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Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

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Latino U College Access: Dreams Come True

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Helping First-Generation Students Unlock Their Potential

PHOTOS in this feature are Courtesy of Latino U.

“We’re trying to make the starting lines more equal; if it’s a race, not everyone is running with the same pair of sneakers.”

Shirley Acevedo Buontempo understands challenges faced by low-income students seeking higher education, but Latino U College Access (“LUCA”), her Westchester nonprofit, is committed to increasing enrollment and completion for Latino youth who are first in their family to attend college. Through educational programs, advocacy and collaboration with partner school districts, businesses and volunteers, LUCA opens doors previously unimaginable.

“Our first-generation scholars are more than just children: they’re translators, have an incredible amount of family obligation, and have maturity beyond their years,” said Buontempo, LUCA’s founder and CEO. But they lack knowledge about their options.

“When our first-gen scholars cry, they’re crying for what their parents and grandparents have sacrificed. We’re moved by them – their awesome sense of responsibility and recognition of how this next step can change their lives.”

A Glaring Need, And a Vision

Buontempo, Puerto Rico-born but Bronx-bred, was first in her own family to attend college: “as a first-gen married to a first-gen Italian-American, education opened doors to opportunity we never dreamed of.”

After working in marketing and advertising, Buontempo pursued a Masters in Public Administration at Pace University examining higher education challenges and success among Latinos, inspired to address both financial considerations and cultural ones like reluctance to stray far from home.

Buontempo obtained nonprofit designation in 2012, launching a pilot program – an English/Spanish information session on college options–at Fox Lane High School, but recognized a need for individualized attention.

With an educational consultant, she sought to identify “what resources do more affluent families have access to and how can we make that available to low-income, underrepresented students?” The model for LUCA “college coaching” was born.

Eligibility & Introducing the Basics

LUCA promptly expanded to three majority-Hispanic Westchester high schools: Ossining, White Plains and Sleepy Hollow.  Juniors nominated by guidance counselors at partner schools must demonstrate academic potential (3.5 GPA with honors/AP courses), be first in their family to attend a U.S. college, and qualify for free or reduced lunch. This year, more than 100 students were nominated, 60 applied, and 40 chosen as LUCA’s Class of 2020, growing each year from only two in 2012.

LUCA scholars attend a weeklong July “College Knowledge” Orientation at Pace University, which provides classroom and computer lab space. Workshops expose them to online search tools, campus resources, financial aid, college lists, and the Common Application. Scholars also network with first-generation professionals from corporate partners like MasterCard and Morgan Stanley, and have access to free summer SAT preparation classes and essay brainstorming seminars.

College Coaching: The Key to Scholar Success

LUCA’s small staff works virtually around the clock, but volunteers enable its outreach, with almost 100 community members trained to support administratively, at information sessions and supply drives, or with financial aid applications.

Noting vital collaboration between LUCA’s partner school districts, volunteers, libraries and corporate sponsors, Buontempo stressed “the power of partnership–engaging the entire community for the benefit of the children. Their success is our success.”

College coaches from Chappaqua, Armonk, Briarcliff and elsewhere develop close relationships with students, providing individualized attention to detail, personality and passion Buontempo envisioned. Supported by Deputy Director Diane Rosenthal and College Access Program Manager Emily Latainer, coaches get to know scholars over the summer, exposing them to colleges they’ve never heard of or thought were beyond their reach academically or financially. College lists are created, visits encouraged, and personal statements started. Coaches also organize the many pieces of the process, from Common Application accounts to standardized testing, interviews and college “fly-in” programs for students from low-income, diverse backgrounds.

College coach Ellen Lynch loves having real impact on a young life: her 2019 scholar studies biochemistry at SUNY Stony Brook after a prestigious summer internship.  “I can’t begin to imagine the sense of helplessness many of these parents feel, especially where there’s a language barrier. The fact that we can help ease that helplessness is an incredible thing,” she said.

Thirty-one coaches delivered over 2,400 hours of support to the 36-student Class of 2019, now freshmen at colleges ranging from Ivies to SUNY institutions and everything in between. LUCA scholar/Ossining High School graduate Ariana Cardenas, an aspiring forensic psychologist, is both grateful and cognizant of the responsibility to set an example for other first-gen students: “LUCA has created an amazing family and support system that I’ve created a bond with, especially my College Coach, which has helped my journey and determination to pursue the highest level of education I can.”

