inside - Seattle Urban Academy

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF SUA
JUNE  2011-12 ACADEMIC YEAR
INSIDE
• Special Thanks from the Grads
• From the Desk of the Principal
• A Donor’s Perspective
SPECIAL
GRADUATION ISSUE
thank you from the
My SUA
experience
has been
wonderful;
I’ve had a
lot of ups
and downs,
and mixed
feelings.
But I can
honestly
say that
SUA saved
my life.
SATEREA THOMPSON
RIFFIN
CHARLES G
ories from
f good mem
I have a lot o
nt ones
most importa
SUA, but the
been
s when I have
are moment
ents.
accomplishm
proud of my
2
ALEX ALLEN
SUA helped turn things around
in
my life. I got better grades, and
now I have a positive attitude
.
After seeing
how the
teachers
interact with,
and really
care about
their students,
I realized
this is a
place where
I could
succeed.
Seattle Urban Academy  urbanvoice
BESSIE SECKER
TILA COLEMAN
Once I got
to SUA,
I realized
there was
a lot more
to this
place.
The
teachers
and
students
care about
each other.
Some of my experie
nces here
included job shadowin
g,
which made it clear
to me what
opportunities are ou
t there.
AMONDRÉ WHITE
KATALINA LEOMITI
I first heard of SUA when my
sister enrolled. I didn’t believe in
myself and I never really talked
,
to anyone. Since being at SUA
me.
for
ier
eas
en
things have gott
My SUA
experience
has been
life-changing.
I have grown
into the
person
I thought
I never
would be—
focused,
confident,
diligent.
JESSICA NGUYEN
I am confident and social.
YOU MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE!
www.seattleurbanacademy.org
3
FROM THE DESK OF
Our Seattle Urban Academy community celebrates
with our Class of 2012!
Years after the start of kindergarten, on June 15, 2012
each graduate stood uniquely strong, poised to cross
the stage to receive his or her hard-earned diploma.
Education or e-ducare at Seattle Urban Academy
is true to its Latin roots. “E”, the shortened form of ex,
simply means “from, out of, from within”; ducere, from
the Latin verb duco, means “to lead, guide”; and,
educe, “to draw out”. Each has been created in the
image of God.
From the depths of each graduate’s unique
personality and personal history, education at Seattle
Urban Academy takes place in community, drawing
out inner convictions, personal values, identity,
passion and purpose.
We have witnessed each graduate find life in loving
God with all his/her mind, soul and energy; and loving
neighbor as self. We send our graduates forth with
undergirding prayers to love mercy, act justly and walk
humbly with God. May each continue to deepen in God’s love; and
in turn, strengthen, enrich and bring life to our community.
Our SUA community shouts with praise to God, exultant with tears of
joy at the graduation of intelligent, courageous, young people who
have persevered and have now graduated, secure in their identity,
and impassioned by their purpose for the future.
Congratulations, SUA Class of 2012!
Sharon Okamoto,
Executive Director & Principal
4
Seattle Urban Academy  urbanvoice
A DONOR’S PERSPECTIVE
hen I first agreed to visit SUA,
I thought I was just being a
nice person and doing a
favor for my friend, Sharon
Okamoto. Even though I grew
up in the Rainier Beach area,
that was decades ago. What
did I have in common with the
SUA students now? What could
I share with them that would
be meaningful? I was busy at
Microsoft, putting in long work
weeks, and really didn’t see
how SUA was going to fit into
my life. That was over ten
years ago…
This year’s Miracle Event
theme, ‘Lost and Found’, really
resonates with me. After all,
who amongst us hasn’t been
lost at one point in time? Job
issues, financial problems, losing
a loved one, relationships not
working out—we’ve all been
there. Thankfully, most of us
have some support system to
fall back on—family, friends, coworkers. Can you imagine how
lost you’d feel if you didn’t have
that support? SUA is that support
system for these students.
