C-town Spirit and Entrepreneurship Education Foundation, Inc

Stephanie Batista was born in Boston but her heritage is Dominican. She has attended Charlestown High since her freshman year. Stephanie started working at the age of 13, doing outreach and community service in her neighborhood with a non-profit organization called HOPE. Stephanie is laid-back and friendly, and enjoys photography.

Alyse Bigger is a senior who has an interest in criminology, business, psychology, public relations and dance. She would like to attend an Ivy League College and take classes that will challenge her thinking. In her free time she enjoys swimming and traveling. Currently Alyse’s favorite subjects in school are Biology and Spanish. However, Alyse has an interest in being an entrepreneur and she decided to take Entrepreneurship II because she wants to learn what it takes to run a strong business. Alyse is proud of being a great leader and role model in her school. She has been active in peer mentoring and was elected President in a school government election during her junior year.

Christine Brandao is a Cape Verdean student living in Dorchester. She has experience working in a professional setting because she recently worked at Liberty Mutual as an intern during the summer of 2007. Christine believes school spirit is lacking in Charlestown High and really wants to change that atmosphere. Christine hopes she could help the entrepreneurship class turn the school into a more positive environment. In all of her classes, Christine is a focused and academically motivated student.

Allison Colonna is ranked 8th in the 2008 graduating class. She is hoping to attend either Boston University or Simmons College next year. Allison loves reading and science. She works at a high school after school program called Beantown Society, where she and other youth run the activities with little adult supervision. Allison writes curriculum for the program workshops and directs the hiring of new staff. In general, Allison is an activist. She is articulate and she believes in the importance of social enterprises. Allison thinks school spirit should be rekindled in students at Charlestown and knows that running C-town Spirit will be a real challenge this year.

Francielle de Espirito Santo was born in Brazil. She immigrated to the US in 2001. Francielle has a very energetic, talkative, often creative personality. During her high school years she has been to three schools. She is currently a senior at Charlestown High. Francielle worked as a host in a restaurant and really enjoyed welcoming people in a professional way. She reads and plays volleyball in her free time. She believes that with hard work and unity C-town can achieve the unthinkable and truly make a lasting impact in the neighborhood.

Sha-Lee Flavius was born in Boston but moved to St. Croix in his early childhood, to live with his father’s side of the family. After his parents divorced, he returned to live with his mother in Boston. He currently attends Charlestown High School, where he is a junior. During his high school summers he goes to Phillips Academy for a program called (MS)2, to prepare him for advanced math and science. At Phillips Academy, Sha-Lee has befriended teens from different parts of the world. Sha-Lee’s GPA is a 3.82 and he is working on bringing it even higher. He plans on going to college to get his bachelor’s degree and then moving to Atlanta, where he wants to be a Certified Public Accountant or a consultant and live with his family. Sha-Lee is the only boy in his immediate family; he has five older sisters. He is now a godfather and an uncle to three children. He plans on being successful and one day having kids of his own and a home in the suburbs.

Ermithe Fleurime is a senior at Charlestown High who has been in the school for the past 2 years. Prior to Charlestown, she was at Clara Barton High in New York. Ermithe has been an honor roll student at Charlestown, where she is very active and shows strong leadership as well as a sense of humor. Outside of her classes, she is involved in the Debate Team and in Student Government. Ermithe immigrated to the US from Haiti five years ago. She speaks French and Creole, which is her native tongue. She is currently an intern at Liberty Mutual, where she works in Human Resources.

Erick Guirzatto is 100% Brazilian and was born in Vila Velha, outside Rio de Janeiro. He moved to Boston in 2004 and has been in Charlestown ever since. Erick has had a lot of work experience, especially with customer service and sales. His prior employers include Dunkin Donuts, Café Bela Restaurant, and Russo and Sons, Inc. In his spare time, Erick practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and organizes events with three friends in a group called Vanderley Productions. At Charlestown High, Erick appreciates the help that teachers provide in helping students get to college. Erick has a 4.3 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Jennifer Gomez was born in Columbia and has been at Charlestown High since freshman year. Her favorite subject in school is Arabic, and her favorite thing about Charlestown High is the new rotating schedule. Jennifer’s prior work experience includes waitressing at El Jardin. She writes for the school newspaper and has joined the school drama club. She enjoys Spanish music and R&B. In college, Jennifer is interested in studying medicine; she would one day like to become a pediatrician. In the meantime, she is excited about selling the C-town Gear clothing line at school.

Shewit Guesh was born in Ethiopia and came to the US two years ago. He started at Boston International High, but found that school too small for him, and transferred to Charlestown. At Charlestown High, he enjoys his education and the quality of his teachers. He is interested in majoring in nursing in college. Outside of school, he plays soccer, and in the past he has played on his high school soccer team.

Rosalina Hercules was born in El Salvador. For the past several years she has been working as a caterer and waitress in an Italian restaurant. She used to be in a program called TIP, in which students write articles for their own newspaper. Rosalina is an outstanding student at Charlestown High, where she earns honor roll grades.

