Heights Graduation Celebration Honored 500+ Students 

Empowering real success, one student at a time

SERVING STUDENTS: SUCCESS STORIES

There’s no stronger endorsement than the successes of the students we work to support every day. Alongside higher graduation and employment rates, Heights students gain the network and support to achieve their personal goals.

Explore their stories, in their words, below.    

Anaya Cherry

The Episcopal Academy ‘18| Drexel University ‘22, Bachelor of Science in Entertainment and Arts Management

Originally introduced to our program when she was ten, Anaya spent her summers at Penn Charter School before enrolling at her dream school, discovered during a high school fair. She thrived at The Episcopal Academy, leading to her enrollment at Drexel University, where she received a number of honors and accolades including being named a Liberty Scholar. Today, she is employed in the entertainment industry, and credits Heights for providing the confidence to pursue her goals. 

“My biggest takeaway from [Heights] was that I belong in the room.”
Student Stories

Sarahi Franco-Morales

“I first visited a college during my freshman year of high school. I had no idea what the college process or experience even was. I didn’t even know how or

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Student Stories

Samantha Monterio

“As a North Philadelphia native, I found myself significantly behind my peers academically during my time at Penn State. However, this only pushed me harder to get help. I wanted

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Student Stories

Troy Turner

“As a Heights Volunteer and alum, I want to be able to connect with students and provide a sense of leadership through my journey and story.”   Troy, now a

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Student Stories

Marlena Ellis

Marlena is a Heights alum and a graduate of West Chester University, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice. Since beginning with Heights in 2005 as

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Inspire future students.
Share your story.

If you’ve benefited from our programs, we’d love to hear from you. Send us a message to share your story.

More successes are yet to come. You can help make them a reality.

Help spark our next student success story. Reach out to start empowering Philadelphia youth today.