Dropout Prevention Program Honors Baltimore’s Bright Stars

By any standards Travis Ezi is a young man Baltimoreans can be proud of. He is an impressive scholar and an excellent athlete. This Southwestern High School senior is also a "hot prospect" for two major league baseball teams. He is in the top 5% of his graduating class with a 3.25 g.p.a. Travis has been recruited with athletic scholarship offers from three colleges

What makes Travis Ezi special? Travis came to high school with a few red flags waving—"doesn’t follow directions, does poorly on tests, does not complete home work assignments." Travis had suffered the loss of his mother, baby sister and his maternal grandmother. He was defensive and defiant. Fortunately, he joined Baltimore’s FUTURES program designed to help students overcome their barriers to successful high school graduation and transition to college or employment. FUTURES provided the support, encouragement, counseling, incentives and enrichment activities, which helped Travis bridge the gap from potential to actualization.

FUTURES helped him become a responsible, mature young adult. Travis’ grades

improved. He maintained perfect attendance and worked part-time in the restaurant

business after school and weekends. Additionally, he became involved in sports—excelling in baseball, football, track and field.

FUTURES is Baltimore’s Maryland’s Tomorrow program. FUTURES has programs to support youth in six City High Schools:

• Frederick Douglass High School
• Forest Park High School
• Northern High School
• Patterson High School
• Southern High School
• Southwestern High School

Travis Ezi will be honored at the statewide Maryland’s Tomorrow Bright Stars celebration at Martin’s West, May 17^th along with other dedicated students and adults like Rose Douglas, FUTURES, Supervisor at Patterson High School.