518 Elevated

Congratulations to Zaryus, Ramonyee, Jahmiah, Vincent, Ava, and Asia!

Congratulations to Damirah, Syiane, Ronald, Akeem, and Dhushanti!

Congratulations to Omarion, Elsa, Karina, James, and Sanaya!

🎨 CALLING ALL ALBANY HS CLASS OF 2026 CREATIVES!

Applications are officially OPEN for the Burian Memorial Success-in-Arts Scholarship by 518 ElevatED! If you’re heading to college or trade school to pursue your passion for the arts, this is for you. Visit bit.ly/4wPbd9E to apply NOW!

••• AWARD: $3,000 (2 awards available) + college/career mentoring!

••• WHO IS ELIGIBLE?: Albany High School Class of 2026 graduates with a 2.0+ GPA, majoring/minoring in any art discipline (visual arts, theater, music, creative writing, cosmetology, etc.).

••• DEADLINE: Friday, July 24, 2026, by 5:00 PM

📣 Albany community, we need your help! Please share, text, and tag any local Class of 2026 artists, performers, and creators who need to see this before July 24th!

Congratulations to Tatyana, Silvon, Ashley, Kiara, and Justin!

Congratulations to Kashmire, Julian, Mennah, Tatyana, and Kiara!

This July, we’re celebrating our incredible Class of 2026. From first-gen college trailblazers to career-ready professionals, their paths are as unique as they are driven. No matter where they are headed, 518 ElevatED is proud to fuel their next chapter.

Congratulations to A'marie, R'niyah, Zaveon, Savannah, and Brynnley!

On June 11, the 518 ElevatED community came together at MiSci for our annual Scholar Celebration, honoring the achievements and graduation of our 2026 Scholars.

This year's graduates have been accepted to institutions including RPI, Syracuse University, Stony Brook University, the University at Albany, the University of Houston, and the Culinary Institute of America. Their academic and career aspirations span a remarkable range of fields, from biomedical engineering and public health to business administration, fashion and textiles, criminal justice, and cosmetology.

The evening began with a screening introduced by Albany County Legislator Ellen Rosano and continued as Scholars reflected on their journeys and the exciting opportunities ahead.

Each year, Scholar Celebration reminds us of the power of investing in talented Capital Region youth. We were honored to celebrate alongside county officials, board members, mentors, educators, community partners, student volunteers, parents, families, and friends who continue to support our mission. Thank you to everyone who has helped make our Scholars' success possible as we work together to .

📸 Photos by

ONLY 10 DAYS LEFT UNTIL SCHOLAR CELEBRATION 2026! Register now: www.518elevated.org/sc2026

Join us on June 11, 2026 at the Museum of Innovation and Science for Scholar Celebration 2026! We'll celebrate our incredible graduating class and premiere two PSA films WRITTEN AND DIRECTED by our talented scholars, in collaboration with the Albany County Legislature, the DON'T WAIT Project, and The RED Bookshelf!

Tickets:
$125 General Admission
$75 Alumni
$65 Mentors (active 518 ElevatED)

RSVP now and support the future of Capital Region youth!

As we close out Decision Month, we highlight: James 🎓

Congrats to James on committing to UAlbany! Choosing UAlbany allows this incredible student leader to major in Business Administration and minor in marketing while continuing to grow his clothing business right where it started.

To keep the excitement going, don't forget that our Scholar Celebration 2026 is just around the corner on June 11, 2026! 🎉

Have you registered yet? Visit www.518elevated.org/sc2026 to register and celebrate James, Mennah, Zaryus, and all of our 518 ElevatED scholars' achievements. Plus, join us to watch the WORLD PREMIERE of 2 PSA short films written and directed by talented local Capital Region youth. 🎬✨

We can't wait to celebrate with our community. See you there!