Gift Ties Reward Success Of At-Risk Teens -- Business Group Honors 81 Young Men
Armed with a new pair of business shoes and a necktie each, 81 young men took a big step toward the door of opportunity yesterday as honorees at the fifth annual Tie One On luncheon.
The luncheon, at the Four Seasons Olympic Hotel, is seen as a rite of passage for young men who have managed to steer clear of drugs, gangs and other obstacles as they strive for a high-school diploma.
About 200 business leaders attended the luncheon, at which the honored guests received business shoes and neckties, which come in handy on job searches.
Many of the business leaders also will become mentors for the students.
All of the honorees have taken part in the Project Mister Program, which pairs at-risk male high-school students with volunteer advisers who give the students career, academic and personal counseling. The program is sponsored by Medina Children's Services.
The luncheon was put on by the Breakfast Group, an organization of about 150 African-American businessmen dedicated to economic development in the Central Area and Rainier Valley.
This year's Tie One On participants, by school, were:
-- Marshall Alternative High School: Carlos Arellano, Kongo Bamanayi, Anthony Bediones, Leon Bell, Bacardi Black, Usef Brown, Imani Dinish, Robert Fleeks, Joe Floberg, Ivan Galvez, Bryson Hill, Robert Lexing, Jabir Muied, Nyerere Partee, Damon Smith, Jason Smith, Amir Taherazer, Michael Walker, Gebre Zegergis, Mussie Zeray, James Harrison, and Lovell Davis.
-- Sharples Alternative High School: Oscar Freeman, Roy Herring, Montique Jenkins, Breard Jones, Bywama Khammaninon, Will Lec, Kenneth Madden, Niel Mued, Robert Niles, Randy Pickering, Shawn Pimpleton and Terry Tracey.
-- Middle College High School: James Anderson, Miguel Bocanegra, Frankie Cheristave, Wilbert Guyton, Jeffrey Herrandez, Ruganzu Howard, Chike Huey-Ray, Hassan Isaq, Omaro Jones, Ahmed King, Tam Le, Jamala Myers, William Paster, Zeb Smith-Jackson, T.J. Summerlin, Mekebe Tefera, Lamar Thomas, Gene Ryan Valdez, Jesus Velazquez, Jesus Vidrio, Lamont Watson, Maurice Williams and Yi Zheng.
-- Lincoln High School (Tacoma): Lonnie Alamond, Calvin Bell, Julius Brown, Madre Combs, Craig Creighton, Zach Curtis, Tacoma Elmore, Brian Felagai, Willie Gilmore, Kori Gray, Kenny Green, Robert Lee Griffin, David Henderson, Anthony Herndon, Tony Howard, Leon Johnson, Tracy King, Verdell Malo, Vaughn Mister, Abram Potts, Pala Soeung, Jeremy Wallacel, Anthony White and Andre Young.