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Opportunity for the Future: Danae, Advantage Lancaster Student

Jonathan Ober • January 3, 2017

As a sixth grader at Edward Hand Middle School here in Lancaster County, Danae joined Advantage Lancaster, a non-profit mentoring program that extends learning opportunities for Lancaster County students throughout the school year and into the summer.

Quickly, Danae became very involved in the program by participating in community service projects, after-school tutoring, field trips, and—eventually—college visits. Over the next six years, Danae learned lessons which she still holds close to her today. She says, “Being involved in my community, putting my education first, and being and doing the best I can have had the most impact on my life, especially now during my senior year.”

As a senior in high school, Danae appreciates everything that Advantage Lancaster has given her, explaining, “Advantage Lancaster has opened my eyes to the many opportunities that are out there for me.”. From exposure, to a variety of colleges, to summer courses, Advantage Lancaster has provided Danae with the tools to prepare for her future.

Today, Danae has been accepted into Lincoln University on a full academic scholarship. She will study biology over the next four years in hopes of becoming a Physical Therapist. Advantage Lancaster gave Danae the opportunity to write her own narrative of academic excellence, perseverance, and accomplishment.

Although Danae is moving onto a new chapter in her life next fall, she will always remember the lessons Advantage Lancaster has taught her. She says, “If it wasn’t for Advantage Lancaster I wouldn’t have had as much guidance and support, not only in school, but also in life.”

Advantage Lancaster strives to prepare students for higher education and ultimately a future career through various opportunities. Our “Just A Kid” Campaign is designed to recognize past and present Advantage Lancaster students and their successes. Help us provide opportunities for students like Danae by getting involved!

For more information, or to purchase our “Just A Kid” t-shirt , please visit exitlancaster.staging.wpengine.com .

A Deep Dive into Athletic Careers: The Athletics Panel Discussion at Princeton

By Shayne Meadows • July 17, 2024
On Tuesday, July 9th, Advantage Lancaster students embarked on a memorable journey to Princeton University for the Tigers Together Journey to Athletics. This special visit offered a unique opportunity for students to explore potential career paths in the world of collegiate athletics and engage in a day full of insightful experiences. From a thought-provoking Athletics Panel discussion to a delightful lunch at the Princeton Football Stadium, and an inspiring tour of the Carl A. Fields Center for Equality + Cultural Understanding, the day was packed with enriching conversations designed to broaden students’ perspectives and ignite their passions.

Edward Hand Middle school WGAL8 report on Lion King Jr.

By Jonathan Ober • June 14, 2019
For the first time in 20 years, Edward Hand Middle School will be putting on a school play. WGAL News 8’s, Anne Shannon, reports on the upcoming play and the excitement ahead of the show. Read more on WGAL 8

Color of STEM

By Jonathan Ober • February 14, 2019
The purpose of this magazine was to recognize women of color that chose STEM-related fields to pursue as a career. All the women in the book went through the Advantage Lancaster program, except for Jenn Meadows who is the high school coordinator of the Advantage Lancaster Program. Check it out! Download The Color of STEM

Spotlight: 6th-grade teacher Shayne Meadows gives students a summer advantage

By Jonathan Ober • October 3, 2018
Twenty-three years ago, a friendship blossomed in Lancaster County that would change the community for the better. Working as a summer camp counselor for the Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster, Philadelphia-native Shayne Meadows met fellow counselor Ty Bair. The two shared the same mindset when it came to serving children. As Meadows put it, […]

At inner-city Hand Middle School, a nonprofit puts student reporters, anchors on TV

By Jonathan Ober • October 19, 2017
Settling in front of a video camera before co-anchoring the morning news at Hand Middle School on South Ann Street, Nasiyah Albright, 13, fretted that her hair was a mess. (It was fine.) Meanwhile, Omayra Pagan, 13, agreed to operate the teleprompter because classmate Heavynn Rodriguez, who normally runs the script-displaying device, was at band […]

USTA Foundation, founded by Lancaster’s Judy Levering, won ESPY award for pairing tennis with education for inner-city youth

By Jonathan Ober • September 1, 2017
As a former president of the U.S. Tennis Association, Lancaster’s Judy Levering is accustomed to flying to London every July to see the finals at Wimbledon. This year she took a detour. On July 11, she and her husband, Gordon, were in Los Angeles for the ESPYs — ESPN’s annual awards show. Levering, 78, serves […]

Internship Opportunities for Advantage Lancaster Students

By Jonathan Ober • August 3, 2017
Advantage Lancaster’s purpose is to create a “winning life plan” for all of its students. With its five fundamental principles; educational opportunity, community involvement, appreciation of the arts, wellness and career exploration, the program is able to provide students with the tools they need to succeed after graduation. Often times, students who seek a professional position […]

Lancaster nonprofit Advantage Lancaster helps kids avoid ‘summer slide’

By Jonathan Ober • July 25, 2017
Growing up, Milenny Valentin was no stranger to trouble — particularly at school. A fractured relationship with her mother, she said, led the 15-year-old to act out in school for much of her childhood. In seventh grade, she reached her boiling point, as she hit one of her teachers and got kicked out for a […]

No Summer Slide for Advantage Lancaster Students

By Jonathan Ober • July 10, 2017
Summer, for most students is a time to unwind and forget the academic stresses of the school year. During the summer many forget what they’ve learned during the school year, and all their hard work slips away. This is also known as the summer slide. As described by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development […]

Exit Lancaster changes name to Advantage Lancaster

By Jonathan Ober • May 12, 2017
A Lancaster-based nonprofit formerly known has Exit Lancaster has changed its name to Advantage Lancaster. “Since 2002, our program has worked diligently to support youth within the local community. The name change better reflects our core mission to equip our students with the necessary skills to succeed beyond intermediate school,” said co-founder Shayne Meadows. “Together, […]
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