One thing I love about SUA is
that they provide much more
than an education. The staff
offers friendship, and provides
emotional and spiritual support.
I have such respect for the
staff—I’ve seen them take
students into their homes, drive
around the city in the middle
of the night searching for them,
stand by them during times of
adversity, and be the ‘tough
love’ guidance that students
don’t yet realize they need.
(continued on next page)
“it’s a great feeling
when you see the light bulb
go off in their mind.”
Joan Hoshino, from Microsoft, gave
the keynote address to our guests at
the annual Miracle Event in May 2012
www.seattleurbanacademy.org
5
(continued from previous page)
It isn’t easy. I spend two to three hours
a week at SUA tutoring math as a
volunteer, and I’ve seen the range of
student emotions. But after spending
time with them, you start to build a
relationship. They start to trust you
more; you aren’t just another adult
who’s going to pretend to care and
then disappoint them. And it’s a great
feeling when you see the light bulb
go off in their mind. I love seeing the
different volunteers and people from
all walks of life come together to
support the staff and students.
Let’s celebrate Jessica, the daughter
of immigrants from SE Asia, who
graduates this June with a full scholarship to Whitworth University! She was
failing all of her classes when she
arrived at SUA and through hard work,
along with the care and excellence
provided by staff, volunteer tutors
and a supportive community around
her, she was award-ed the Act Six
collegiate scholarship for emerging
urban and community leaders who
desire to make a difference on
campus and in their communities.
It takes a village.
Everyone has the opportunity
to support hundreds of worthy
organizations in Seattle. I think it’s
important to point out the amazing
success SUA has achieved—it is truly
a great use of donor funding. 96% of
seniors graduate; and within a year of
graduation, 89% are employed or in
higher education.
Let’s take a look at some colleges
where SUA students have enrolled
6
in higher education: University of
Washington, Whitworth University,
Seattle Art Institute, Seattle Pacific
University, Eastern Washington
University, Washington State University
and Seattle University. It’s quite an
impressive list—from vocational schools
to prestigious universities!
And here are some examples of
companies where our students have
worked while in high school, and
where they’ve landed jobs after
leaving SUA: Microsoft, JP Morgan
Chase, Seattle Seahawks, and
Starbucks. Students are maturing into
responsible adults.
Though I didn’t think I would have
anything in common with SUA, God
has shown me otherwise. What I’ve
learned is that SUA speaks to me on
several levels—an opportunity for the
students to realize their educational
goals, a solid support system to help
them mature from youth at risk to
young adults with hope, and the
dedicated staff.
I believe everyone who cares has
a special gift for SUA—whether it’s
financial support, spending time with
the students, offering up your specific
skill set, or helping the school make
valuable connections with others. Not
everyone can do all these things, but I
do believe all of us can do something.
I encourage you to open your hearts
to these students, and ask yourself
what you can do to help them
succeed in life. Thank you.” 
Seattle Urban Academy  urbanvoice
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Our graduating students have
achieved their academic goal!
Our fiscal year ends June 30, 2012.
Will you help us achieve our
year-end financial goal as well?

$800,000
$700,000
$600,000
$609,000
$300,000
FY 2012 GOAL
$400,000
$706,400
FY 2012 YTD
$500,000
To give using your credit card, follow these steps:
1)Fill out the authorization form below;
2)Send this authorization form to SUA
I give Seattle Urban Academy permission to charge
$
from my:
$200,000
$100,000
URBAN VOICE is a free publication of
Seattle Urban Academy, located at
3800 S. Othello St.  Seattle, WA 98118
206.723.0333  seattleurbanacademy.org
Writing by Sharon Okamoto, SUA, and
Joan Hoshino, Volunteer
Editing by Shannon Olsen, CRISTA
Marketing
Design by Debbie Mercado, CRISTA
Marketing
Printing/Distribution by Lithocraft
© Seattle Urban Academy 2012
All rights reserved.
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Seattle, WA 98133
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and you will receive a receipt.
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