Latainer adds that the “unwavering determination of our scholars and their families, and their desire to change the trajectory of their lives” inspires the entire team to work harder to create meaningful change for a deserving community.

Financial Concerns

College acceptance aside, tuition is an overwhelming concern for LUCA families. Trained volunteers assist with the formidable task of completing the complex Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“FAFSA”) and related forms to increase aid and identify scholarship opportunities. In 2019, LUCA scholars received $5.3 million in financial aid, the average annual out-of-pocket cost of college just over $7,000.

“Students can’t succeed until parents have buy-in; our goal is to get that buy-in, but fears set in, largely financial. Their child is entering a world they know nothing about,” said Buontempo.

LUCA also offers free programming to the wider Latino community. More than 4,000 parents (many with incomes under $35,000) and students have attended LUCA FAFSA Boot Camps and Spanish-language Community Information Sessions discussing college options, applications and financial aid.

First Gen Forward: Continuing Support

LUCA’s coaching program culminates in a Graduation Celebration attended by scholars, parents, staff, Board members, volunteers and dignitaries, this June including Guillermo Linares, President of the NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (himself first generation) and Westchester County Executive George Latimer. The palpable sense of pride was underscored by personal stories relayed by attendees.

But LUCA’s job isn’t over: it continues to support scholars until they graduate from college with full time jobs.  LUCA’s “First Gen Forward” College Success program launched in 2016 with a $100,000 Impact 100 Westchester grant, since “65% of first-generation college students drop out because of a lack of social capital and knowledge,” Buontempo said.

A seminar before freshman year addresses stress management, homesickness, grading, and “imposter syndrome,” the cultural adjustment of a first-gen on campus.


“We check on them throughout the year, make sure they’re still on track,” she added, and will intervene if there are issues that parents aren’t equipped to handle.

LUCA also assists with resume preparation, LinkedIn, and job searches, working with local businesses to identify paid internships: “corporate partners are always looking to expand diversity, and we have incredible talent among our scholars,” Buontempo added. Scholars also graduate with an overwhelming desire to “pay it forward and uplift their community.”

“’Lift while you climb’ really resonates,” she said.

Increasing Impact on an Underserved Population

To date, LUCA has “graduated” 136 scholars, 98% of whom are on track to complete college, defying national odds showing that 41% of Latino students attend 2-year community college, and more than half do not complete college.  Conversely, 93% of LUCA scholars attend 4-year universities (60% private institutions), with 54% at “most selective to very selective” schools.

“We’re trying to flip it on its head,” Buontempo said.

LUCA has received local and national recognition, named 2019 Examples of Excelencia Finalist, and Buontempo presented with the Pace Opportunitas in Action Award and Univision Nueva York Angel del 41.  She hopes to expand both scope and reach: four additional county schools have Latino populations exceeding 50%. LUCA is limited by capacity–management, training, and workshops–but buzz is building and “we’re primed to jump. Our program model has established success and is achieving results beyond expectation.”

The Board of Directors, a diverse group of mission-driven community members and professionals, has shifted its focus from “managerial” to fundraising. Chappaqua’s Jane Matluck, a Board member and coach since 2013, is committed to introducing LUCA to more colleges, as diversity officers are generally receptive to community-based organizations. “What’s special about our program is that volunteers are trained in-house and get ongoing support, developing relationships with students and other coaches,” Matluck said. Lynch agreed, noting LUCA’s exceptional job differentiating skill sets–from financial aid expertise to coach support– keeping volunteers engaged. Focused on growing capacity to help more students, LUCA also aspires to start working with scholars earlier to give them even more of a head start. LUCA credits its success, though, to the drive of its incredible scholars.

“Honoring their parents, and their parents’ sacrifices, they recognize that the future of their family weighs on their shoulders,” Buontempo emphasized. And with LUCA’s help, their journeys can begin.

To donate, support LUCA’s Dorm Supply drive, or learn about corporate partnerships or volunteer opportunities, visit latinou.org.

