Location: Boston

SquashBusters Alum Named Fulbright Scholar

SquashBusters alum Ben Osajie believes education is the great equalizer. A self-described “kid from humble beginnings,” who was just awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, Ben has seen firsthand just how it can change lives and open doors to opportunity.

A recent graduate of Connecticut College, where he double majored in Psychology and Sociology while playing on the varsity squash team all four years, Ben will be setting out to Thailand in the fall to teach English to primary or secondary school students. After his brother studied abroad in the country and told him about the inequities he saw as a public health researcher, Ben was inspired to learn about the educational systems there. It won’t be his first foray into international education. During his junior year, Ben studied in Perugia, Italy, where he also taught English to high school students.

Ultimately, Ben would like to work in the American education system and help design school curricula in a way that is more equitable to marginalized communities. “We’re the most prominent country in the world, but our education system doesn’t reflect that,” he says. “There are definitely things they do better in Europe, and I’d like to see how some of that could be implemented here.”

Ben credits SquashBusters with instilling in him a desire to make the world a better place. “When you’re doing community service on Saturdays, you don’t really think about what that means in a bigger sense,” he says. “But looking back, I realized it taught me that anything you can do to give back to your community is important.”

In college, he put those words into action as a mentor in the ALANA (African American, Latino/a, Asian American and Native American) Sisters and Brothers program, floor governor, and an active member of the schools LGBTQIA Center.

As a SquashBusters alum, he’s stayed closely connected to the program, working as a camp counselor at the Middle School Summer Slam and volunteering whenever he can. Before heading off on his Fulbright adventure, he’s spending the summer in Atlanta, where he has been working as an Operations Associate for Teach for America through the National Urban Squash and Education Association (NUSEA) Career Connections program. He’s excited to see the urban squash network grow as more and more programs continue to crop up, inspired by SquashBusters.

“The beautiful thing about SquashBusters is that it makes you whole – I owe everything to the program,” Ben says. “I still remember every staff member and all of the little things they would do for us, like walking us to the train station, because they cared so much about every student. I think about those things now, and I’m so thankful.”

#BetterMakeRoom for the SquashBusters class of 2017!

SquashBusters is so proud of most recent class of program graduates – 100% of whom are heading to college in the fall!

Each of these students has put in a great deal of hard work, dedicating themselves to this program over the course of some of the most important years of their lives. It is no surprise that they have grown into the accomplished young men and women they are today.

The SquashBusters class of 2017 will be heading to the following schools:

EDWARD ARIAS-DIAZ UMass Boston	MATTHEW NWAFORD Bridgewater State University
IFE ASERE UMass Amherst	PRINCESS OJUKWU Union College
JENNIFER FLORES Newbury College	DONALD PEPPLE Foundation Year at Northeastern University
BRENDA HERNANDEZ College of the Holy Cross	RAVI RAO Bryant University
RASHEED LABORDE Foundation Year at Northeastern University	TARA REED-SMITH UMass Boston
JENNIFER MBAH Mount Holyoke College	JOSE SOTO Framingham State University
GEORGE MONTERO Drexel University	KIRA TEJEDA Hobart and William Smith Colleges

SquashBusters asks a lot of its students each year, and senior year is no exception. Along with their mentors, SquashBusters staff, and their families, the class of 2017 spent countless hours putting their college applications in order – from editing their essays to filling out supplements to filing FAFSA and other financial aid forms. Collectively, the seniors received an astounding 79 acceptances and earned an incredible $1.25 million in financial aid.

Each year, SquashBusters makes a conscious effort to ensure that every student is able to access a high-quality college education that is also affordable for them and their families. On average, 80% of the class of 2017’s financial need was met through grants and scholarships, and as a result, they took out an average of $4,862 in loans – far less than the national average of $7,525.

“This class has worked incredibly hard this year – and all of the years they’ve been in this program – and they are heading off to some really great places,” said Mikhail Darlington, SquashBusters College and Alumni Success Manager. “They’ve overcome so much and we are excited to see what the future holds for all of them.”

Of course, their graduation from the program does not mean that they leave the SquashBusters family. The SquashBusters College and Alumni Success team stays in regular contact with each college-enrolled alum, to help them navigate the big transition to college life and take on any obstacles that may stand in their way.

