May 24, 2007
Shavone Williams of William Cullen Bryant
H.S. Looks Forward to Challenges Ahead
Shavone Williams was a 12-year old budding track star and prize
student when she walked onto St. John’s University’s Queens campus
in 2001. She belonged to the Woodside Community Center and, upon
the recommendation of Louis A. Orr III, New York City Housing
Authority (NYCHA) coordinator at the Center, enrolled with her
fellow community members in the After School All-Stars (ASAS)
CampUs program. In her first year, she received a $1,000
scholarship certificate as one of the best and brightest
student-athletes at the camp that year. Almost six years to the
day, Williams returns but this time as an incoming freshman
accepted to St. John’s University and first scholarship winner to
redeem her award for a chance at a college education.
Photo
Gallery
“It’s so great to have a young person who’s as talented as
Shavone come back and redeem her scholarship as she begins her
college career with us,” said Richard
Sinatra, Ph.D., Director of Programming for the After School
All-Stars and Professor of Human Services and Counseling at St.
John’s University. “She was recommended in a number of categories
in the areas of leadership training, computers and had very good
marks at William Cullen Bryant High School. It’s a win-win
situation with her track experience and academic accomplishments.
In fact, Shavone has asked to work as a counselor and coach at the
2007 CampUs to encourage other talented students to set their goals
high. She will be the perfect role model.”
The program has come full circle for James P. Pellow,
Ed.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer,
who was instrumental in bringing this labor of love to St. John’s
in 1996. The program’s attributes follow in the path of the
University’s Mission Statement to serve and educate those in
need.
“It gives all of us here at St. John’s great satisfaction in
being able to recognize the hard work and dedication to succeed
demonstrated by special individuals like Shavone Williams. As
a twelve-year-old, she visited a college campus and made a promise
to herself and her family that she would one day attend college. We
are honored that she chose to return to St. John’s to pursue her
education and to give back to other young people in New York City,”
said Dr. Pellow.
After School All-Stars grew out of the Inner-City Games, an
initiative founded in Los Angeles in 1991 by then-actor Arnold
Schwarzenegger, now Governor of California, to positively influence
and inspire at risk children and youth.
Both St. John’s and ASAS have similar goals that are achieved
through strategic collaboration. In 1996, Dr. Pellow was joined by
co-founders Arlene Weltman and Keith Rhodes, who together were able
to galvanize the resources of multiple city agencies and private
philanthropists to raise over $5 million to provide quality
academic programs for disadvantaged youth in New York.
Founding partners of the New York City Inner City Games include the
NYCHA, the New York City Board of Education (BOE), the New York
City Sports Commission, St. John’s University and several private
individuals. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Ret. Gen. Colin
Powell were the founding Honorary Chairs of New York City Inner
City Games in 1996.
Today, ASAS annually serves over 1,000 NYCHA residents from all
five boroughs. It has expanded its programs to homeless youth
and now provides a summer camp for youngsters selected by the New
York City Department of Homeless Services.
The partners of ASAS sponsor summer camps and after school
programs that link college professors, students and athletes with
the youth of New York in a structured environment which produces
measurable results. Students participate in six periods of academic
and athletic activities, coordinated by university faculty and BOE
teachers. Not only do graduates go on to college, but each year,
all campers are pre and post-tested to quantify the progress they
make in literacy, math, computer and vocabulary skills. The 2007
CampUs initiative begins its 11th year on the St. John’s Queens
campus on July 9th.
“This program represents the fruit of seeds planted over a
decade ago by the powerful vision of Governor Schwarznegger. He
called us to bridge the gap between the affluent and the less
fortunate. CampUs is a true partnership between private supporters,
St. John’s University and New York City - the NYC Board of
Education, the NYC Housing Authority, the NYC Sports Commission and
the Mayor’s Office,” added Dr. Pellow. “It is indeed a bridge that
allows the University to extend its resources to the youth of New
York and now it will provide one of its graduates the opportunity
to give back and encourage other young people in New York to pursue
their dreams. We hope the trend continues, for both providers and
participants, so that others will follow Governor Schwarzenegger’s
call to serve and Shavone’s courage to pursue her dreams.”
