518 Elevated

This July, we’re celebrating our incredible Class of 2026. From first-gen college trailblazers to career-ready professionals, their paths are as unique as they are driven. No matter where they are headed, 518 ElevatED is proud to fuel their next chapter.

Congratulations to A'marie, R'niyah, Zaveon, Savannah, and Brynnley!

On June 11, the 518 ElevatED community came together at MiSci for our annual Scholar Celebration, honoring the achievements and graduation of our 2026 Scholars.

This year's graduates have been accepted to institutions including RPI, Syracuse University, Stony Brook University, the University at Albany, the University of Houston, and the Culinary Institute of America. Their academic and career aspirations span a remarkable range of fields, from biomedical engineering and public health to business administration, fashion and textiles, criminal justice, and cosmetology.

The evening began with a screening introduced by Albany County Legislator Ellen Rosano and continued as Scholars reflected on their journeys and the exciting opportunities ahead.

Each year, Scholar Celebration reminds us of the power of investing in talented Capital Region youth. We were honored to celebrate alongside county officials, board members, mentors, educators, community partners, student volunteers, parents, families, and friends who continue to support our mission. Thank you to everyone who has helped make our Scholars' success possible as we work together to .

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We're excited to announce our new Executive Director, Tamara McCallum! 💼✨

Tamara has spent the last two years transforming our college and career pathways as Director of Programs. As a seasoned educator with 15+ years of experience in non-profit management, her passion for equity, community building, and youth advocacy shines through everything she does.

👉Read Tamara’s statement on stepping into this new role and her vision for our scholars, and help us celebrate in the comments!