Luckily, they have quite a few role models to look up to in that department. Thirteen SquashBusters alumni have graduated from college this spring:

FRANCISCO CALDERON Northeastern University	VANIA PEREIRA Providence College
WILLIAM FERNANDES Bentley University	PIEROL PEREZ-TORRES UMass Boston
DIEGO GONZALEZ MassBay Community College	AMY SANCHEZ Mount Holyoke College
JOEL GONZALEZ UMass Dartmouth	ZOE RUSSELL Bucknell University
BEN OSAJIE Connecticut College	BRIANNA VENUS Barnard College
DARWYN NUNEZ UMass Boston	STEVEN VO Bay State College
GLORIA NWAOHA Suffolk University

There is no shortage of big plans among this group – Ben’s Fulbright Scholarship is just one of the many exciting plans ahead. Just a sample: Darwyn is taking on a supervisor role at JetBlue, Zoe will be working as an assistant paralegal at Fragomen, an immigration business firm in Atlanta; Amy and Steven will be joining the SquashBusters staff as Middle School Academic Coordinator and Middle School Squash Coordinator, respectively, and Vania will be pursuing a Master’s degree in American Studies at Brown University.

 

SquashBusters Sets Down Roots in Providence

SquashBusters Providence is readying for takeoff. The facility is well into construction and is scheduled for a November opening. Housing 12 courts, 2 classrooms, office space and locker rooms, this will be one of the premier squash and education centers in all of New England. And of course, SQB Providence will have a free home for the next 100 years, allowing the program to change the lives of thousands of Providence kids.

It’s hard to capture how special this opportunity is for SQB. We are partnering with Moses Brown School, a school whose Quaker values of civic engagement, integrity and hard work, social justice and caring for others align closely with our own. Moses Brown will own and operate the facility at its expense, in return for a one-time large capital investment from SQB. Together, we will unite our students on the court, with academic learning and real-life service to the community.

Caitlin Barrett has just been named the site’s Executive Director. Caitlin comes to SQB with a decade of hands-on experience working with urban kids in sports-based youth development. Most recently, she spent eight years as National Director of Training with Up2Us Sports , and she has also occupied leadership positions at America SCORES and City Year. Caitlin shared her optimism about all that lies ahead, saying “I couldn’t be more excited about leading SQB Providence. As we approach the official kickoff, we are committed to building something that reflects all that makes Providence unique and that brings new resources and opportunity to kids, families, and the community as a whole.”

An important group of key backers is the SQB Providence Leadership Council. Led by Habib Gorgi, members include Julie Andrews, Perry Buroker, Vijay Chitnis, Mike Costello, Peter Gemma, Doug Jacobs, and Marshall Votta. The Council is helping SQB meet key stakeholders, community leaders and prospective supporters of the program.

This coming fall, we will partner with two Providence public middle schools and hire two mission-inspired staff to lead the year-round squash and academic program. Tryouts for SQB will be open to any 6th/7th grade student at our partner schools with the message that SQB is looking for young people defined by character, hard work and a willingness to treat every person with respect and appreciation. SQB Providence is expected to embark upon its life-changing adventure in early 2018 beginning with these 30 students and eventually growing to become a 100+ student 6th-12th grade program complete with high school and college counseling, college scholarship support, and an alumni association.

The SquashBusters story is one of community. We are excited to share with you our 2016-2017 Impact Report, so you can meet the students, alumni, volunteers and supporters who make the SquashBusters community a truly special one.

 

As the program reaches full enrollment in Lawrence, another SquashBusters chapter is just beginning in Providence. Meanwhile, in Boston, we’re continuing to make improvements to our programming with new initiatives like F.A.S.T. (Female Athletes Stick Together) and Parent Committees. In our 2016-2017 Impact Report, you’ll meet some very important members of the SquashBusters community, and see the program’s impact – and its growth – through their eyes.

Providence Students Join the SQB Family

On Saturday, February 10, 28 sixth graders from DelSesto Middle School joined the first-ever SquashBusters Providence team. This incredible group of students has now started their seven-year SquashBusters journey, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome them to our community.

