My name is Khadija Kulmiya. The Junior Frontiers have impacted my life in ways I never imagined. Through the Junior Frontiers, I have learned so much. They have shown me the importance of education and its value in one’s life. Over my time in high school and college, Junior Frontier helped me and served as a mentor. I had the privilege of being able to take advantage of some incredible opportunities because of Junior Frontiers, including working as a teacher assistant at the Citizenship Academy of Science and serving as a Youth Workforce Advisor for the

New York Department of Labor. I was able to determine what I wanted to do with my life with all of these options, and with the help of my mentor, Mr. Rasheed, I discovered what I wanted to do with my life. I found my passion and applied for my master's in Higher Education and leadership. I now attend my alma mater, the State University of New York at Oswego. Currently, I work with Residence Life and Housing as an assistant hall director. I can't thank Junior Frontiers enough for leading me and inspiring me in my career goals.

My name is Keisha Modi. Joining the Junior Frontiers was a pivotal decision that shaped my life in an influential way. I joined the Junior Frontiers at the end of my sophomore year, a time brimming with challenges and uncertainty for any international student. The Junior Frontiers became my guiding light. During that period, I was struggling to navigate the intricacies of college preparation as my junior year approached. The Junior Frontiers community embraced me with open arms and assured me they would do their best to help me achieve academic excellence if I was willing to work for it. 

Soon after enrolling, I participated in their SAT/ACT workshops. The mentors were always encouraging and willing to assist. The workshops helped instill discipline in me as I had to get up early in the morning to join the Zoom meetings. These SAT/ACT workshops not only helped me improve academically but also boosted my confidence and competence. The bi-weekly meetings the organization held offered a space to meet a community of peers with similar aspirations and challenges. The workshops and the meetings equipped me with a toolkit of public speaking, time management, and problem-solving. Skills I still use in my academic and professional career. 

The Junior Frontiers offered the unique opportunity to go on an Ivy League college tour. The Ivy League tour was a cornerstone of the organization's offerings; this transformative trip changed the trajectory of my academic journey. Among the array of colleges we toured, the last one stood out to me. We toured Mount Holyoke College, a women's college, which turned out to be an unexpected gem. I credit the Junior Frontiers for introducing me to an institution whose values and opportunities align seamlessly with my ambitions. 

The wisdom of the Junior Frontiers' mission statement to "step out and stand out" has echoed to me the importance of being bold and ambitious all while being tenacious about pursuing my dreams. Today, I stand as a testament to the powerful influence of this organization, and I am proud to be an alumna of the Junior Frontiers.

HBCU Tour 2026

My name is Leah Nicole Boykin, and I am currently a freshman at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. The Junior Frontiers program has had a tremendous role in shaping who I am today. Through the Frontiers, I have not only grown closer to my community and my culture, but I have found my own voice. I have learned the importance of “speaking up and speaking out”, and I have realized the importance of striving to be a leader in a world full of followers.  It is evident that the Junior Frontiers is a program that every student should participate in, and I am blessed enough to call myself an alumni. The Junior Frontiers aims to place youth on the road to success, and they have done a wonderful job. An old saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Well, a vital part of that village is the Junior Frontiers.

    My name is Aaron Woodman and I am currently a freshman at the University of Rochester. I have been a member of the Mohawk Valley Junior Frontiers since 2015, and as the 2018-19 student co-president of the Utica-Rome Chapter, I learned the importance of putting the organization's four pillars into action for myself. Attending college and moving into the next phase of my education, I have seen the pillars of academic excellence, professional development, civic service and self-esteem, continue to be important in my personal and academic growth. Through various activities and lectures, I was provided a foundation of information about what to expect when I began my transition from high school to college.

    As a 2018, Frontiers International, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., scholarship recipient, I continue to put the four pillars into action, and have begun to understand what Dr. King meant when he said, “Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education.”   

