As reported by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer recently, students, their families and staff gathered for a College Signing Day and Awards Ceremony that celebrated the 30 Parramore Kidz Zone high school seniors who will all be continuing their education after graduation.
“I want to congratulate our 30 PKZ seniors on their accomplishments and their decision to continue their education. The students will be moving on to schools throughout the state, including UCF, Florida, Florida A&M, Florida State and Valencia College, as well as institutions across the country like Clark-Atlanta and Southern Illinois,” said Mayor Dyer in a blog post at cityoforlando.net.
The celebration coincides with FLOTUS Michelle Obama’s new Reach Higher initiative, which strives to inspire every student in America to complete their education past high school, whether at a professional-training program, community college or a four-year college or university.
PKZ is a City resource for the students in the Parramore neighborhood, giving them access to tutors and counselors to help them excel academically.
The mission of Parramore Kidz Zone (PKZ) is to level the playing field for Parramore’s children, equipping them to become successful, healthy, well-educated adults. Parramore Kidz Zone aims to reduce juvenile crime, teen pregnancy, and high school drop-out rates in Orlando’s highest poverty, highest crime neighborhood, and ultimately replicate this model in other Orlando neighborhoods also struggling with disproportionately high rates of juvenile crime, school failure and teen pregnancy. PKZ is achieving this by investing in things that make a difference in children’s lives – such as quality early childhood education, after school programs, programs that build family economic success, youth development programs for teenagers, access to health care, mentoring and more.
