On Monday, May 23, graduates of the REACH Class of 2018 were honored at the 3rd annual REACH College Recognition Ceremony. Enrolling in the program in 2015 as 5th graders, the students were celebrated for their remarkable achievements in high school and for the colleges and universities they'll be attending in the fall.

Monday evening's events began with opening remarks from REACH Director of Graduate Support Mr. Prince Hunt '16 (REACH '12) and a keynote address from Mr. James Kennedy '02, former REACH Dean of English Language Arts. Each student was then invited to the stage, where they were applauded for their college decisions and their commitment to excellence since graduation. Ethan Mattei, a senior at Fordham Prep who will attend Le Moyne College in August, delivered the REACH student remarks, and spoke of his immense love for his fellow classmates and how much the program has shaped them for the better. Following a closing sendoff from REACH Director Mr. Doug Eickman '05, graduates and their families gathered in the Quadrangle for refreshments and further celebration.

“I was nervous going into this event—this was my first REACH College Recognition Ceremony, I was not very familiar with these young men, and I knew that many of them had not seen each other in years," said Hunt. “You would not have guessed these things, though, if you heard the banter between the REACH Class of 2018 in the back of auditorium before the event got underway; their big hugs and cheerfulness as they greeted and caught up with one another could only bring a smile to my face as I thought about my own REACH classmates. Seeing their REACH pride and eagerness to congratulate each other over their accomplishments in high school these past four years made me swell with pride and thankful for a program that has means so much to so many people—myself included."

The students in the REACH Class of 2018 will matriculate to the following 4-year colleges and universities: