Alumni Success Stories

Ms. Leona Boling Blackburn is the second child of 16 and grew up living in public housing in Niagara Falls, NY. “Some people erroneously think if you come from a large family and grow up in the projects, that your expectations to succeed are low,” she states. Leona’s lifelong mantra, “Smile and Keep On Steppin', ” attests to her message that “hard work makes for success.”

Mr. Gavin Jeter grew up on the east side of Buffalo, N.Y.  A year after high school, he joined the U.S. Army where he served for eight years as an Army Supply Specialist. While stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Mannheim, Germany, SGT. Jeter was accountable for the procurement, maintenance, and reporting of all battalion supplies, vehicles, and weaponry. Upon receiving an honorable discharge, Gavin lived in Germany for another seven years and worked as a civilian in the Army Supply Depot in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Ms. DeVika Szymanski-Lynch admits that she had an “attitude” when she first came to UBEOC. Her persona came from experiencing traumatic life incidents, some caused by her own lack of judgement. However, she says UBEOC never judged her life’s circumstances. The belief that faculty and staff had in her “helped my true character evolve.” The character referred to is that of a strong and independent woman. “EOC helped me take the blinders off which had kept me focused on the past. I envisioned through a new lens; I could see my future.”