   As a serious learner, and valedictorian graduate from the Utica Academy of Science Charter School, I understand that academic excellence is achieved through hard work, commitment and sometimes asking for help. For these reasons, as a college student, I study, try to meet regularly during my professor’s office hours, and seek help from teacher assistants (TAs) when I have questions about a lesson or assignment. I also work hard to find balance in the things I need to do and what I want to do.

    As a Political Science major, I have involved myself in a few development opportunities to help me better understand my professional options. This included volunteering to be a juror for mock debates at the university, allowing me to observe how court cases are conducted, lawyers’ arguments are delivered, and how evidence is presented and reviewed to determine a verdict. Working as an election inspector, during the November 2019 elections, I was trained by Board of Election Fellows to assist voters at the polls, hand out ballots and explain voting technology. 

   The Frontier directors often encourage students to volunteer and to remember to give back. I continue to use some of my free time for civic service, as I recently did for the Ronald McDonald House of Charities store. Working as a cashier and packing bags for customers, the store is a fundraiser to support programs that help improve the health and well-being of children and families.

   Being able to begin stepping out of my comfort areas and try new things was encouraged by the Frontier directors with their motto “stand up and stand out.'' I am extremely thankful for all of the opportunities the Junior Frontiers have given to me, and the support and encouragement the directors continue to give me. The Junior Frontiers mean so much to me, and the things I have learned, places I have visited and people I have met as a Frontier, continue to have a positive impact on me.   

   My name is Ensonti Wigginson. I first joined Junior Frontiers in September 2019 oblivious to the impact that it would later have on my life. Since being a part of the program, I experienced growth academically, intellectually and overall personal growth. With supportive mentors and leaders, I was able to map out a plan to accomplish any set goals. Whenever I endured a tough time, Junior Frontiers always lent a helping hand all while simultaneously giving me advice to grow from the experience. I joined as a senior in high school and although it was late in my high school career, it was at the perfect moment to receive guidance for the next chapter in my life. I am grateful for the resources provided through both Junior Frontiers and 100 Black Men of Syracuse. I attended SAT Preparatory Classes at Syracuse University to succeed in the scholarship and admission processes. Junior Frontiers challenges all admitted students to grow. Each meeting I completed essays and public speaking tasks which contributed towards professional development. In addition to these challenges, Junior Frontiers granted me the opportunity to attend both the Ivy League College Tour and HBCU Tours. Thanks to the Junior Frontiers, I graduated high school in June of 2019 with high honors and a fully funded scholarship to Benedict College.                                                                                  Being an alumnus has not changed much of my academic life especially with the impact Junior Frontiers has on me. I’ve made sure to actively stand up and stand out which is what Junior Frontiers means to me. As a current freshman in college, I am an honors student maintaining a 3.6 G.P.A. Junior Frontiers instilled civic service within its program. Therefore, I am involved in my community with volunteer work and community service as well as extracurricular activities. Junior Frontier is more than a program but rather a family. I never get out of touch with the members, alumni or staff. They keep me motivated to push hard in school to provide a better life for myself and my family.

    I am a proud alumnus of Junior Frontier who is passionate and faithful to the organization. I’ve met influential Junior Frontier alumni and phenomenal mentors who inspire me to follow the road of success. I believe with all my heart that my place is to follow this road. Junior Frontiers of Mohawk Valley shaped me into the resilient young woman that I am today. I am able to forge myself into a person who has the compassion, the desire, the love, the dedication and the capacity to survive, no, thrive during the trials and tribulations of college and the rigors beyond. 

My Name is Yasin Kulmiya, Coming to the United States as a refugee from Kenya with no educational experience I was forced to register into a public school that did not show me the value of education. Throughout my elementary until my freshman of high school I had no understanding the value of education. All I knew was my native language and few other languages and a broken English.  I remember the month December, I started participating in football and that same month I was introduced to the Junior Frontiers by a friend. When you ask me what does Junior Frontiers means to you? I can tell you it means everything to me. Junior Frontiers in my family and they challenged me academically, intellectually and more important my personal growth.  

