Honoring Achievement: CPM Closing Ceremony at Masjid Fallahee
The air was filled with joy and excitement as students, mentors, and faculty gathered on Sunday, June 9th, at Masjid Fallahee in Newark for the closing ceremony of our College Path Mentorship Program. This event marked the culmination of months of hard work, growth, and educational success for our mentees.
A Warm Welcome
CEO Dr. Levent Koch took the stage. His address was nothing short of inspirational. Dr. Koch shared UPLIFT Academy’s journey and underscored the value of each program we offer. He encouraged the mentees to continue their dedication to the program and highlighted the immense impact it can have on their academic and personal growth. Dr. Koch expressed his and UPLIFT’s commitment to serving CPM students, saying, “Your kids are my kids.”
Award Presentations
As the ceremony drew to a close, Dr. Levent Koch returned to the podium to present each student with a gift card, a t-shirt, and a certificate in recognition of their accomplishments. The room resounded with applause and celebration as each name was called, honoring the achievements of every student.
Closing Remarks
A closing event marked the high point of the evening as attendees interacted, shared stories, and enjoyed food. The atmosphere buzzed with fellowship and a sense of accomplishment. As everyone said goodbye, it became clear that each participant had been profoundly impacted by the College Path Mentorship Program, which had created a community of support, encouragement, and lifelong learning.
The closing ceremony was not just an ending but a celebration of new beginnings, setting the stage for future achievements and enduring friendships.
Parent and Mentee Reflections
One of the most heartwarming segments of the evening was the reflections shared by both parents and mentees.
Muslim Larry Gibril, the spiritual leader of the Masjid shared: “The program has gone a long way to help our children in the community, and I’m grateful to you (CEO), for all that you do, especially the teachers and staff.. It’s not easy to organize such a program, but due to your dedication and love for the children looking out for them to succeed.. No amount of thanks will be sufficient.”
Saeed Abdallah, a parent of two students, shared their journey: “This has been an enormous help. I grew up in Ghana then we traveled, and then we came to a country like here. You work all the time, and so it’s difficult to actually get your kids to grow up the way you grew up. So programs like this are excellent programs. So thank you all for the teachers.”
Moutar Sampil, a mentee, shared his experience: “I just want to say thank you to the program, because next year I will be going to college. I will be going to college with a full ride, so I feel like this program really helped me a lot with my SAT, because I knew that I was one of the people that struggled with my math. So coming here really helped me with my math skills and my reading skills, my college applications and things like that.”
“I have improved a lot with my math and english. I remember I used to struggle with math a lot, but with this program I have been able to like improve a lot. And with the teachers who gave their time, to help students like us who struggle with our schoolwork. So I just want to say thank you. And for also offering me a free trip to Tanzania, it’s going to be a really good experience for me, so thank you.”
Aalia Bamba Saeed Abdallah, Mentee
