New Year's Fellows Spotlight!

Name: Makayla Evans-Coleman 

My favorite thing about school is that you have a voice, you can choose the classes you want take and the clubs you want join or even start. My interest outside of school is learning about animals for example, how they live,what they eat and how they communicate certain emotions. Advice I would give to a younger high school student is a social life isn't important if the people you socialize with do not help you or impact you in a positive way. The most rewarding part about being in this program is being able to educate myself on what's out there in life for me study or be apart of and bettering myself for college. My eventual college and career goals is to go to NC State, go to vet school and become a successful veterinarian. Also, I hope I am going to travel to other countries to help sick or hurt wild animals. Something about me you wouldn't know about me Is that I'm very crafty I can sew, draw and etc. Also, I wanted to be a artist or fashion designer when I was in elementary school. 

November Fellows Spotlight!

Name: Jamila McKinnon

Grade: Junior 

What is your favorite thing about school?

Getting to see all of my friends everyday and having the opportunity to learn new things everyday. 

What are your interests outside of school?

I love dancing and crafting.

What advice do you have for younger high school students?

"Don't give up! Even though things might seem hard in school at the time or your grades aren't looking how you want, just hold in there and try harder. Don't give up or try to find short cuts out of you situation. Instead stay put and and find ways to make the best out of your situation."

What is the most rewarding part about being a part of this program?

I get support from my mentor and learn new information in the meetings. 

What are your eventual college and career goals? 

After i graduate from a 4 year college, I plan on going to Medical school to study to become an OB Gyn 

Tell us something about yourself we wouldn’t know or guess. 

I like learning about the human anatomy

Fellows October Spotlight!

Name: Carlos Bautista

Grade: Senior 

What is your favorite thing about school?

My favorite thing about school is the people I meet because the diversity of different groups in cultures in one space makes it really interesting to see who you'll meet every day.

What are your interests outside of school?

Outside of school I love boxing, welding, smithing, and fixing up old cars.

What advice do you have for younger high school students?

My advice would be to not slack at anything, and to learn how to effectively manage your time early on.

What is the most rewarding part about being a part of this program?

The most rewarding part of this program is the difference I get to make in my community, and the close bond I get to share with others in the fellowship.

What are your eventual college and career goals?

My college goals are to at least be in the top 20% of my class, and to double major in Mechanical and Constructional Engineering.  My career goals are simply to have my own business and to manage it successfully.

Tell us something about yourself we wouldn’t know or guess. 

I'm an avid fan of Turtles in general, and think they're the coolest animal out there. 

Fellow's February Spotlight, Sophomore Genessis Henriquez

                                  Sophomore fellow Genessis and her mentor, Jana

Name: Genessis Henriquez

Year: Sophomore 

What is your favorite school subject? English 2 

What are your hobbies? Playing guitar and singing at church. I am also learning the piano.

What is your.desired career?  Veterinarian

Where do you want to attend school?  I want to go to NC State

What do you like best about being in the EEF program?  I like how it helps me to think ahead and be prepared for college and to make sure I get good grades. It helps me with advice about studying and organizing and also provides ways to do hours for community service.

What do you like best about having a mentor?  I like how she encourages me to keep on trying my best with my education. She makes sure I'm on task and helps me think about what I have to do to improve in my classes.  I also like to hear about her experiences in high school. 

Fellow's Spotlight, Junior Samantha Messie!

Check out our Fellow's spotlight of the month, Junior Samantha Messie! 

Favorite School Subjects: My favorite subjects are Math and TOK

Hobby/Extra-Curricular Activities: I do photography, knit, and binge watch Netflix  

Desired Career: I would like to do something in medicine maybe dentistry or anesthesiology, but that is not set in stone.

Where do you want to attend college? I want to go up north somewhere. Some of my DREAM schools are NYU, Georgetown, and Columbia. If I stay here then UNC Chapel Hill.

What do you like best about being in the Elizabeth Edwards Fellow Program? I like getting extra information about things to do to prepare for college. I also like the cool opportunities that we get like summer and enrichment programs. 

What do you like best about having a mentor?  My mentor is AMAZING. She's an adult that I feel comfortable talking to about problems and she's very connected. She knows people who know people who know people and she's willing to help me meet them. She encourages me and just listens when I need to talk.

2015 Elizabeth Fellows Year in Review!

                        Fellows at Special Blessing's "One Magical Christmas" 

2015 was a big year for the Elizabeth Edwards Foundation.  We welcomed 11 new sophomores into the fellows program for a grand total of 27 Elizabeth fellows.  This is the biggest group of fellows to date!  Additionally, the inaugural class, who started the program back in 2012, graduated high school in May, and 6 fellows entered college in the fall.  We also welcomed back 6 volunteer mentors from the 2014-15 school year, and recruited 18 new mentors, for a total of 24 wonderful mentors who support the fellows in the program.  Finally, in the past year, we completed 65 program hours engaging in activities and discussions around life skills, college prep, and academic development, visited 7 different colleges in North Carolina, and engaged in 75 hours of community service throughout the Triangle. 

