Local Athletes Laud 'Destination: College' at 10th-Anniversary Celebration
By Irena Choi Stern
Jun. 15, 2016: It was only ten years ago that Kortney Parker was cut from the Mount Vernon basketball team because of poor grades. With grit and determination, he raised his academic profile, made the varsity team his senior year, and, with the help of Destination: College, he was accepted to Mercy College. Today, Parker, 27, is a third-year nursing student at Dominican College.
"Destination: College helped me prepare my resume and college applications," Parker said. "I went to Mercy College on a partial basketball scholarship and worked to fund the rest of my studies. I learned the value of work and academics early on from my experiences on that Mount Vernon basketball team, which included working as an intern for Destination: College."
His was one of many moving alumni stories shared at the tenth-anniversary celebration of Destination: College on June 7 at the Bronxville Field Club. Destination: College provides support through academic enrichment, Regents tutoring, Bespoke Education-sponsored SAT and ACT classes, assistance with the college application and financial aid process, and team-based athletic training.
The more than 170 guests included student athletes and coaches, the principals of Woodlands and Mount Vernon High Schools, and the Hon. Janet Di Fiore (chief justice of the New York State Court of Appeals and Mount Vernon High School alumna), Susan Brownbill-Vega (Westchester County Assistant District Attorney), Hon. Mary Marvin (mayor of the Village of Bronxville), and Hon. Richard Thomas (mayor of the City of Mount Vernon).
Board chair Nancy McKenna began the evening by describing the organization's humble beginnings. Destination: College was launched ten years ago by a small group of dedicated volunteers who initiated a reading program for the Mount Vernon High School boys' basketball team.
"Today, Destination: College has over 50 volunteers working in 8 programs at three high schools in our county, serving approximately 150 students each year," McKenna said.
This year, 34 graduating seniors have been accepted to over 65 colleges, participants have an 85 percent pass rate for targeted Regents Exam tutoring, and 46 sophomore and junior athletes participate in the ACT prep course, with all students taking at least one college entrance exam, according to executive director Suzanne McCann.
During the evening, Destination: College awarded scholarships to 15 student-athletes, including Thomas Creegan, a Woodlands High School football player, who was accepted early decision to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business as a Benjamin Franklin Scholar. Destination: College had also provided Parker with a partial scholarship to attend Mercy College, where he discovered his life's calling.
"I've always been extremely interested in the human body and good at science," Parker said. "This led me to believe that a career in nursing would suit me well. After taking numerous tests, I was accepted at Dominican College. I have been paying for this education while working several jobs. I would not be where I am today without the support of Destination: College."
For more information about Destination: College and its programs, please contact Executive Director Suzanne McCann at
Pictured here: Destination: College athletes.
Photo by Rick Rugani
