The Statewide Focus Publication Final | Seite 12

Co-Pastor Nina Cooper Albuquerque Joyce Pollard Selmus Price Clovis Clovis Wanda Perry Albuquerque Recipients not pictured Rev. Deborah Hill Albuquerque Wanda Bell Hobbs Bernidda Smith-Payne Artesia Helen Houston accepting for Will Hawkins Hobbs Congratulations “Rites of Passage 2017” From Joycelyn Pegues Jackson BSU Program Director The “Rites of Passage Ceremony” began in the Black Student Unions  and became District -Wide in Albuquerque Public Schools in 2002, and has continued to the present year 2017.   The ceremony is a way of recognizing those graduates that are leaving adolescents www.oaaa.state.nm.us and moving on to adulthood.    This year there were 35 graduates that met all the required guidelines. Our graduates over the years have attended and graduated from UNM, NMSU, ENMU, Arizona State, Morehouse University, Georgetown University, and many more.  It has been a blessing that our past school superintendents, and the current (Raquel Reedy), and many high school principals have continued to support the BSU’s over the years. BSU’s are active in 8 APS high schools in the district. (Albuquerque High, Del Norte, Sandia, Highland, Manzano, Volcano Vista, Atrisco Heritage Academy and CNM College & Career High School). A huge thank you to the BSU sponsors. 12