It’s been a busy last few months in Providence, highlighted by the official dedication of the Gorgi Family Squash and Education Center on the campus of Moses Brown School. This happened on Saturday, December 9, with close to 250 people in attendance despite the wintry weather. It was a great celebration of the unique partnership between SquashBusters, Moses Brown, and the Nicol Squash Club, along with the deep investments made by the Gorgi family and so many other supporters.

Since its opening, the 19,000 square foot Gorgi Center has become a hub of community squash in the greater Providence area. In addition to our work at SquashBusters, the Moses Brown squash teams have tripled in size and Nicol Squash Club already has over 150 members, with more signing up every day. Moses Brown will host the New England regional tournament for the boys B level in late February and Nicol Squash Club will be the site of the Rhode Island Squash Finals in early April.

On the programming side of things, our relationship with our partner site, the 1,000-student DelSesto Middle School, continues to deepen. Principal Arzinia Gill and her team of teachers and administrators have smoothed our entry into the school community, and we are looking forward to working alongside them to promote the success of our students on and off the court. SquashBusters staff introduced the sport of squash to 330 students during visits to PE classes in November, and over 50 kids have visited the building over the course of the 10-week tryout process.

We have also seen a massive growth in volunteers for the program; between local community members, student-athletes from the Brown University squash teams, SquashBusters Boston alumni who are attending college in Providence, and Moses Brown students and teachers, we have built a strong base of academic tutors and squash coaches for our middle schoolers. We are also piloting a reading buddies program with 8th grade members of the Moses Brown Service Club.

The rest of the spring promises to be full of many more firsts: the team’s first competitive matches, college tours, team trips, and community service projects. We continue to build a base of support in Providence, led by our local Leadership Council, and we are grateful for all the support and love that we receive every day from the extended SquashBusters community. We hope you’ll come visit us in our new home!

SquashBusters and Posse: Partners in College Access and Success

For the third year in a row, a SquashBusters senior has been the recipient of a coveted Posse Foundation Scholarship. Yanjing Huang, (SQB Boston ’18) was recently selected for this incredible opportunity. She will be attending Bucknell University on a full scholarship in fall 2018.

The Posse selection process is a long and competitive one. SquashBusters nominates about ten students each year for the opportunity, and the nominated students must be invited to apply for the scholarship. Based on their applications, a number of students move on to participate in group interviews with other Boston Public School students, which, after several rounds, narrows the pool down to a “Posse” – a diverse group of 30-40 students who receive four-year, full-tuition scholarships to attend one of Posse’s partner colleges and universities. Each Posse is enrolled in the same school, and Posse scholars are available to provide support for each other and hold each other accountable.

“My Posse scholarship wouldn’t have been possible without SQB and the support I received from the staff,” said Yanjing. “To me, SQB is not only a place to learn and play squash but a place where I’ve learned how to improve myself and push myself to the limit – something I believe will help me no matter where I go.”

SQB alumni Alex Drumm and Princess Ojukwu are current Posse Scholars. Alex, who graduated in 2016, attends Denison University in Granville, OH; and Princess, a member of the class of 2017, attends Union College in Schenectady, NY. Past Scholars include Ronald German, who graduated from Hamilton College in 2013, Kadineyse Paz (née Ramiz), who graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 2014, and Zoe Russell, who graduated from Bucknell in 2017.

“A Posse scholarship is really a win-win,” said Mikhail Darlington, College and Alumni Success Manager for SquashBusters Boston. “It opens up the door to some really great schools that will challenge our students academically and prepare them for long-term success, without saddling them with significant debt.”

Yanjing has already started bonding with her Posse in pre-collegiate training, which includes workshops on cross-cultural communication, leadership and academic excellence. “It’s a very diverse group, and I have already learned a lot from them,” she said. Once school starts, she’ll also be connected to on-campus mentors and support staff, as well as internship and career development opportunities.

For Mikhail, Yanjing’s achievement was no surprise. “What’s really impressive about Yanjing is that she’s able to balance so many things that are important to her,” said Mikhail. “On top of being at SquashBusters 3-5 days per week, she’s incredibly dedicated to her schoolwork, and she’s very involved with her community in Chinatown. She really puts 100% into everything she does.”