In Armonk, Re-thinking College Admissions Success

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Bruni’s book will be part of the first community
book read event on October 17th

Armonk–and surrounding communities–is filled with residents who live there often because of the high quality of the school system. Parents and community members believe that Byram HIlls High School students are well-prepared in general for a competitive college application process. And they are right.

Last year, 68 percent of the Byram Hills graduating class was accepted into the top 11 percent of colleges in the country, according to the district website. These are schools identified by Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges as Tier 1, which is also called ‘most competitive,’ and Tier 2, referred to as ‘highly competitive.’ Yale, the Georgia Institute of Technology and Tulane are examples of schools recently ranked Tier 1, while schools that earned the Tier 2 designation recently include SUNY Stony Brook, the United States Coast Guard Academy and Baylor.

Partnering with Challenge Success

Yet, Byram Hills High School Principal Christopher Walsh does not think a student’s future is solely determined by his or her college acceptances–and he is not alone. That’s why the district entered into a partnership with Challenge Success, a nonprofit that partners with schools to “create a more balanced and academically fulfilling life for their kids.” Challenge Success seeks to help communities “embrace a broad definition of success,” and also help students engage with learning more. The program was generously funded by the Byram Hills Education Foundation (BHEF) and the Debra Leipman Yale Memorial Fund. The Debra Leipman Yale Memorial Fund is a fund within the BHEF that honors the life and memory  of Debra Leipman Yale, and supports initiatives that are consistent with her values. 

“Byram Hills is part of this little cluster of schools in the Westchester area that all partnered with us last year,” Jon Kleinman of Challenge Success said. “When schools do this in concert with their peers, it’s easier to make changes.” Kleinman said that Challenge Success works with schools to “identify where they want to make progress and help connect them to research, tools and ideas.”

Walsh, who attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), said the district is proud of its success in placing students in many competitive colleges, but he also thinks that there are many ways to become successful and start a fulfilling life without attending a top-tier school. For Walsh, attending USMMA “really came down to a financial choice,” he said, adding that “The more I looked into USMMA the more I realized I’d have great opportunities there. After I graduated I was commissioned as an officer in the Navy, I received a B.S. in marine transportation.” It was while traveling around the world that Walsh began seeing and thinking about the educational opportunities in different places, which eventually led him to graduate school at Harvard, he said.

Different Pathways to Success

“We’re trying to look at the overall student experience,” Walsh said. “We want to make sure we have everyone involved in the conversation about moving away from this idea about a single path to success” and “the idea that you need to have everything nailed down by December of senior year.”

Another way to go is to take a gap year after college, Walsh pointed out. “Some students have decided to take gap years and they report feeling much more prepared and not caught in the current of stress and anxiety,” Walsh said. Others decide to attend schools that may not be the most competitive institutions that have accepted them – an example, Walsh said, is a soccer player who was being recruited by Yale but chose to attend Ithaca. “I just heard from her,” Walsh said in early July. “She has an on-air internship with Fox Sports and she’ll be covering the World Cup.”

Part of choosing the right college is looking beyond name recognition, Walsh said, and to that end, college counselors at Byram Hills are expected to “know the students and know the best choices for them. There’s really an expectation that the college counselors should have an idea where the students should apply.”

Community Book Read Event on October 17

Students, parents and others who wish to be part of this conversation can participate in the first Byram Hills Community Book Read. The book is Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be, by New York Times columnist Frank Bruni. Bruni describes many high-achievers who flourished at less competitive colleges–and in many cases attribute their success to those institutions.

“It’s a book that’s really accessible to the community and it’s a great jumping-off point,” Walsh said. The book is recommended for students as an independent reading selection on the Byram Hills High School summer reading list this summer, and Walsh said, “We have had a number of students who have chosen to read it.”

On Thursday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m., members of the steering committee that worked with Challenge Success will lead a discussion in the Byram Hills High School library. All community members are welcome to attend the free event.

Now, Can You Spell … Perspicacious?

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The 9th Annual Spelling Bee Raises over $22,000 to Benefit the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund

Senior Scholarship SHARE Members (L-R): Niamh O’Connor, Jordan Ratner and Olivia Ruggiero PHOTO BY SABRA STAUDENMAIER

The eve of Election Day in Chappaqua was quiet, dark and rainy. Students were still acclimating to losing light early in the night, since time had fallen behind by an hour the day before. Schools would be closed the following day for voting that had been anticipated for two long years. The streets were calm, yet the Horace Greeley High School gymnasium was alive with eagerness and anticipation.

