The chance to sit and work with professionals from a global financial firm was too good to pass up for a group of Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund (HDSF) students. On Friday, as light rain fell and clouds hovered overhead, about 50 students packed the eighth-floor conference room inside Deloitte's downtown Washington, D.C. office. The students were part of Deloitte's global community IMPACT Day. On June 5, 2009 about 50,000 Deloitte employees from 60 countries donated their time and knowledge to non-profit organizations. HDSF was fortunate to have about a dozen Deloitte employees lead a job training workshop for our recent high school graduates, college students and working adults. Deloitte employees, including HDSF board member and Deloitte partner Stanley Porter, held mock interviews and provided our students with useful interviewing tips that will help them as they pursue internships and jobs. Our students were also assisted with drafting and cleaning up their resumes and cover letters and educated on the proper ways to network. They were also provided with electronic copies of their resumes and cover letters. Ariel Grant, a sophomore marketing major at the University of Oklahoma, said she received great advice, like ways to sell herself to a potential employer and the importance of asking specific questions. "The workshop gave me pointers on connecting with an employer that I had not thought about," said Ariel, who graduated from HDSF's Empowerment Program in 2008. Back at the HDSF office a team of about a half-dozen Deloitte employees volunteered with everything from data entry to filing. Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients. With 165,000 professionals and firms in 140 countries, Deloitte is committed to a high standard of excellence.

On Saturday, May 30, 2009, HDSF helped send its 2008-2009 class of seniors off to college during our final monthly mentor workshop of the school year. Several of our alumni students came back to speak to our outgoing high school seniors. And we ended the day with fun casino games for our students and mentors. There were no cash prizes but the mentor pairs were able to bond over games of blackjack and poker. We've watched as our class of Empowerment Program students have grown into mature young adults. As they move forward and enter college this fall we wish them the best you may need. Congratulations and we look forward to seeing you real soon.

Most high school graduates struggle to remember the exact message delivered by their commencement speaker once the fog of time sets in. But years from today graduates from the 2009 class of Washington Mathematics Science Technology (WMST) Public Charter High School will surely remember First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama entering Howard University's Cramton Auditorium to thunderous applause. Mrs. Obama, who was invited back in November by WMST student Jasmine Williams to deliver the commencement address, told the graduates that she knew she wanted to speak to high school students from her new hometown of D.C. And after receiving Jasmine's letter the decision of where to speak became clear. "With hard work, confidence and faith you can achieve anything," Mrs. Obama told the graduates. "Own your voice. Don't be intimidated by your surroundings. Don't be afraid to be wrong because this is the only way you'll learn," Mrs. Obama said. Susie Kay, President and Founder of Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund, said she was honored to stand on stage next to the First Lady and present HDSF college scholarships to 12 of WMST's graduates. "Mrs. Obama is such an inspiration to us all. Her dedication and passion for education is palpable and I know our young people look up to her," Kay said. WMST is one of six D.C. high schools HDSF works with. During the 2008-2009 school year HDSF enrolled 83 high school seniors from its six partner schools into the HDSF Empowerment Program. Since 2005 HDSF has enjoyed a great partnership with WMST. We would like to congratulate Head of School Mark T. Holbrook and the entire WMST family for allowing HDSF to participate in this year's graduation.

Understanding personal finance, like budgeting, investing, saving and managing money, is important no matter ones age. It becomes especially important for young people as they transition from high school to college. Studies have shown that financial mistakes made during your late teens and early 20s can impact your life well into adulthood. In an effort to teach young people the value of sound financial management American University's (AU) Kogod School along with Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund (HDSF) and EverFi Financial Literacy Platform teamed up to bring financial literacy education to HDSF students firsthand. On Wednesday, May 27, 2009, a group of HDSF students gathered at AU's Financial Services and Information Technology Lab at Kogod for the final installment of a two-part course taught by EverFi. The courses were funded by The DC Chamber of Commerce Foundation. HDSF would like to thank Larry Ward, Dean of American University's School of Business; Margaret Singleton, Vice President for Workforce Development and Director of the DC Chamber of Commerce Foundation; and Thomas M. Davidson, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of EverFi.

After the 11th Annual Congressional Reception ended Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund hosted a post-event celebration at the elegantly renovated Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. For several hours HDSF supporters, friends, alumni and guests were able to network over appetizing fare and refreshing beverages provided by the Monumental Affairs team at the Hyatt Regency Washington.