Centennial High School’s graduating AVID cohort class of 2025 celebrated their success with a Decision Day celebration. The cohort of 21 students revealed their decisions in front of their fellow students, families and staff during a special celebration. Some of the schools where students will continue their educational journey include: Jackson State University, Eastern Illinois University, Salem College, University of Illinois-Chicago, Ball State University, Parkland College and DePaul University. One student committed to the US Marines while another chose to pursue the Real Estate field. All of the students have a post high school graduation plan and a 100% college acceptance rate.
AVID is a nationwide program whose mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college readiness in a global society. Students in the AVID program are identified as college bound as early as middle school. These students are oftentimes the first in their families to attend college, or the first to attend college in America. AVID students typically hail from minority and ethnic groups that are underrepresented at many college campuses and in STEM majors.
Students often enter the AVID program in 6th grade in Unit 4, they take rigorous courses (AP courses, World Language, and dual credit courses). Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher, and it is the program intent that each student graduate with a clear college or career plan. Many AVID students also serve in leadership positions or achieve accolades through extracurricular activities and sports such as serving as President of Black Culture Club, captain of the Cheer Team, or competing in championship in football, track, and archery.
Additional notable information about this AVID cohort:
80% (17 individuals) have received sizable merit-based scholarships from their schools including presidential, deans and trustee scholarships.
Many are awaiting scholarships from external organizations.
One student in this cohort, Destinel Bakubule-Ndaya, won the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Scholarship.
7 have been offered a total sum of over $400k; 4 have been offered over $600k in total scholarship money
50% of this cohort has been offered a Presidential, Deans or Trustees Scholarship to Loyola University
Willy Samos-Mejia is the first AVID Centennial student that has been enlisted and sworn into the US Marines.
4 students are currently enrolled in Parkland College’s Early College and Career Academy [ECCA].
One student accepted a full ride academic scholarship to North Carolina Central University.
Each student in the cohort has a clear path to college and career goals.
Collectively in scholarships this class has been awarded well over $2 million.
