There’s nothing more powerful than seeing LUCA’s mission come to life through Scholars graduating from their dream colleges and universities. We’re thrilled to celebrate our LUCA Scholars Alumni from the Class of 2021, who are now college graduates and ready to launch careers in fields like Engineering, Health and Science, Communications, and more.
A special shoutout to Amanda R. (pictured left), our first LUCA Scholar to graduate from Villanova University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and to Alondra V. (pictured right), our first to graduate from The George Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing! 🎓✨
LUCA has been there every step of the way, and we couldn’t be prouder of the journeys our Scholars are on — and the purpose-driven paths they’re creating for the future.
May has been an incredibly exciting time for LUCA’s Class of 2025 Scholars! With joy and pride, they’ve shared their college acceptances — and we couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate this milestone with them. As they wrap up their senior year in high school, our Scholars have been making the exciting, challenging, and life-changing decisions about where they will enroll this fall.
The journey to this moment hasn’t been easy. From late nights crafting essays to anxiously awaiting decisions, each step has brought them closer to turning college dreams into reality. Every acceptance letter is not just a destination, but affirmation of what’s possible through resilience, hard work, and an unwavering belief in their future.
We also proudly share that the total amount of financial aid award letters for 2025 is nearly $8 million with dozens of additional award letters still coming!
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible LUCA College Coaches and Volunteers. Your support, mentorship, and encouragement have played a vital role in helping our Scholars reach this pivotal moment.
*To view the list of college acceptances as of May 31, please scroll to the bottom of this newsletter.
LUCA and our dedicated College Coaches recently made a memorable first impression on the incoming LUCA Scholars Class of 2026 at a special kickoff event hosted on May 29th at Westchester Community College!
The evening was filled with energy and excitement as Scholars and Coaches connected through ice breakers, team-building games, and inspiring introductions to LUCA’s mission, values, and programs. It was a powerful start to a journey of growth, support, and success.
We’re thrilled to welcome this incredible group of Scholars and can’t wait to see all they will achieve with their College Coaches by their side!
We are nearing our goal of recruiting over 100 coaches to support our newest cohort of 112 Scholars — a record!
Special thanks to Cathy Maroney, Senior Manager of Partnerships & Volunteer Engagement, for her outstanding recruitment efforts.
We have just five slots left to fill. LUCA’s recent presence at employee volunteer fairs — including events at Regeneron in Tarrytown, Morgan Stanley, and the United Way Nonprofit Summit at SUNY Purchase — has been key to this success.
An Afternoon of Purpose: Honoring Stories That Inspire Social Change
Earlier this month, LUCA had the joy of co-hosting a powerful evening at the Jacob Burns Film Center with our partners at AARP, featuring a special screening of The Hidden Power of Purpose — a moving documentary highlighting the story of LUCA’s Founder & Executive Director, Shirley Acevedo Buontempo.
The evening included a warm reception and an inspiring panel discussion on what it means to lead a purpose-driven life rooted in social impact. We’re especially grateful to those who joined us, including LUCA Scholar Karen Gallegos (White Plains High School, Class of 2025), her dedicated college coach Becky Silverstein, Karen’s proud parents, LUCA Board Members, AARP members, and our LUCA team.
Special thanks to Robyn Haberman (AARP) and Chris Holliday (Jacob Burns Film Center) for helping make this unforgettable event possible.
In the Spotlight: LUCA Shares Its Mission on Univision
LUCA was honored to be featured on Univision’s Contigo en la Comunidad, where our Senior Manager of Development & Communications, Grace Battaglia, shared insights about this meaningful collaboration and the importance of living with purpose.
This moment reminded us: purpose is too important to ignore. Deep meaning lives within each of us — and it’s never too late to live with intention. 💙
🎥 The Hidden Power of Purpose is available now on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. CLICK HERE to watch the Documentary.
We’re proud to celebrate a special achievement by one of our own—Doris Tenesaca, LUCA’s Communications Specialist, has been named to 914Inc.’s 15th Class of Wunderkinds! This prestigious honor recognizes Westchester’s top young professionals under 35.
For over two years, Doris has brought creativity, dedication, and heart to LUCA, helping elevate our mission and support First-Generation scholars. Her impact on our community is undeniable.
A big “Bravo!” to Doris and to the entire Class of Wunderkinds—we’re so proud of you!
Mothers play an essential role in their children’s lives including their growth, learning, and education. While we take a special moment in May to celebrate Mother’s Day, we recognize and appreciate that a mother’s love, support, and dedication are felt all year long.
To all the amazing moms in the LUCA community—thank you for your tireless efforts, your nurturing hearts, and the strength you show every day.
Happy Mother’s Day! 💐
Mark your calendars!
LUCA's Class of 2025
College Acceptances
(as of May 31st):
Adelphi University
American University
Assumption University
Babson College
Barnard College
Binghamton University
Case Western
Columbia University
Connecticut College
Cornell University
Drexel University
Fordham University
George Washington University
High Point University
Iona College
Ithaca College
John Jay College
Juniata College
Lehigh University
Lehman College
Loyola
Manhattan University
Manhattanville University
Marist
Maryville
Mercy University
Molloy University
Montclair
Mount Saint Mary College
Muhlenberg College
Nazareth University
New Paltz College
New York Institute of Technology
New York University
Oswego
Pace University
Penn State
Purchase College
Quinnipiac
Rochester Institute of Technology
Roberts Wesleyan University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rutgers University
Sacred Heart University
Saint Michaels College
Seton Hall
Siena College
St. Johns University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stony Brook University
SUNY Albany
SUNY Binghamton
SUNY Brockport
SUNY Buffalo State
SUNY Cobleskill
SUNY Cortland
SUNY New Paltz
SUNY Oneonta
SUNY Oswego
SUNY Plattsburgh
Syracuse University
Tufts University
Tulane University
UCONN
Union College
University at Albany
University at Buffalo
University at Rochester
University of Maryland
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Vermont
University of Virginia
Vassar University
Villanova University
Wesleyan University
West Virginia University
Williams College
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
York College
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