CiTi Migrant Education Program Honors Graduates, supporters

The Migrant Education Tutorial and Support Services Program students, community supporters and families were recently honored as abra caminos.

Translated as “path openers,” METS Director Paul Gugel said the affectionate term perfectly described honorees at the recent METS’ annual graduation and recognition dinner because they pushed themselves to set and exceed goals.

Each graduate remained dedicated to studying English as another language, while families stayed supportive and community volunteers ensured children and adults were given time and attention needed to be successful.

A component of the Center for Instruction, Technology and Innovation’s alternative education programming, METS has more than a dozen full-time and part-time migrant specialists and tutors who assist about 600 families annually in Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis and Wayne counties.

Families may be eligible if they have moved across school district or state boundaries within the past three years in order for a family member to secure or search for employment in agriculture.

Honorees and their guests were treated to a catered dinner from Canale’s Restaurant and everyone enjoyed a slice of graduation cake.

Keynote speaker Dr. Alfredo Lopez, an obstetrician and gynecologist at University Hospital in Syracuse, addressed the crowd with a simple message: never give up on your dreams. Dr. Lopez said he learned what hard work was from an early age when he, too, was a migrant worker.

Certificates of appreciation were awarded to Dr. Lopez, Kathy Andolina for her contributions to METS as an AmeriCorps program coordinator in Oswego County, Deborah Tate for her METS assistance as program manager of Literacy of Northern New York, Fulton City School District English as a New Language Teacher Shannon Turley as Star Teacher for her METS partnership to help Fulton students learn English, Hormisda DeJesus Bedole as Star Parent for her family support and educational advocacy, the Manzano Ortiz family as Star Family for their commitment to overcoming struggles to improve English language skills, and the Aguilera Murillo family as Star Family for inspiring others to achieve their goals.

Also honored were members of the Homework Club at G. Ray Bodley High School, where students met with migrant educators for 1.5 hours every Monday to Wednesday to improve reading, writing and math skills. Yulisa Trejo was named Star Volunteer because of the time she has committed to tutoring young children. Both Jose Ortolaza and Thalia Nava were named Star English as a Second Language students.

Seven METS students who overcame cultural and linguistic challenges to graduate high school in June are: Mike Jimenez Escobar, Alma Paramo, Diego Mendoza, Messias Washington, Bellabetty Calvo Ruiz, Isidoro Jimenez and Wilmose Piris. Each graduate will also receive a scholarship award from the Weston T. Hyde Education Foundation.

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