First Generation Celebration Jubilation of Future Success

LAUREL, Md. - June 18, 2013 - PRLog -- First Generation College Bound (FGCB) will celebrate 32 of its students who have just received undergraduate or graduate degrees at its Annual Celebration on Wednesday, June 19, 2013.

FGCB also will celebrate 136 high school graduates who will enter college this year after participating in the organization's College Access program with M/C, Tico Wells, and guest speaker, Sherri Goodall joining the ceremony.

The celebration will be held at the University of Maryland College Park Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center at 7 p.m., preceded by an Hors D' Oeuvres reception at 6 p.m.

FGCB, a 23-year-old nonprofit organization based in Laurel, has helped more than 1,200 students attend college, most of whom have been the first in their families to do so.  “I always knew Carl wanted to go to college, but didn't know how it could be possible for him to go, due to our economic situation.  I knew he was capable of making it; I just didn't know how I would be able to pay for it," says Lakeisha Fogg.

Its College Access program currently operates at five Prince George's County high schools: Laurel, Central, Fairmont Heights, Parkdale, and Potomac.  FGCB has a partnership with the University System of Maryland's Way2Go Maryland Program and has two homework clubs for elementary, middle, and high school students at the Kimberly Gardens community in Laurel and Alden Berkley Townhomes in College Park.

Raymond Harrod, Program Manager, says, "I get joy out of seeing how a group of students, at the beginning of the school year, have little or no direction, who by the end of their senior year reach the light at the end of the tunnel."

It is important that the community get involved and help fundraise to impact the future generations to come.  It is important that the community nurture the upcoming generations today so that education remains abundant tomorrow.  With an increase of sponsors FGCB can continue to make a mark one day at a time.