The Posse Foundation has identified, recruited and trained 8,480 public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential to become Posse Scholars. Since 1989, these students – many of whom might have been overlooked by traditional college selection processes – have been receiving four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships from Posse’s partner institutions of higher education. Most important, Posse Scholars persist and graduate at a rate of 90% and make a visible difference on campus and throughout their professional careers.

Derby Captains Ready for A Tight Race

With the MashUp trophies handed out, our sights are now set on the 12^th running of the MFS SquashBusters Derby, slated for Friday and Saturday May 4 and 5. Each year, the unofficial start of Derby season kicks off with a Captains Dinner hosted by SQB Board Chair John Blasberg and his wife and Derby co-Chair Jeannie. As in the past, this year’s dinner brought captains together for food, planning, and spirited banter as players prepare to compete on the court and off in squash and in fundraising.

John and Jeannie, captains of Salubrious and Unbridled, respectively, were joined by captains of all eight Derby teams, including some new faces. Tucker Hamlin joins Jamie Fagan and Ming Tsai to lead True Blue. A recent college grad from Hamilton College, Tucker was a high school Derby standout, raising more than $25,000 in the two years that he played. Also new to the Captains table is 2-time Derby player and master fundraiser, Sam Kaplan, who joins Jeff Harper in taking the reins for Churchill Downey. Rounding out the leadership for all eight Derby teams are returning captains Kate Nimick (Unbridled), Charlie Humber, Jon Hyett and Amrit Kanwal (Wallbanger), Simone Winston (Salubrious), Greg Jannetta (Lucky Strike), Ralph James and Chessin Gertler (Eijk’s Knights), and George Bell and Sandy Tierney (Derby Worthy).

New developments for 2018 include the addition of a fourth doubles flight, growing each team by 2 players, and the revival of the pro/am flight, which brings 8 powerhouse doubles pros on board to round out the roster for each team. Team Salubrious has also made the strategic shift to fill each of its singles slots with junior players in an effort to unseat 9-time Derby champion team Wallbanger. Stay tuned to see if the strategy pays off!

With last year’s event raising a record $1.3M for SQB, we hope to hit that mark again in 2018. Several corporate sponsors have already signed on, including MFS Investment Management, Westfield Capital Management, Intercontinental Real Estate, William O’Neil + Co., State Street, Winston Flowers, and Ernst & Young, and we look forward to welcoming the 80 amateur players, 16 pros, 16 Junior Stakes players and 32 SquashBusters students who will take to the courts in support and celebration of SquashBusters.

Fundraising kicks off on March 1 with the launch of the event website. Start polishing that saddle and get out your finest Derby hat, and get ready to celebrate with SQB at the University Club of Boston on Friday, May 4 and at SquashBusters on Saturday, May 5.

SquashBusters Represents Boston at the World’s Largest Squash Tournament

The first weekend of February, SquashBusters Boston’s high school varsity team became the first team ever to represent Boston Public Schools at a national squash tournament.

Just two weeks after competing in another national competition, the Squash and Education Alliance’s Urban Team Nationals in New York City, sixteen SQB Boston students traveled to Philadelphia to compete in the 2018 HEAD U.S. High School Team Squash Championships, representing the district’s Men’s and Women’s varsity teams.

High school nationals is the worlds largest squash tournament, bringing together more than 1,300 junior players from 180 teams across the country. This is SquashBusters’ first year participating in the competition, which was made possible by an official sanction from the Boston Public Schools athletic department recognizing SquashBusters as a varsity high school team.

The Men’s team lost in the first round, succumbing in a close match to St. Christopher’s from Richmond, VA. The Women’s team won their first match over St. Andrew’s from Middletown, DE, losing in the second round to The Westminster School of Atlanta, GA.

“Having a team compete in high school nationals has been a SquashBusters dream since we expanded the program to high school students in 2003,” said Greg Zaff, SquashBusters Founder and CEO. “It’s incredibly exciting to see this dream come to reality, thanks to the leadership of our Boston squash staff and the determination and competitive drive of our students.”

To see the full results for the tournament, see the U.S. Squash website.