Abraham Coumbassa
Howard University (Washington, DC)

Abe is from Mattapan and a recent high school graduate from Boston Public Schools. This fall, Abe is going to Howard University where he plans to study finance. Abe has been involved with YES for over 10 years now, as a YES Kid participating in SnowSports and eventually a Leadership Corps member. Abe is a snowboarder and even got to teach some staff members how to snowboard this winter. Abe is amazing with kids and knows the program like the back of his hand. His favorite experience with YES has been building relationships with people he now considers his closest friends and doing so while being able to do/share what he loves with them. Outside of YES, Abe is involved in the BLS Step Squad and Gospel Choir. We will miss Abe so much, but we cannot wait to see what he accomplishes at Howard University!

Diana Tran
University of Massachusetts Amherst (Amherst, MA)

Diana is from Dorchester and a recent high school graduate from Boston Public Schools. In the fall, Diana will attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she will study economics. Diana was a part of Leadership Corps for all four years of high school. She also worked as an administrative intern during the school year and summer at YES and was an outdoor adventure leader one summer as well. Diana’s favorite part of YES has been strengthening the bonds with her friends and being able to connect with the youth through memories made on the slopes. Outside of YES, Diana is in concert choir, National Honors Society, and the president of the BSIE committee (a team dedicated to helping incoming 9th graders at BLS acclimate to the school). Diana has made such an impact on YES, and we will miss her greatly.

Favour Ndah
University of Massachusetts Amherst (Amherst, MA)

Favour is from Hype Park and a recent high school graduate from Boston Public Schools. In the Fall, Favour will be attending University of Massachusetts Amherst where she intends to study civil engineering and political science or government. Favour has been involved with YES, the past four years through participating in the Leadership Corps program. Favour recalls going on her first camping trip with YES, getting her first internship at Dana Farber through YES, and going on college tours with YES to campuses like Brown and Brandeis University. When looking back on her favorite experience with YES, Favour states that her “favorite opportunity was camping with YES. It was so awesome. I hiked up a large mountain with my friends, which took around 2-3 hours. I thought I wasn’t going to make it at one point, but my group members encouraged me to keep going. We got to chef up our own meals, set up our own camps, and at the end we visited a waterfall!” Outside of YES, Favour plays the Baritone Saxiphone, acts as Vice President of the BSIE Committee, and is Sunday school teacher at her church. Favour has a vivacious energy and has brought so much to YES. We will miss her dearly and wish her the best of luck as she goes to UMass.

Jack Sawyers
Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)

Jack is from Roslindale and a recent high school graduate from Boston Public Schools. In the fall, Jack will be attending Dartmouth College where he plans to major in Biological Sciences on the pre-med track. Jack has been involved with YES for 7 years, originally as a YES kid in YETTI which is where he first learned to ski and snowboard (both!!) and participated in the YES track program. In 9th, 11th and 12th grade Jack participated in the Winter Leadership Corps Program (and Spring LC in 11th!), as well as coached track during the summer following 9th grade. Jack recalls many favorite experiences from his time at YES, including all the ski trips he has gone on, as well as going to workshop/shop every week because of how he was able to connect and make friends with teens from other schools. Jack states “it was always very fun and something I looked forward to during the week.” Outside of YES, Jack plays soccer at BLS and is the president of the BLS Pre-Med Society. Jack also worked at a small shop in Roslindale during high school, as well as the Swan Boats. He had the opportunity to do research at the Broad Institute last summer. Jack likes music and is a part of his school band, where he plays the Bass Clarinet. We are so proud of Jack and can’t wait to see all the amazing this he accomplished in his time at Dartmouth College.

Seth Vallentine
DePaul University (Chicago, IL)

Seth is from Roslindale and a recent high school graduate from Boston Public Schools. In the fall, Seth will be attending DePaul University where he intends to major in Sports Business. He has been involved with YES since he was 6 years. Seth’s first involvement with YES was during operation SnowSports, where his love for skiing began. After being a YES kid, Seth became a member of the Leadership Corps as a senior. His favorite experience with YES has been navigating incoming skiers through the shop, helping them get their ski equipment, and creating relationships with them both on and off the slopes. Outside of YES, Seth plays soccer at BLS as the varsity goalkeeper and lifeguard. He loves to hang out with friends and do all sorts of recreational activities. We are so glad Seth was able to join us this year for Leadership Corps, and we wish him good luck as he starts his next chapter in Chicago next Fall.