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Stay Connected to Reach

Graduation from Reach is not the end of the Reach experience. We are committed to building a strong and connected alumni community where graduates can reconnect, develop new friendships, mentor younger scholars, support one another, and remain engaged with Reach for years to come.

Through alumni gatherings, mentorship opportunities, regular communications, and opportunities to give back, we hope to strengthen connections across Reach cohorts and create a lifelong network of Reach scholars.

In 2026, Reach organized three alumni gatherings: a Pickleball Tournament, the 25th Anniversary Alumni Brunch, and a Holiday Celebration Breakfast in December. These gatherings provide opportunities for alumni from different generations of Reach to reconnect with one another and with the organization.

Reach also publishes a quarterly Alumni Newsletter to share alumni news, accomplishments, opportunities, upcoming events, and ways to stay involved.

Celebrating Our Alumni Community

As Reach’s alumni community continues to grow, we are creating new traditions to recognize alumni, educators, partners, and friends whose service, leadership, and accomplishments reflect the spirit and impact of Reach for Excellence.

25 YEARS OF REACH: ALUMNI BRUNCH

Wolly Mendez (Cohort 2005 C) and Derrick Lewis (Cohort 2010 H) delivered the 2026 Alumni Address, connecting Reach’s history with a new generation of scholars.

Immediately following the 2026 Graduation Ceremony, alumni from early cohorts returned to celebrate 25 years of Reach for Excellence alongside this year’s graduates.

As part of the celebration, Reach introduced Alumni Awards recognizing individuals and partners whose leadership, service, and commitment have made a meaningful impact on the Reach community.

• Friend of the Year Award — DeKalb PATH Academy, accepted by Cynthia Juarez-Duran
• Alumni Service Award — Matthew Weldegaber
• Outstanding Alumni Award — Wolly Mendez
• Legacy Impact Awards — Andrew Quinn, a longtime Reach teacher who is now retired, and Dr. Isaac Gitonga, who has been a Reach instructor throughout the program’s 25-year history.

Stay Connected With Reach