Congratulations to all of our amazing graduates!

Caroline Adegun, George Washington University • André Adeyemi, Wabash College • Hamid Akinfolarin, University of Rhode Island • Gerina Auguste, Guilford College • Marlyn Batista, Northeastern University • Nicole Beasley, Delaware State University • Alvaro Beltrán, Connecticut College • James Canonico, University of Rhode Island • Karen Castillo, Tufts University • Angelica Castro, Community College of Rhode Island • Vicky Castro, Bristol Community College • Max Darquea, Community College of Rhode Island • Stephanie Dawkins, Community College of Rhode Island • Erick De la O, Rhode Island College • Stephanie De Los Santos, University of Rhode Island • Anthony Franco, Brown University • Jhan Frias, Bentley College • Steven Gacin, Union College • Miguel Garcia, University of Rochester • Michaelle Gauthier, Community College of Philadelphia • Elvis Geraldino, University of Rhode Island • Juan German, Occidental College • Mardea Halley, University of Rhode Island • Edry Hilario, Rhode Island College • Narván Hilliard, University of Rhode Island • Philip Huerta, University of Rhode Island • Marlyne Jacquet, University of Rhode Island • Almata Johnson, University of Rhode Island • Jan-Delle Johnson, Goucher College • Naika Joseph, Union College • Elizabeth Keith, Rhode Island College • Rhiannon Ketchem, Alfred University • Linda Kittirath, Massasoit Community College • Debbie Laurenceau, Community College of Philadelphia • Lataejah Lewis, Community College of Rhode Island • Jessica Mardi, Community College of Rhode Island • Sofia Morales, Community College of Rhode Island • Wanda Medina, Community College of Rhode Island • Cristela Moronta, Community College of Rhode Island • Mickenson Northecide, Rhode Island College • Martin Omonkhegbe, University of Rhode Island • Madelin Ortiz, University of Rhode Island • Daniela Pena, University of Rhode Island • Melissa Polanco, University of Rhode Island • Nescarly Presendieu, Rhode Island College • Karla Quiroz, University of Rhode Island • Carolina Ramos, Community College of Rhode Island • Valerie Richardson, University of Rhode Island • Gleyribel Rodriguez, University of Rhode Island • Mariela Rodriguez, University of Rhode Island • Christel Rosario, University of Rhode Island • Dania Sanchez, Rhode Island College • Itza Serrano, College of the Holy Cross • Julian Smith, Rhode Island College • Sokhunsak So, Community College of Rhode Island • Fausto Strauss, Community College of Rhode Island • Kiara Taveras, Florida International University • Lisandri Toribio, Rhode Island College • Ruth Touze, University of Rhode Island • Sheyna Vargas, Rhode Island College • Rebecca Volynsky, Boston University

Check out Simon's interview with Providence City News, the Mayor's weekly e-bulletin. You can read it here.

On Wednesday, May 28, College Visions students, families, and friends -- over 175 people! -- gathered at Providence's Beneficent Church to celebrate our Annual College Visions Graduation Ceremony. The audience enjoyed performances from a variety CV students, and each CV graduate received a personal recognition from his or her advisor, going-away care package, and CV diploma. Thanks to everyone who joined us and helped make it such a great event!

At this time of year at College Visions, seniors are busy making their final college decisions, figuring out financial aid, and applying for scholarships. Below: Mickenson prepares for a RIC meeting with his advisor and Madelin checks her URI financial aid package.

PROVIDENCE -- On the second floor of AS220's Empire Street office, dreams are made.

This is where College Visions, an upstart nonprofit organization, helps high school students make college a reality.

College Visions is itself the vision of one man, Simon Moore, a Brown University graduate and Classical High School alumnus who believes that urban teenagers deserve the same help getting into college as their affluent peers.

"I grew up in Providence across from Hope High School and I had a ton of friends who were perfectly capable of going to college but didn't because of family circumstances or a lack of information about what college entailed," Moore said. "Given how important a college education is, it's not OK to have these reasons become a barrier to college."

College Visions is all about building strong personal relationships between adviser and student. Because guidance counselors are typically overwhelmed by huge caseloads, they often don't have the time to guide students, many of whom are first-time college-goers, through the thorny application process.

At College Visions, advisers help students research the right colleges, write college essays, fill out financial aid forms and apply for scholarships. They set deadlines, then press students to make them. Sometimes, the most important thing that advisers do is hold students' hands.