By Julie Faryniarz
I was in Rhode Island with my college friends from the University of Vermont. As we walked and caught up, the conversation turned to the Greenwich Alliance for Education and what brings me the most joy in my work.
“Seeing the students who’ve been part of our programs,” I said. “I love watching them conquer college and launch into the next chapter – whether that’s graduate school or a career they’re passionate about.”
That evening, something wild happened. One of my friends had arranged for two chefs to come to her home and do a cooking demonstration. Turns out, one of them, Jonathan, graduated from Greenwich High School (GHS) in 2014 and was part of the second AVID class taught by Ken Alcorn. After high school, he earned his culinary arts degree from Norwalk Community College and is now a successful chef. Jonathan’s doing incredibly well and promised to sign up for AVID Alumni events and share his college journey with younger GHS AVID students.
Over the years, the Alliance’s work with AVID has expanded. In 2020, we launched AVID SUCCESS which offers extensions to the GPS AVID program in middle school, high school and well beyond college graduation. This program effort has helped us connect with more students, including one truly extraordinary young woman: Paige Pray.
Greenwich Alliance board member Donna Rosato interviewed Paige recently, and her story says it all.
Paige Pray says she wouldn’t be where she is today without the Greenwich Alliance for Education’s AVID SUCCESS program. And where she is today? It’s impressive.
A 2022 graduate of Greenwich High School, Paige just earned her bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac University in just three years, thanks to an accelerated honors program called 3+3. With a double major in criminal justice and law, Paige has been admitted to both Quinnipiac and UConn Law Schools. Her goal: to become a criminal prosecutor, and ultimately, “Seeing the students who’ve been part of our programs,” I said. “I love watching them conquer college and launch into the next chapter – whether that’s graduate school or a career they’re passionate about.” a judge.
Paige didn’t just study hard – she threw herself into campus life. She served as president of the University’s Multicultural Student Leadership Council, sat on the Student Government’s Judicial and Ethics Board, and was a fellow in a leadership program for historically underrepresented students. She also worked as an undergraduate planning assistant for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, served as a resident assistant, pledged a sorority, and played goalie on the club lacrosse team.
Yes, her schedule was packed, but she thrived on it.
She credits much of that drive to AVID, a full-credit college-prep elective for diverse and underrepresented students. “AVID is a really good opportunity for students, not just for college preparation but for navigating high school,” she says. “I knew if I needed anything, I had a resource.”
Through AVID, Paige developed strong study habits and essential life skills like budgeting. She participated in financial aid workshops, visited college campuses for the first time, and got one-on-one support when applying to college – everything from drafting her essays to finding scholarships.
“AVID really sets you up for success in high school and college,” she says.
Despite her ambition and work ethic, Paige admits she might not have made it to Quinnipiac without the support system AVID provided. “When I was applying, my mom told me we probably couldn’t afford it,” she recalls. “But with the help I got applying for scholarships and f inancial aid, it became possible.”
Today, Paige remains deeply connected to AVID. She has a strong relationship with her mentor through AVID SUCCESS, advises recent GHS grads during our Transition to College (T2C) workshops, and regularly returns to speak with current AVID students. “I want to pay it forward,” she says.
At the Alliance, we see stories like Paige’s and Jonathan’s every day, and it never gets old. Watching students grow into confident young adults who give back to their communities is the greatest joy in this work.
If you’d like to get involved, meet some of these amazing students, or learn more about our programs in the Greenwich Public Schools, email me at julie@ greenwichalliance.org. I’d love to introduce you.
T2C is generously supported by the Greenwich United Way and the Greenwich Department of Human Services.
Julie Faryniarz is the Executive Director of the Greenwich Alliance for Education. She has 3 children who graduated from the Greenwich Public Schools. Julie is a PTA Council Essence Award winner and a YWCA Women Who Inspire Honoree.
