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For senior Saquan Ausborne of South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St., graduating June 14 became a great reality that wasn’t promised a few years ago.
“He is a well-liked young man who has made a complete turnaround in his life,” Southern counselor Leona Busulas said.
The 18-year-old became one of 10 students from the School District of Philadelphia to receive a $1,000 scholarship from GCA Services Group, a national provider of facility cleaning and maintenance. The honorees — all of whom have overcome adversities to remain on track for graduation — were recognized at the June 11 Student Achievers’ Breakfast at the district’s Center City headquarters.
The resident of 17th and Wharton streets had disciplinary issues starting in second grade stretching to his junior year of high school, Busulas said. Ausborne was involved in fighting, harassing and threatening others, damaging school property and generally did not follow school rules. He was placed in an alternative school during his ninth-grade year and came to Southern as a sophomore, where he fell back into the trap of skipping classes and the occassional act of poor behavior, yet he passed all of his classes.
The following year Ausborne began to turn his life around. As a senior, he joined Southern’s football team and worked as an aide for the athletic department while improving his grades, maintaining good behavior and never skipping class. He plans to attend Cheyney University in the fall.
“When asked what happened to help him make such a turnaround, Saquan gives all the credit to his mother who never gave up on him and helped him to understand what he needed to do to succeed in life,” Busulas said.
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
