By Pam Zendt
In May of 2022, former Sandy Springs Mission student, Uribe Valverde, graduated from George Washington University with a B.S. in business administration. He earned a 3.7 GPA during his years at GWU and had already accepted a full-time job by the time of his graduation. He recently moved to NYC to accept a job as an analyst with American Express.
Uribe, a first-generation college student has a resume full of accolades, yet he went all the way back to second grade when asked to share some reasons for his success so far in life. “I started at the Mission for after school and summer programs from the time I was a six-year-old High Point student and stayed there until I finished high school at Riverwood. To me, it was a place of authentic relationships and close friends who I’m still in touch with today,” he said in a phone interview recently.
“There was always so much help at the Mission––whether in the way of friendships, or helping with college applications, or just regular classwork. When we got to high school, we got the privilege of being a counselor for the little kids. I love that the Mission promotes the spirit of receive, then give back. I can say this without one doubt: without the Mission I would have been on a different path.”
Uribe earned a full-ride scholarship to GWU and graduated debt-free. “Mr. Felix always preached to us to either go in-state to college to keep costs down, or if we go out of state, we should not incur debt. I’m proud to have achieved that.”
Ms. Zendt is a volunteer for the Mission and a graduate student in the Professional Writing program at Kennesaw State University.
