facilities to intern with.

“After the intense application, there were four interviews,” Dakota explained. “The first one was with the local rotary club and then you move on to the district rotary club. All the skills I learned in my academy, including how to craft the perfect elevator pitch, helped my interviews go smoothly. Because of how I impressed the committee, they really pushed for me to get my first choice, which was Australia. If you talk to any member of the club, they’ll say about 5% of students get their first choice. I got my first choice and I completely credit that to my Academy of Finance.”