Forming the Next Generation of Leaders: ACE Alumnus Afriye

For a kid who was witnessing daily violence and losing hope in a school that was not the best fit, an open desk in an ACE partner school offered an opportunity to thrive and fulfill future aspirations.

ACE alumnus Afriye Phillips is living proof that with hard work, motivation, and the right school, any kid can go as far as they want to in life. His is a story about a beautiful family dynamic and immeasurable sacrifice, a future that was meant to be bigger than just him, and the shoulders he needed to stand on to rise to his potential—yours.

Influenced by the care and dedication he received from teachers at his ACE partner school alongside his mother, Afriye resolved to live a life dedicated to others. This summer, Afriye will apply the skills and knowledge gained through his education to launch his first business training young people in basketball as a tool to take ownership over their futures—young people who have a dream and need a role model, someone to show them they have options in life and that if they put their focus into something positive, the sky is the limit.

Just think of the ripple effect of thousands of kids like Afriye positively influencing the next generation. That is the power of ACE Scholarships.

Thank you for believing in our scholars and giving them the life-changing opportunity of a quality education.

To view Afriye’s full speech, please click here.