We have accomplished a lot this year.  Through all the ups and downs, joys and challenges, what stands out are our experiences together.   Just like Elizabeth Edwards believed in the power of people to support each other and to lift each other up, so the Elizabeth Fellows program stands as a community of students, mentors, and families who help one another, provide each other with new opportunities, and help fellows discover their passions, and reach their goals.

We asked fellows and mentors, “What has been your favorite memory of the program this year?”     

Elijah Prattis (sophomore fellow)                                                                                                        

“I really liked when we went to the Interfaith Food Shuttle Teaching Farm.  I like hands- on activities that help other people.  I also liked leading the goats to their barn.  When all the girls said no, I stepped up to do it.  It was fun.”

                         Feeding goats at the Interfaith Teaching Farm 

Deja Tomlinson (sophomore fellow)                                                                                                   

“The thing I most enjoyed about the program is having a mentor, because my mentor is awesome. Also, we did a lot of cool service projects. My most memorable would have to be the Boo Bash service project.   It was really fun!” 

                                      Deja and her mentor Ali at Boo Bash 

Regina D’Auria (mentor to senior fellow, Ahyanna Griffith)                                  

“Something I really value and appreciate about the program is how I am given the gift of getting to know such awesome high school students who are motivated to succeed! These teenagers are passionate, hardworking, and committed individuals that truly act as role models to their peers. In the short time that I've been a part of this program, I've seen this leadership not only in my own mentee, but also at the events I've attended with her cohorts. This is such a unique program that gives benefits to both the mentor and mentee relationship. I am thankful to be a part of this program heading into the New Year!!” 

Mercedes Stephens (senior fellow)                                                                                                        

“I loved going to Washington D.C. I really enjoyed visiting the Capitol, going on the paddle boats, and watching Shear Madness. Oh, and the restaurants were great. Especially Merzi!”

                                           Fellows at the White House

Kadiejatu Johnson (junior fellow)                                                                                    

“Volunteering at the International Festival.  We were helping out and meeting other fellows.  It’s always fun.  Now I am friends with those fellows and they always ask me if I’m going to other service projects.” 

                            Fellows at the Raleigh International Festival 

Amy Waters (mentor to junior fellow, Amena Mohammadi)                                                             

“Amena has gone through a big change this year by moving and switching schools.  She is so pleased to be able to continue to participate in this program.  I have been so impressed with her ease and maturity in dealing with this transition.  Besides the move I am in general excited by the confidence she now possesses.” 

Ty’Shae’ Cousar (senior fellow)

“Going to SkyZone was fun.  I loved being around the other fellows in different grades.  I also really enjoyed visited colleges like ECU and NC A&T, because it gave me a feel of where I wanted to go to college.”

                                                 Fellows on ECU Tour

Stephany Mejia (mentor to sophomore fellow, Jénaŷa Smith)                                              

“Walking through the Art Museum and seeing Jénaŷa enjoy the art work, and take her time to take in the meaning and significance of each piece is one of the memories I cherish the most.  Our appreciation for art, music, and film are huge similarities which we share. It is important to see the connections that the arts bring to our lives!”

Juan Reyes Ortiz (junior fellow)

“Going to visit Wake Tech, NC State, and Duke with my mentor, German.  I wouldn’t of thought of the idea of visiting or had the time to go without him.  I’m glad he took me because I found out a lot of useful information.”    ioject.  would have to be the b

                                                     Juan at Duke 

Marcy Bullock (mentor to junior fellow, Samantha Messie)                                                               

“I really enjoyed the fun 30 Day Challenge Celebration and the cookies and T-shirts!”

                                         30 day challenge at NC State 

Louis Duke (mentor to junior fellows, Cristian Tompkins)

“When I look back over my first semester mentoring through the program, I'm struck by how full of surprises the experience has been. What you think you're getting when you sign up to mentor a teenager is really not at all what you get. It's so much more."

December Fellows Spotlight!

                                               Jénaŷa and her mentor, Stephany

Name: Jénaŷa Smith

Year: Sophomore

Favorite School Subject: Video Production 

Hobbies/Extra Curricular Activities: Doing my makeup, Watching new shows/movies, Shopping

Desired Career: Film Director 

Where I want to attend college: UNC School of Arts or UNCW 

The thing that I like best about the fellows program: We're developing life skills that we don't get in school and we're given great opportunities. 

What I like about having a mentor: I can get advice from someone who's not my mom, and she can tell me about things that I take interest in that can help me which I wouldn't hear about otherwise.