Keynote exhortation to graduates – use life’s challenges as a springboard to success
Students from ABCD’s University High School (UHS) crossed the graduation stage with diplomas in hand and plans for the future. UHS, in partnership with the Boston Public Schools, is ABCD’s alternative high school for Boston students ages 16 to 22 whose needs aren’t met in traditional settings. UHS operates in partnership with the Boston Public Schools – Boston Collaborative High School. The class of 2024 is off to a running start — all graduates are slated to continue their studies at local colleges in the fall and/or are employed full or part-time.
Grader Than CEO Harris Williams served as the UHS commencement speaker at the ABCD Thelma D. Burns Building. Williams recounted his own academic struggles as a student athlete at Boston College. “I had bad grades in college – C’s D’s and F’s. I wanted to be a neurologist. But I got an A in computer science. My success began with failure,” he said. “Accept the challenges that you’re facing so that you can move forward. The obstacle is the way. It gives you strength vs. defining your limitations. Stay hungry, stay curious and bring that spirit into this world.” See a complete list of the 2024 University High School graduating class here.
Williams is an educator and software engineer with a 12-year tenure as a full-stack developer, with proficiency in numerous programming languages. Through innovative teaching and a commitment to social equity through Grader Than, Harris is at the forefront of bridging the digital divide. His work emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive environments that foster a diverse and empowered generation of tech leaders. He envisions a future where technology education is a catalyst for social change, accessible to all and instrumental in shaping an equitable tech ecosystem.
An educational technology innovator, Harris earned a Bachelor of Arts in computer science and an MBA from Boston College. He founded Mental Rep, a sports AI company that revolutionized football coaching, gaining international acclaim. He later turned to academia, becoming a computer science professor at Bunker Hill Community College and Boston College.
| Graduate | Neighborhood | Future |
| Alex Douglas | Dorchester | Roxbury Community College/ Business |
| Jahsenica Parker | Dorchester | Full time work + Bunker Hill Community College |
| Yazmine Vega | Dorchester | Bunker Hill Community College/Sonography |
| Dajuanay Colon | Dorchester | ABCD Career Explorations |
| Deana Eures | Dorchester | MassBay Community College |
| Julissa Grullon | Dorchester | Supervisor at Star Market/ Community College Fall 2025 |
| Zhaniya “Ni” Lewis | Dorchester | Bunker Hill Community College/Sonography |
| D’Onie Sanchez | Dorchester | Continuing career in culinary arts |
| Abigail Brown | Mattapan | MassBay Community College |
| Aaliyah Oviedo | Mattapan | ABCD Career Explorations |
| Ta’keeria Sherrod-Greene | Mission Hill | Full-time/Brigham and Women’s Hospital + Bunker Hill Community College |
| Janijah Martin-White | Hyde Park | MassBay Community College |
| Tech Syleena Borrero | Hyde Park | Bunker Hill Community College |
| Jefferson Brice | Hyde Park | Seeking a career in construction |
| Darius Rogers | West Roxbury | Freelance computer programming |
| Felix Sanchez | West Roxbury | Massachusetts School of Barbering |