Students, faculty, parents and community members were gathered together in a united purpose. It wasn’t for a basketball game or a wrestling match. The words that best suit this event were not Lay-Up or Pinfall. They were words like “crustacean”, “tinnitus”, “chrysanthemum”, “pharaoh” and “perspicacious”.

The mascot of the night was not a Quaker; it was a Bumble Bee. The event taking place was the 9th Annual Spelling Bee. The excitement in the gym was palpable.

The “Bee” is an upbeat and lively event enjoyed by participants and spectators alike. It is organized and run by Horace Greeley High School’s SHARE (Students Have a Responsibility Everywhere) student community service volunteer group. The proceeds raised benefit the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund (HGSF), which is an organization that helps Greeley graduates fund their post-secondary education. Competing teams were comprised of families, students, members of the community and faculty. There are no restrictions on who can participate, all are welcome.

There were two energized and playful four-feet-tall bumble bees buzzing around, generating enthusiasm. There were balloons, refreshments and prizes. A row of tables crossed the middle of the gymnasium floor displaying white boards, markers and bumble bee-shaped erasers for each team. Two feet in front of these tables were chairs facing the contestants; they were seats for the judges. Behind the contestants was a single microphone for the word pronouncer and a projection screen for the words to be displayed. Along the back wall was an animated crowd cheering in the stands.

The Horace Greeley Spelling Bee showcased students working together to create a fun and inclusive event with the goal of helping their fellow students pay for college.

The Hip Bees (L-R): Beth Reilly, Annalise Curtin & Lisa Bisceglia
PHOTOS BY SABRA STAUDENMAIER

The over 60 teams were distinguished and recognizable in their cleverly themed costumes such as The Bee Gees, The Hip Bees, The Vocabulary Vampires and many more. The building excitement suddenly gave way to silence as a pause for the national anthem marked the official start of the competition.  Finally, the 9th annual HGSF Spelling Bee was underway.

The event was divided into rounds. Representatives from the School Faculty competed first, followed by competitors from the Middle School level, the High School level and then the Community.  Lastly, there was a championship round between the winners from all competing levels to determine who would earn the ultimate prize of the trophy and winning title.

Hmm (L-R): Helen Harrison, Maria Sanderleaf & Michelle Ramahlo

Words were called out by the pronouncer, then written on white boards by the contestants. Judges held up green or red cards to indicate if the word was spelled correctly or not. At the end of each round the judges would display a number to show how many words each team spelled right. Ties moved onto a sudden death elimination. Prizes, such as bee themed water bottles and stuffed animals, were given to the winners of each section and awarded to teams with the best costumes.

As the closing round drew to completion, the tension in the gym heightened. The pronouncer’s voice called over the microphone with a final “Boards Up!” The two remaining contestants raised their white boards, but only one showed the word “CATARRH” spelled correctly. The 9th Annual Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund Spelling Bee was over. Team Hmm, a trio of Chappaqua teachers and previous winners Helen Harrison, Michelle Ramahlo and Maria Sanderleaf, was awarded the coveted trophy and the title of Queen Bees.

The Spelling Bee requires skill to win; “effervescent”, “bourgeoisie” and “cayenne” are not easy words. But this event is about so much more than determining who is the best speller. The competition was ultimately created in support of a cause close to our town’s heart: education. Seth Berk, a second-year competitor who doesn’t consider himself a particularly skilled speller, remarked that he was “very happy to humble himself in support of the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund; a great cause.” In total, over $22,000 was raised, making it the most successful Bee to date.

Ironically, the HGSF Annual Spelling Bee can be summarized with a word that is not difficult to spell: “Community”.

Congratulations to the participants and the winners and especially to the SHARE students who did an un“bee”lievable job organizing this very special event.

12 Student-Athlete Seniors from Byram Hills High School Set to Play Their Sport in College

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The Byram Hills High School seniors who have committed to playing their sport in college next year. From left, in front row: Malorie Lipstein, Christopher Draper, Matthew Turk, J.J. Bancone. In back row from left: Ryan Steeg, Nick Weitzman, Luke Simon, Antonio Aversa, Daniel DiSano, Brian Glat, Skylar Sinon and Tristan Gibson.