One would only need to look at Williams’s remarkable
accomplishments and daily routine as living proof that she is, not
only worthy of the opportunities already afforded her, but true to
a passion for success that requires an incredible resolve and
demeanor. It is part of her personality that impresses all who come
in contact with her, especially, her mother and high school
counselor.
“Shavone’s the hardest worker I have among the more than 400
kids that I’m assigned to,” said Amanda Klein, counselor at William
Cullen Bryant High School. “She works (as a Becon Tutor at IS 10
for 10-11 year olds helping with homework), then there’s track and
she’ll be up until 1 or 2 in the morning still doing her own
homework.”
“Sometimes my schedule can be overwhelming,” admitted Williams.
“But I get through it”
There won’t be much time for a respite upon graduation in late
June as Dr. Sinatra plans to put Shavone to work, back where her
dreams and aspirations all began at CampUs, during the two-week
summer day camp this July. “We’ll have Shavone work as a camp
counselor and coach track activities,” said Dr. Sinatra.
Just the thought brought a smile to Shavone’s face as she
recalled fond memories as a camper, awestruck at the surroundings
and experiences she would encounter. “Wow, it’s funny how things
change going from a camper to an actual counselor here. It’s a
little crazy thinking about it but I’m glad I’ll have that
experience,” said Williams.
Shavone’s parents Randy and Annette and brothers Randy Jr. and
Terrell are behind her 100% and are amazed at her rise to
prominence in such a short period of time. Scholarship interest
from other suitors came to light recently due to her track prowess
but the opportunity to come to St. John’s was too good to be
true.
“There was interest from UCONN, Binghamton, Buffalo and C.W.
Post but we’re very happy with her decision, and she’s talking to
Coach (Jim) Hurt about walking onto the track team at St. John’s. I
never could have imagined this but Shavone’s a very hard working,
dedicated person so it doesn’t surprise me how far she’s come,”
admitted Mrs. Williams.
For more information about After School All-Stars and the CampUs
program contact Dominic Scianna, Director of Media Relations at St.
John’s University by calling (718)990-6185 or e-mailing inquiries
to sciannad@stjohns.edu.
For information about St. John’s University visit our web site at
www.stjohns.edu/news.
About Inner-City Games, After School
All-Stars and CampUs
Arnold Schwarzenegger founded the Inner-City Games in 1991 in Los
Angeles and expanded the program nationwide in 1995 by establishing
the Inner-City Games Foundation. The name was changed to After
School All-Stars in July 2003. Schwarzenegger served as National
Chair and Spokesperson until the fall 2003, became Governor of
California, and stepped down to now serve as Honorary Co-Chair with
his wife, Maria Shriver. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is the new
National Spokesperson for After School All-Stars.
After School All-Stars of New York (ASASNY) provides
comprehensive sports programs and academic instruction to
inner-city New York City youth during the out-of-school hours.
Inherent in each of ASASNY’s programs are the following goals: to
keep children safe; to teach them new skills; to build self-esteem;
and to develop in each child that which is unique. Since its
founding, ASASNY has served over 20,000 youth from New York City’s
public housing and homeless facilities, through daily after school
programs and through the After School All Stars of New York’s
CampUs.
CampUs is a two-week summer day camp for youth, ages 7-14, held
annually on the campuses of St. John’s University and City College
of New York. CampUs began in the summer of 1997, and has been
historically offered to 1,200 youth annually from NYC Housing
Authority Developments across the five boroughs. The curriculum
includes multi-media computer instruction, reading, writing,
science, sports and recreation. Since 2000, 60% of the youth
attending CampUs have improved their writing ability by 1/3 to 1/2
a grade point. During the same period, Special Education youth
participating in the program showed similar or higher gains.