First class at Austin Business and Entrepreneurship Academy will soon graduate

It’s been a long and often bumpy road, but for the first graduating class of Austin Business and Entrepreneurship Academy, it’s been worth the four-year wait.

On Friday, the Austin school celebrated its first graduating class with a senior luncheon at the Chicago Marriott. The crowd of students, parents and guests was full of smiles as the seniors were honored for their hard work and achievement.

Principal Karen Washington said 114 out of the 116 seniors will graduate, and of those students, 94 will attend colleges across the nation, including Marquette University, University of Iowa, Florida State University and Northern Illinois University.

Seniors at Austin Business and Entrepreneurship Academy celebrate at a special lunch held in downtown Chicago May 21. (Photo/Kelsey Duckett)

The students came in as freshman in 2006, when the school opened, and were young, immature and had a long way to go and a lot of growing up to do, Washington said.

“The transformation didn’t happen overnight; it has been a long, and for some students very difficult road,” she said. “But we banned together, and the students learned to believe in themselves and their capabilities in the classroom. It’s rewarding to see them graduate as young men and women.”

Senior Bianca Taylor will attend the University of Iowa. (Photo/Kelsey Duckett)

Bianca Taylor, 18, is just one of the school’s success stories. Growing up on the far South side, Taylor woke early to travel the nearly two hours to get to school. With a mother in and out of jail and a father she’s never met, Taylor said this is a big accomplishment and one she’s proud of.

Taylor will be attending the University of Iowa, where her sister is a sophomore. She said considering what she had to go through to get that acceptance letter, this is one of the happiest days of her life.

“A lot of people discouraged me and told me I would never make it out,” she said. “Today I proved all of them wrong. I proved I am a strong person and I can make it – all it took was someone like Dr. Washington to believe in me and push me to succeed, and for that I am forever grateful.”

Rev. Lewis Flowers, president of Westside Ministers Coalition, and one of the academy’s founders along with American Quality Education, which operates the school, said he is proud to see the success the school is having and will be “all-smiles” at the June 14 graduation.

“This is a good program for the Austin neighborhood and thus far been successful,” he said. “I look forward to seeing more community participation. I don’t feel like we’ve done all of it that needs to be done. But it’s a good start, and we’ll get there.”

The academy’s program is demanding, requiring students to take 26 credits, which is two more than required by Chicago Public Schools. The students must also take a minimum of one business class each semester.

“We abide by the same rules as the state,” Washington said. “But we require additional credits and a business class, which works toward our goal of students graduating with the capability of starting their own business, hopefully in the Austin community.”

James Brown, 17, who will attend Northern Illinois University and be the first in his family to attend college, said it’s an exciting time for both himself and his family.

“I am so grateful for this experience,” he said. “We are the first graduating class. We are the class of 2010, and that means a lot to us; we take pride in the fact that we made it and we set the bar high for future classes.”

The first graduating class at Austin Business and Entrepreneurship Academy will graduate next month. (Photo/Kelsey Duckett)

Brown, along with other students, give a lot of credit to Washington, who they said is the reason for the school’s success.

“Dr. Washington has been there for us from Day 1. She never lost faith and always believed in each of us,” he said. “She pushes us, she requires a lot, and she rewards us when we hit the mark.”

Washington, in her first administrative position at the high school level, said her four years at the school have been very rewarding.

“It has been an experience I will never forget,” she said. “I saw them come in as children, and now they are prospering young men and women with so many opportunities ahead of them.”

Washington, who travels from the south suburbs each day, will be leaving after the school year but promised the seniors she would stick with them and see them through to graduation.

Robert McKinney, 18, who will attend Northern Illinois University next fall for business management, said this day is about the work the students, the faculty and the community have put in to make the program a success.

“This isn’t just about us, this is about all the students and teachers,” he said. “I will be the first in my family to go on to college, and that rings true with most of us, but this wouldn’t be possible without this great experience. I am proud to be a graduate of ABEA, and I’ll never forget the doors that this school has opened for me.”

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