Highlights from the 2012 Breaking Through Ceremony

Over 500 people were in attendance at our 2012 Breaking Through Ceremony. Families, corporate mentors, and school and community leaders gathered on Tuesday, October 2 at the McNamara Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota campus to recognize the achievements and hard work of our latest class of Genesys Works Young Professionals. Led by our Young Professionals, the ceremony featured four student speakersnwho shared their breaking through stories of transformation and success. Community members and organizations were acknowledged with ACHIEVER Awards for their ongoing support for Genesys Works. Also, 153 Young Professionals were recognized and presented with business cards as they embark on their journeys towards professional success. Below are some highlights from the Ceremony.

A shot of the crowd inside the McNamara Alumni Center.

Founder and CEO Rafael Alvarez, right, joined us from Houston to congratulate students and presented them with business cards.

Young Professional Frank Rypa, one of many student speakers in the Ceremony, is pictured presenting an ACHIEVER Award.

Young Professionals enjoyed a slideshow recap of their summer training.

One of four breaking though speakers, Hannan Farah, right, posed with peers before the Ceremony began.

Alia Manraj, center, is congratulated by her mother and Program Coordinator Joel Crandall after giving her breaking through speech.

Breaking through speaker Natasha Moore arrived with a team of supporters from her workplace, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. She is pictured with Senior Recruiter Ken Dobson.

Final breaking through speaker, Najee Kennedy, shared a moment with his mother and Genesys Works Executive Director Jeff Tollefson.

Young Professional Niat Tesfai, second from left, enjoyed some refreshments with her family after the Ceremony.

Supervisors from 3M arrived together to support their seven Genesys Works interns.

The Ceremony, our most well-attended event to date, was made possible through the support of many. We want to especially thank AT&T for sponsoring this year's Breaking Through Ceremony, along with the many financial supporters and the 41 corporate supporters that provide the professional development opportunities for our students.