Pace Center for Girls, Lee recently celebrated the graduation of eight Pace students with a special ceremony at Broadway Palm in Fort Myers.
Surrounded by their families, friends, staff and fellow Pace girls, graduates Dallise C., Madison C., Alicia F., Destiny F., Alexis G., Ciera P., Piper S. and Ava T. were honored during a graduation ceremony on June 2. Priority Marketing President and Chief Creative Officer Teri Hansen delivered the commencement address with special messages to each graduate before girls took the stage to receive a diploma and gift, followed by a tassel ceremony.
The ceremony is a milestone achievement for the Pace girls, who have defied the odds to overcome various personal and academic trials in order to complete their education and graduate. Members of the Class of 2022 are now ready to take on the world with dreams of higher education and future careers in medicine, cosmetology and beyond.
“This year, we were thrilled to celebrate this huge accomplishment for our largest graduating class of eight Pace girls,” said Jennifer Cellitti, executive director of Pace Center for Girls, Lee. “Watching these eight young women overcome so many challenges and graduate makes everybody at our center incredibly proud. It’s a testament to what we do at Pace, and we feel so privileged to be a part of their journey.”
Pace Lee provides girls and young women ages 11 to 18 an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. Programs are based on the belief that all girls and young women, regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, should be uniquely cared for, supported and encouraged to become the best versions of themselves through a path of healing and recovery.
Since its inception 15 years ago, Pace Lee has helped more than 1,000 at-promise girls and young women in Lee County find the path to success. After leaving Pace, 100% of students improved their academic performance, 96% had no involvement with the juvenile justice system within one year of exiting the program and 89% were either in school or gainfully employed.
To learn more about Pace Lee and its programs, please visit www.pacecenter.org/locations/lee or call 239-425-2366.
About Pace Center for Girls, Lee
Pace Center for Girls, Lee, envisions a world where all girls and young women have power, in a just and equitable society. Founded in 1985, Pace provides free year-round middle and high school academics, case management, counseling, and life skills development in a safe and supportive environment that recognizes and deals with past trauma and builds upon girls’ individual strengths. Dedicated to meeting the social, emotional, and education needs of girls, Pace has a successful and proven program model that has changed the life trajectory of more than 40,000 girls and is recognized as one of the nation’s leading advocates for girls in need. For more information on Pace Center for Girls, Lee, call 239-425-2366 or visit www.pacecenter.org/locations/lee.