William Jones was born in Virginia and moved to Boston as a sophomore in high school. His mom is Native American Cherokee. At Charlestown High, he is enjoying his Journalism, Entrepreneurship, Forensic Science, and AP Language & Composition. He is leading an effort to create a school-wide newspaper and a school store. He occasionally makes appearances on the C-town Update, the school morning announcements. Will had his first job at age 13 as a custodial helper before transitioning to work in retail. While a student at Charlestown High, he interned at Liberty Mutual in Corporate Real Estate and the Head Office. He is currently working as an Ambassador for the Boston Red Sox. Will is bringing the skills he has honed at his previous jobs to his position at C-town Spirit. He plans to go to college, where he will pursue interests in journalism, creative writing, poetry, and entrepreneurship.

Yara Marquez was born in Beverly and has lived in Manchester, Salem, and Lynn. Her heritage is Puerto Rican and Dominican. She has been at Charlestown for three years, ever since transferring from Salem High. She is outgoing, talkative, and friendly. Outside of school, Yara babysits her two younger sisters who are 12 and 14. She previously worked at the Massachusetts General Hospital and at Liberty Mutual. She is interested in community service and is a regular volunteer for City Year. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with friends, shopping, photography, and watching horror films.

Pedro Marzan was born in the Bronx, NY and came to Boston at the age of 14. Pedro has been at Charlestown for three years and is currently a junior. He is outgoing, energetic, and has a sense of humor. He enjoys playing football on the Charlestown High team and boxing with a personal trainer at Dudley. Pedro is interested in the law and interested in having an internship during the summer.

Jonathan Mesa was born in Columbia, where his father pushed him out of the house, to work on a farm and live alone for 2 years, from age 6 to 8. Jonathan became a child soldier at the age of 8. At the age of 16 he suffered a burn in a grenade accident and came to the US for hospital care. He has been at Charlestown High for three years, where he feels that he is a fast learner and excels at engineering, building computers or houses. Jonathan now lives in Boston with his mother and speaks Spanish at home. At Charlestown High, he has made good friends and enjoys learning Arabic, his third language. Jonathan plans to go to college and wants to study architecture or engineering.

Gerald Nwosu was born in Boston and recently transferred to Charlestown from Boston Latin Academy. In his junior year, he was the first student at Charlestown High to revive the tradition of student-run morning announcements, known as the C-town Update. Gerald has a way with words, and is talented at marketing and public relations. He has done volunteer work at the Hyde Park Community Center and wants to run his own business one day. Gerald is interested in efforts at stopping genocide. His heritage is Nigerian.

Jessica Senat was born in Boston but is of Haitian descent. She has been attending Charlestown High for about one year. In her short time at Charlestown, however, Jessica has made an impact. She was chosen as the Student of the Month this year by the faculty at Charlestown High. She is also showing leadership in organizing the senior yearbook. Jessica has worked as an intern in two hospitals and has been considering a nursing career.

Calvin Smith was born in Boston and is Jamaican by heritage. He attended a private middle school but then moved to the Boston Public Schools in freshman year. Calvin has a combination of a good heart and a sharp tongue; he is a loyal friend and a scrutinizing listener. He has attended Harvard Crimson Summer Academy for three years and will be graduating with a $3,000 scholarship. His academic interests are biology and science. Calvin has recently been inducted to the National Honor Society and is working on making NHS leather jackets that will rival the Varsity jackets that athletes wear. Outside of school, he is interested in fashion and has an extensive sneaker collection. He also writes poetry.

Kyra Thomas was born in Boston into a Jamaican and African American family. She is very outgoing and creative and loves to write poetry and dance. She has attended Charlestown since her sophomore year and is now a senior. Prior to Charlestown, she also attended the Jeremiah Burke High School and Roxbury Charter High School of Business and Entrepreneurship. Kyra has worked since she was 13 years old and her past work sites include Childrens’ Services of Roxbury and Elm Hill Family Services. She believes Charlestown is a good school just searching for spirit and it is C-town Spirit’s job to create as much school pride as possible. Kyra was Captain of the Cheerleading Team in her sophomore year. Outside of school, her interests include performing arts.

Hung Tran was born in Hong Kong but his heritage is Vietnamese. Hung has struggled to learn the art of English. However, he believes rewards are only given to people that struggle. He has been a food bank volunteer, and a service clerk, and worked in child care. His interests include business, martial arts, culinary arts, baseball and debate.

Kendy Valbrun was born in Haiti and has been in the US for only a few years. At Charlestown High, Kendy is a school leader and a peer mentor. He has a confident and charismatic personality and enjoys making others laugh. Kendy loves Charlestown High and is the Captain of the Charlestown High Soccer Team. In his spare time, he plays intramural soccer with a team that practices at Boston College. He hopes to have a future playing soccer at college and beyond.

Shanika Wright was born Jamaica and is a senior at Charlestown High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society and was a cheerleader and a peer mentor. Already having experience in the business field, Shanika hopes that she will have a leadership role in her Entrepreneurship II class this year. Shanika took Entrepreneurship I her junior year. She enjoyed her class so much that she put extra hours into her work and participated in the NFTE Business Plan Competition. Shanika’s idea was a modeling agency that developed self-esteem in young women. Shanika’s business, Wright Way Enterprises, won 3rd place in the business plan competition. She promoted her slogan of helping girls feel the “Wright Way” about themselves. This past summer Shanika worked at the Constitution Inn in Charlestown, acting as a front desk clerk and developing customer service skills. Previously, she has demonstrated her school spirit as a varsity Charlestown cheerleader.