From Paterson to Possibility: Four NJCDC Students Head to College

Watch our video reel spotlighting these four remarkable students

Every spring, graduation season offers a chance to celebrate accomplishment — and to reflect on the journeys that helped make those accomplishments possible.

This year, four students connected to NJCDC programs are preparing to begin exciting new chapters at some of the nation’s most respected colleges and universities. This fall, Alyson Betancourt will attend Northeastern University, Camil Fermin Sanchez will attend Emory University, Esmeralda Angel Rendon will attend Gettysburg College, and Delilah Hernandez will attend Marist University.

Their interests and ambitions are different. Their paths have been unique. Yet each story reflects how encouragement, opportunity, and community can help young people realize what is possible.

“One of the most rewarding parts of our work is watching young people discover what's possible for themselves,” said NJCDC Founder & CEO Bob Guarasci. “Alyson, Camil, Esmeralda, and Delilah have each embraced opportunities, overcome challenges, and remained committed to growing as students and as people. We couldn't be prouder of them, and we're excited to see what comes next.”

Alyson Betancourt: Leading Through Service

For Alyson Betancourt, helping others isn't something she does when she has free time. It’s become a defining part of who she is.

A Paterson native and graduating senior at George School in Pennsylvania, Alyson has spent the past several years balancing life at a demanding boarding school with a commitment to returning home whenever possible to volunteer with NJCDC and the Neighborhood Help Center. Since 2022, she has contributed more than 100 volunteer hours supporting toy distributions, coat drives, holiday celebrations, and other community events.

While volunteering at an NJCDC Christmas event, Alyson was helping distribute gifts and support families when a young boy approached her. “Then this little boy came up to me and said, ‘Thank you for making my Christmas so special,’” she recalled. “That moment has stayed with me ever since.” That memory, she says, helped crystallize what she wanted her life to be about.

This fall, Alyson will attend Northeastern University, where she plans to study international affairs and human services.

Those interests, she says, can be traced directly back to the experiences she has had serving her community. “Working with NJCDC has really shaped what I want to do with my life,” Alyson said. “It made me realize I always want to be helping people and giving back to communities.”

The daughter of immigrants and a first-generation college student, Alyson remains deeply connected to Paterson and the values she developed here. As she prepares to leave for Boston, she says she will carry with her what she views as one of the city's defining qualities: a willingness to come together when it matters most.

“People here show up when it matters,” she said. “Whenever there's an event, people come together.”

Camil Fermin Sanchez: Discovering a Calling

International High School valedictorian Camil Fermin Sanchez also found direction through service — though her path began with learning to see her city differently.

A Dominican immigrant who will attend Emory University this fall to study nursing, Camil says one of the accomplishments she is proudest of is not academic at all.

“For me, it’s volunteering,” she said. “Volunteering helped me connect with Paterson and realize the beauty in the city.”

Before becoming involved in volunteer efforts, Camil says much of what she heard about Paterson focused on its challenges. Through community service, however, she encountered something very different.

“Volunteering allowed me to see the culture, the community, and the people who make this city special,” she said.

Many of those opportunities came through NJCDC's Teen Center at International High School, where she initially began helping with school events before becoming a familiar face at volunteer activities and community programs.

The experience also helped confirm her future career plans. Inspired in part by watching her mother navigate situations where language barriers sometimes left her feeling isolated, Camil discovered a passion for helping others feel welcomed, supported, and understood.

That passion ultimately led her toward nursing — a field she hopes will allow her to continue serving others throughout her career.

As she prepares to leave New Jersey for Georgia, Camil hopes to bring a fuller picture of Paterson with her.

“There’s so much beauty here,” she said. “There's culture, community, and people who genuinely care about each other.”

Esmeralda Angel Rendon: Embracing New Possibilities

For Esmeralda Angel Rendon, one unexpected opportunity helped change the trajectory of her future.

The International High School senior credits her acceptance into the highly competitive SEEDS college-access program with expanding her understanding of what was possible.

“I didn’t think I would get into such a competitive program,” she said. “Being accepted really helped build my confidence.”

Before joining SEEDS, Esmeralda largely envisioned herself attending a public university close to home. Through college visits, mentoring, and application support, she was introduced to schools she might never have considered otherwise.

“SEEDS completely changed the way I thought about college,” she said. “The program broadened my perspective and showed me opportunities that I didn’t know existed.”

Among those opportunities was Gettysburg College, where she will begin studying neuroscience on a pre-med track this fall.

Outside the classroom, Esmeralda also found a welcoming community through NJCDC’s Teen Center at International High School, where volunteer opportunities allowed her to continue a commitment to service that had been important to her long before she came to the United States from Colombia.

One of her favorite memories was helping younger students celebrate the holidays during a Christmas event at School No. 2.

“It was a simple experience, but it was meaningful because we were helping create a special day for younger children,” she said.

Looking back on her journey, Esmeralda believes one lesson stands above all the rest.

“If there's one thing I've learned,” she said, “it's that sometimes the opportunities that change your life are the ones you never expected.”

Delilah Hernandez: Growing Into Her Own

Delilah Hernandez’s story is, in many ways, a story about confidence.

The Passaic County Technical Institute senior admits she was nervous about fitting in when she first arrived at high school. Four years later, she credits friendships, mentors, and her involvement with NJCDC’s PCTI Teen Center for helping her become a far more outgoing and self-assured person.

“The PCTI Teen Center has truly helped me come out of my shell,” Delilah said. “I've met people there that I probably never would have spoken to otherwise.”

What began as a place to spend time with friends gradually became something much more meaningful. Through the Teen Center, Delilah found new friendships, guidance from caring adults, and support during some of the challenges she encountered throughout high school.

She also discovered opportunities to give back, including participating in Saturday Academy, where she helped teach cooking skills to younger students.

This fall, Delilah will attend Marist University's accelerated BS/MS Accounting program. Inspired in part by seeing family members rely on others for tax preparation and financial guidance, she hopes to build a career that allows her to help people navigate important financial decisions.

As she prepares for the next chapter, Delilah says one of the most important lessons she has learned is the value of focusing on her own journey.

“I’ve become much more comfortable with who I am and with being independent,” she said. “That peace of mind has made a huge difference.”

The Next Chapter

Although Alyson, Camil, Esmeralda, and Delilah are headed to different campuses and pursuing different fields of study, their stories share a common thread.

Each embraced opportunities that challenged them. Each benefited from supportive adults and communities that encouraged them to keep moving forward. And each discovered strengths they may not have fully recognized in themselves just a few years ago.

As they prepare to begin their college careers, they leave behind an example for younger students in Paterson who are still figuring out what their own futures hold.

NJCDC is proud to celebrate their accomplishments and looks forward to seeing the impact they will make in the years ahead.