Through hard work, dedication and hours of practice and play, a dozen Byram Hills High School student-athletes have risen to the top of their game. Now, these seniors are taking their athletic ability to the next level, and have committed to playing their sport in college next year.

“It’s absolutely spectacular for Byram Hills, a school of our size, to have 12 athletes that are committed to bringing their passions and their talents to the collegiate level,” said Rob Castagna, Director of Health Education, Physical Education and Athletics at Byram Hills. “We’re extremely proud.”

Byram Hills honored the dozen athletes at a ceremonial College Signing Day in the high school gym in early May, as fellow classmates, teammates, family members and school officials cheered them on.

Before the students signed a symbolic letter of intent to play next year, each was introduced by the boys varsity soccer coach, Matt Allen. He highlighted the students’ athletic accomplishments, and put each on the spot with a personal question.

Their achievements drew repeated applause, while the athletes and the crowd shared some laughs during the question-and-answer period, highlighted by a little gentle ribbing and some unvarnished honesty.

The student-athletes are:

Byram Hills High School seniors sign their ceremonial letters of intent to play their sport in college next year as their proud parents watch and capture the moment with their cameras.

Antonio Aversa, Fairleigh Dickinson University, football. Coach Allen described Aversa an imposing figure on both the football field and the baseball diamond. In football this year, he scored nine touchdowns, and had over 500 yards receiving, 34 receptions and needed to be double-teamed many times. “He’s going to be a dangerous weapon for F.D.U. next year,” Coach Allen said.

J.J. Bancone, Denison University, football. This season, Bancone rushed 316 yards and caught 38 passes for 316 yards. On defense, he had 45 tackles and two interceptions. Coach Allen called him a true all-around player who plays with a lot of emotion.

Daniel DiSano, Union College, baseball. Coach Allen said Union is getting an exceptional outfielder next year in DiSano.

“He currently bats leadoff for the team and is batting .500, leading the team in hits, stolen bases and is also riding a perfect fielding percentage, where last year he made 41 putouts without an error. He’s a professional whose main attribute is his all-around skill,” Coach Allen said.

Christopher Draper, Bates College, swimming. This year for Byram Hills, Coach Allen said, Draper was “a driving force in leading the team to the state championships for the first time in 10 seasons. At the N.S.C.A. Junior National Championships, Draper finished second in both the 200 IM and 200 fly and he is recognized as one of top 70 swimmers in all of New York State.”

Tristan Gibson, New Jersey Institute of Technology, fencing. “Gibson is currently nationally ranked in the United States and was chosen for the 2016-17 All-American team, which currently recognizes the top 300 fencers in the United States,” Coach Allen said. “Just recently, he placed 3rd in the Division 1 Regionals, competing against some of the best fencers in the world.”

Brian Glat, MIT, swimming. Coach Allen joked that Glat found just a little bit of time to swim while he was busy earning a 4.539 GPA and a near-perfect ACT score of 35.

He noted that Glat is a four-time state qualifier, a Journal News First Team All-Star, a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, has broken four school records and was recently named a Con Edison Athlete of the Week award winner.

Malorie Lipstein, Duke University, cheerleading. “Lipstein is one of the few athletes here at Byram Hills who successfully marketed herself to a college program,” Coach Allen said. “She wasn’t truly, actively recruited. She sent videos of herself training. She did this all by herself and sent it off to the coaches at Duke University. She did it privately.”

Lipstein cheered throughout high school. “It’s something that makes me really happy that I wanted to continue,” she said. For the tryouts, she said: “I reached out to the coach and did my tryout through 25 different videos. They compared that with the live tryouts and we did it all through email.”

Luke Simon, Fordham University, football. Coach Allen noted how much Simon has grown since freshman year, due to hard work and a love of the weight room. This past season, he had 54 tackles–32 solo, 5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

Skylar Sinon, Ithaca College, basketball. “Sinon will graduate as arguably the most celebrated basketball player in our school’s history,” Coach Allen said. He cited Sinon’s achievements: All-Section selection for four years, All-State the last three. He shattered the school’s all-time scoring record by over 500 points, with a total of 1,657 points. He has a career record of 90-25, and was a Con Edison award winner this past season.

