Future 5 notches 42 graduation success stories

Stamford-based Future 5, a nonprofit that works with Stamford high school students with a mission “to connect them to a better and sustainable education and career path” held its commencement at the Old Town Hall in Stamford, graduating 42.

The students finished their studies at Westhill, Stamford and Trinity Catholic high schools in Stamford, completing Future 5”™s college preparation program.

The class of 2014 is Future 5”™s fifth graduating class. Many of the 42 graduates have been Future 5 members since their sophomore year.

Eleven students will attend Norwalk Community College this fall; 24 have committed to attend four-year schools, including Cooper Union in New York City, the University of Massachusetts and the University of Connecticut. Seven students are undecided as to their college or trade school choice at this time.

“The future is important,” said Clif McFeely, founder and director of Future 5. “There is a path to success and Future 5 shows these students the best way to an affordable education.”

Currently serving 100 students, Future 5 teaches “resilience, grit, optimism, follow-through and integrity.”

One-on-one coaching is part of the equation. Twenty-eight volunteer coaches from Stamford and New Canaan worked directly with the class through the school year.

Shahearn Philemon and Guelory Brutus were the featured senior graduation speakers. Both will attend UConn Stamford this fall.

Since Future 5’s founding in 2009, 99 percent of its students have graduated from high school. Stamford”™s high school graduation rate is approximately 75 percent, with a 47 percent rate among Hispanics and 55 percent among African-Americans. Each class of high school dropouts costs the state an estimated $84 million per year, according to Future 5.

Dinosaur BBQ in Stamford donated food for the Future 5 graduation and celebration.