ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
KIPP seniors, from left, Jefferson Prakob, Edivan Solano, Corinne Jean Gilles and Jassyran Kim received early decision acceptances.
BY DILLON DURST
LYNN — KIPP Academy celebrated its graduating class Friday at the Lynn Auditorium.
Ninety-seven percent of KIPP’s class of 2016 will graduate in June, while 90 percent plan to attend college, according to the school.
This year’s graduating class also received more than 400 acceptance letters, 100 more than last year.
Four students, Jefferson Prakob, Edivan Solano, Jassyran Kim and Corinne Jean Gilles, received early decision acceptances, which allows students to apply to their top choice school early.
Kim will attend Davidson College in North Carolina, a KIPP partner, in the fall. Attending a partner college allows KIPP and the school to help provide students with a more successful college experience.
While Kim hasn’t visited Davidson’s campus, she’s excited to get there. While her mother wasn’t thrilled about her going to school 14 hours away, she thinks it’s a good fit.
Kim served as class president the past two years, she’s a member of the National Honor Society and captain of the girls basketball team.
She plans to study biomedical engineering and earn her master’s degree.
Solano will attend Duke University, also a partner school, and plans to study biology.
He was a member of the basketball, track and cross country teams, as well as the National Honor Society and student council.
Solano plans to do intramurals at Duke to avoid the “Freshman 15” and do community service.
“It’s a great university and I’d like to give back,” he said. “I’m blessed to have this amazing opportunity.”
Jean Gilles, who’s logged 300 hours of community service at the YMCA, is headed to Union College in upstate New York.
She is a Posse Foundation Scholarship recipient, a four-year, full-tuition scholarship, and plans to study science and engineering.
Jean Gilles was a member of the dance team at KIPP, and plans to join Union’s, as well as a community service sorority.
Prakob will attend Brown University, an Ivy League school and a partner school. He plans to major in biology.
Prakob is a member of the National Honor Society and plays for the school’s volleyball team.
Drea Deangelo, KIPP school leader, opened Friday’s ceremony by commending the graduating class’ hard work, and noted that she’s known most of them since they were fifth-graders.
Each graduate announced their college choice on stage before their classmates in attendance.
Dillon Durst can be reached at [email protected].