Ryan Steeg, Oneonta, baseball. Coach Allen said that Steeg has established himself as one of the top pitchers in Westchester. He’s earned All-League honors as a junior. Last year, he led the team in innings with 45, had an ERA of 2.30 and 49 strikeouts. “So far, he’s lived up to his No. 1 pitcher status, with a 4-1 record on the mound, leading the team in innings and has an exceptional 1.40 ERA,” Coach Allen said of this season.

Matthew Turk, Dickinson College, track and field. Coach Allen said Dickinson College will be gaining “one of the most consistent runners in school history” from Byram Hills. This past year, Turk led the team to a top-five finish in the Westchester County Sectional Championship meet.

Nick Weitzman, Union College, tennis. Weitzman is a four-year varsity player, and is captain of the program this year. He’s compiled a 40-11 record and is becoming the second member of his family to play a sport for Union.

A Packing List

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For the longest time, what to read (not pack) was the bigger decision for Meaghan.

It’s the time of year when I start thinking less about what I’m putting in my backpack than what I’ll soon be taking out of it. On the last day of school every year, I dump the contents of my bag onto my bedroom carpet, going through the arduous process of deciding what to keep. Thank-you note? Definitely saving that. Less-than-stellar math test? Recycling bin. AP review book? Donate. That random sock? Long overdue for the laundry room. It’s a cathartic thing, seeing the contents of my year go from a chaotic jumble to a neat stack on my shelf.

But this year, my challenge won’t be fitting my memories into my home. My challenge will be fitting my home into my memory. At the end of my next first day of school, I’ll be coming home to a dorm and a roommate, not my house and family. That’s an overwhelming thought. So I’m doing what I always do when I feel overwhelmed: making a list.

One of the most important things about packing is knowing what not to pack. Take it from me, a notorious over-packer whose bulging suitcase always gets an eye roll from the airline attendant. It can sometimes be easy to think, “It wouldn’t hurt to bring this…and this…” and you get the idea. But overpacking can weigh you down in more ways than one. So when I leave for college in three short months, I’m hoping to do so with a light mental suitcase. (Sorry, Mom–you know my real luggage is still going to fill up your entire minivan.)

I’m leaving behind fear. It’s good to be scared every so often–but not of circumstances that are out of my control. In the words of one of my favorite pieces of writing, a 1997 Chicago Tribune column, “The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.” I can’t prepare for every possible disaster that might befall me in college, and I won’t expect the ones that do. But I won’t let that stop me from seeking out new experiences. All I can do is be flexible, rolling with whatever punches life throws my way.

I’m also leaving behind disillusionment.

As a senior, I’ve been more involved in our community than ever. Unfortunately, I’m still learning that involvement has almost as much to do with disappointment as it does with fulfillment.

One of the most difficult lessons of Chappaqua, or maybe anywhere, is learning that institutions, credos, and people will sometimes fail you. But from that disenchantment comes the satisfaction of discovering a sense of perseverance and happiness in spite of shortcomings.

What else am I packing? Sunscreen. Perspective. Shower shoes. Forgiveness. Pencils. Courage. Confidence. Character. My DeMarie dinosaur. My pocket Constitution. My train of thought (wouldn’t want to lose that). My memories of our town’s many wonderful people, who have shaped me in too many ways to count.

Also: patience.

And, of course, I’m leaving some empty space. After all, if the place you’re headed won’t add something worthwhile to who you are, why bother going? The last thing I want to do is waste my transformative college years re-teaching myself everything I’ve already been taught. I want my perceptions to be challenged and changed; I want to be inundated with new ideas that teach me different ways to be a better person. Here’s to open suitcases and open minds.

No matter what I pack, I know I’ll feel like I’m forgetting something. How can I possibly recall everything Chappaqua has meant to me? I’ve seen the daffodils burst open in front of Reader’s Digest and kicked a soccer ball through autumn leaves at Gedney. I’ve watched my classmates get puppies, braces, jobs, and college acceptance letters. So much has changed in the 17 years I’ve called this town home. While I can’t know what will change in the next four, I’ll always be grateful to have grown up here. That gratitude will be on my packing list for the rest of my life.