  Junior Frontiers playing a huge part on my academic achievements in College. Every member I know experience is different some students excel in academic, others intellectually but for me is more of a personal growth. In high school I was more exited to just graduate than to take education serious. Junior Frontiers seen I was struggling with multiple areas and they were not afraid to tell me the truth. Most of my experience in public school, teachers would lie to encourage students and yes for some students it worked but I was one of those students that didn’t work for it. After I graduated high school with 2.9 GPA and offers for football on the table. I agreed to attend Tougaloo College even though they did not have football program. Junior Frontiers trusted and believed Tougaloo College is the place that will give me the confidence I need to be successful. It took me a semester to realize that education is my way out. After meeting amazing international students and lifelong friends I was motivated to excel in school. That next semester I did. I felt I can do more and I was confidence that I wanted to transfer school to play football and excel in my academic. I did that year and transferred to Benedict College in South Carolina. My first year there I did really well earned 3.3 GPA. Ever since that I never looked back. Last semester I earned 3.5 GPA.  

  Junior Frontiers means more to me then football. I love every members and alumni and I can only wish ever refugee experience this program. Junior Frontiers made me fall in love with HBCU. I am honored to be alumni for Junior Frontiers. I will always help anyways the program needs me. Now having control of my personal growth, I seek to educate myself. I enjoy reading books and being informed about the world. Junior Frontiers didn’t give me everything, but I can promise you I would not come this far without the program.  

    My name is Timere Lanterman and I was in the Junior Frontiers Program for 5 years. Throughout those years in the program, I was Secretary, Vice-President, and President of the Junior Frontiers Syracuse Chapter. I am grateful for the opportunities that have I have been offered and how much knowledge I have gained and have been using in my daily life in college. I’ve learned so much about my culture, things that I wouldn’t have learned in school, I have further developed my writing and public speaking skills through being one of the presidents of the program and writing essays. When speaking in front of groups and crowds of people it is natural for me to engage with the audience, make eye contact every once in a while, and speak up through years of practice with the frontiers I was told to “ stand up and speak out” if I want to be heard and taken serious. Without the Junior Frontiers I wouldn’t have known that HBCU’s exist, let alone being able to visit them annually. I have been going on the Historically Black College University tours since the 9th grade gaining the experience of knowing what colleges have to offer, what I could do to make sure I get into college, and finding out if the colleges were the right fit for me. I was extremely thankful to get accepted into the 13 colleges I visited my senior year of high school and receive 2 full rides, which is everything paid for, one into Benedict College with the Founder Scholarship and the other into St. Augustine’s. 

   The Junior Frontier Program has prepared me for greatness academically and intellectually throughout  every meeting. I was reminded that I had a large support system and I had and still have a lot of role models who I could ask for help. In school, I always strived to ask more questions in class and engage in learning subjects which helped my grades excel. I was also more engaged in the Junior Frontier program, participating in volunteer and fundraising activities offered to me. I cannot stress enough how much being in the program improved my personal growth. When I first began the program, I barely spoke two words but after some time I was always standing up speaking to other members in the program more and writing essays was an outlet for me to speak because I became a stronger writer and speaker. This program has taught me how to dress up for interviews, how to network and get to know people and how to speak in front of audiences of any kind . My confidence has definitely been boosted 100 percent and I am not afraid of what others think of me. I will take what I’ve been taught in this program as far as I go because I know what this program can do for students of color. Through the Junior Frontiers I was able to learn more about myself whether it be strengths or weaknesses and become a positive role model for everyone I am surrounded by. The Junior Frontiers has become a second family to me from meeting other members in other chapters to connecting with members from mine. This program definitely will help students to be successful and if you stick with it you will be. 

