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December 20, 2007 -- From the Streets to Success ... Covenant House New York Holds Special Graduation Ceremony
 In a ceremony celebrating the courage and the success of former and current residents, 36 young men and woman graduated from the Covenant House Rights of Passage program on December 13.
Held in the same Covenant House crisis shelter facility where many of the young people began their journey from the streets to success, the ceremony featured words of encouragement and advice from past graduates of the long-term residential program.
"Fifteen years ago, I sat where you sit tonight," said Tracy Jones-Walker to the Class of 2007. "I remember walking up the driveway of Covenant House, scared to death. But I was ready to work ... and I wanted an education. Rights of Passage gave me those opportunities. Today I work at First Boston Bank, I work in real estate, and my husband and I own four properties. I'm also proud to be a member of the Covenant House Board of Directors. I'm confident all of you graduating today will have great futures if you work hard to succeed." "We are very proud of each of you," said Covenant House New York Executive Director Bruce Henry, who founded the Covenant House Rights of Passage program in 1986. "As you graduate, all I want from you now is go and have a good life. Be happy. Make a difference. And know that you always have a family here at Covenant House." "All of you have been given the tools for success at Covenant House." said Vivian Greaves, another alumni of the Rights of Passage program who is now a board member and a Lab Processing Technician at New York Presbyterian Hospital. "You've all worked hard, but this is just the beginning. Now it's time to turn your dreams into reality." The Rights of Passage program at Covenant House provides career training and educational opportunities for older homeless youth in a stable, secure, and supporting environment. From the moment that a youth enters the program, his or her goal is to develop skills for the real world "The celebration of a Rights of Passage graduation is a testimony to the successes and the courage of all the youth who entered the program," says Sister Patricia Cruise, the President of Covenant House International. "It is also a tribute to the donors who support this program ... donors who believe that all young people deserve a chance. Our donors have invited these good, brave young people into their families, and into their hearts ... and the results are the happy, productive lives of our Rights of Passage graduates."
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