    I would like to thank everyone in the Junior Frontier Program who helped me get to where I am, chaperones on the college tours and at the meetings. I would like to thank Judge Rasheed, Ms. Elliot, Dr. Benson-Reid  and the late Ms. Flanagan for being such role models in my life and helping me to strive for greatness. Dr. Benson-Reid inspired me when I heard her story because she is very goal-oriented and hard-working and believed she could be successful and I believe the same in myself. Judge Rasheed and Ms. Elliot dedicate their time in educating young minds in how powerful they can be if they set goals, get their education,  and take the SAT’s, especially the SAT’s. There are countless scholarships you can receive with having high scores on the SAT’s. Being in the program I was rewarded easy money by just being able to write essays, answer questions, and handing in my report cards. Words cannot express how thankful and appreciative I am for these individuals who inspired me because I know they truly care about me and my future and through this program I’ve gained more self-confidence, developed my academics, character, and had the opportunity to further my education.

My name is Sharifay Mohammed, and I am a proud member of the Junior Frontiers of the

Mohawk Valley. I first joined the Junior Frontiers in high school, and the program has since been the

foundation for my current successes and future endeavors. Like most adolescents, I was trying to figure

out my academic goals and seeking colleges to attend. I had bright aspirations but did not know how to

put them into effect. As the product of a single mother and a Somali-Bantu refugee, it was the diverse

identities that drew me to the program because I saw much of myself in every member. The program

taught me the value of leadership and community building throughout the Mohawk Valley. The Junior

Frontiers connected me to SAT prep classes, OnPoint, C-Step, and HBCU tours, which helped prepare me

for higher education at Herkimer County Community College and beyond.

Throughout my two years at Herkimer College, I maintained exceptional grades and upheld leadership positions. As vice president of the Peer Tutor club, I facilitated student learning initiatives to promote writing comprehension and student success. As a student ambassador, I was the resource for new and potential students and their families. The following summer, I interned at the Community Foundation and worked closely with the Lead-Free Coalition to design social impact strategies and learn advanced project management skills. My work at Legal Services helped to educate inner-city families about lead poisoning. As an honors scholar, I conducted in-depth research on sexuality, race, and environmental health hazards, which attributes to my graduating with honors. I am now a junior at Le Moyne College, where I currently major in English Literature with a minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.

Being a member of the Junior Frontiers is not just a privilege but a responsibility. As we know, it takes a village to raise a child, and we are the blueprint for future generations. Our actions, whether big or small, should always have a positive impact on the broader community. Although I am uncertain about what I want to do with my life, I want to become a figure worth following. I am most proud of the woman I have become, despite the odds I encounter as a Black Muslim woman. I look forward to getting my Bachelor's degree, breaking cultural barriers and bringing changes I want to see in the world.

David Jordon Freshman at Hamilton College. The Junior Frontiers have been a fundamental pillar in my development as a scholar and as an individual. The Junior Frontiers are like a second family for me where I feel accepted and, know that for a few hours every other week people were actively working on improving my life. The program became a motivator for me because I saw other adults invest themselves in my future and I felt like I could not let them down. Beyond just academics, Junior Frontier has shaped my attitude and approach at the world. They teach the skills necessary to thrive in any setting. Because of the junior frontiers I feel confident leading, taking actions, and asking for support when I need it. The Junior Frontiers has helped me become the thriving young man I am today.

My name is Nakiesha Newton and I am a Sophomore at Tuskegee University in Tuskegee Alabama. My major is history in hopes of one day becoming a corporate lawyer. Without the Jr. Frontiers of Mohawk Valley I would have never ended up at Tuskegee. Both of my older siblings were also apart of the organization. My senior year of high school I decided to go on the annual Historical Black College Tour. I never pictured myself going to an HBCU until on the trip. Once we got to the college fair I found myself applying to colleges that I could never see myself attending. The first college I got into on the trip was Wilberforce and after that my confidence was through the roof and I kept going. When we got to Tuskegee I fell in love with the college instantly. I just know I had to go through. I did not apply to Tuskegee before the trip. When I got there I applied on site and was accepted  on site. Without the help of the Jr. Frontiers I would have never had the opportunity of seeing what young successful African Americans are doing outside of Utica. The Jr. Frontiers of Mohawk Valley have influenced my life greatly and I will forever be thankful. Thank you so much to all the adults and leaders in the program because each and every one of you had a hand in helping me with my future. Thank you.