The program is funded by Judge Judith Sheindlin, known to the world as Judge Judy from the television show of that name, and Patricia Lanza of the Lanza Family Foundation. Developed by
Judge Sheindlin's daughter Nicole Sheindlin, it is administered by the Westchester County Office for Women and the Women's Research and Education Fund.
The program matches promising young women from five local high schools with professional women who provide hands-on work experience, advice and guidance about succeeding in the workplace.
These schools are: Nelson Mandela High School, Mount Vernon High School, Mamaroneck High School, White Plains High School and Saunders Trades and Technical High School, Yonkers.
The 40 girls met their mentors Thursday at a reception hosted by Judge Judy at the Bonnie Briar Country Club in Larchmont.
County Executive Robert P. Astorino praised the program, saying, "A mentoring program with on-the-job training is one of the best ways a young woman can learn the realities of how an organization is run, from bottom to top. Programs such as this inspire, and the county's Office for Women is glad to continue to provide support for Judge Judy's initiative."
Commented Judge Sheindlin, "I like to think that this program gives each of our mentees an opportunity, that little extra wonderful beginning, so that they can be the hero of their own story."
The girls were selected with the help of their school districts and will receive stipends for their work. They will spend a minimum of four hours per week, for six months, with their mentor at her work site, and benefit from various resources and services.
The program supplements the mentee's work experience with monthly life skills workshops. MasterCard, Bloomingdale's, Dr. Ann Engelland, My Sister's Place, the Ritz Carlton and the Pace University School of Law have generously agreed to underwrite a portion of the life skills program.
The girls will take courses in everything from budgeting money, business attire, professional expectations, healthy relationships, dining etiquette, public speaking and advocacy.
MENTEES AND MENTORS OF HER HONOR - CLASS OF 2010-2011
Mamaroneck High School
Barbara Gallagher - campaign director, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Westchester/Hudson Valley
Adly Barrios - Adly wants to help those in need by becoming a nurse. She is a first-generation American of Guatemalan descent who is inspired by her parents incredible work ethic and fortitude.
Meryl Lefkowitz - Manager, Public Relations, Bloomingdales
Brielle Bruno - Brielle loves being creative in all aspects of her life. She hopes to pursue a career that integrates both drawing and fashion.
Diane Cermele - Owner, Salon Posh
Carolann Califano - Carolann views herself as an artist. She plans to express her artistic talent through a career in cosmetology.
Maria Valente, Esq - Owner, Chocolations
Chanelle Clark - Chanelle dreams of pursuing a career in the culinary arts. For the past two years she has enthusiastically participated in her American and European Cuisine class.
Myra Hafetz - Co-President, Mamaroneck Artist's Guild
Brittany Contreras - Brittany is passionate about art, fashion and psychology. Throughout Brittany's school years, Art classes have given her self confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
Gail Vidales - Director of Operations, Hispanic Resource Center
Yocely Ochoa - Yocely came to America from Guatemala at eleven years of age. She hopes to draw on her experiences of learning a new culture and language by assisting others in similar situations.
Colette Rodbell and Melissa Schoen - Sales Managers, Etcetera Clothing Company
Wendy Weinstein Karp - Chairman of the Bordeaux, Plates
Mariana Rudelic - Mariana is young woman of Croatian descent. She has worked as a model for 'Face of Fashion' and has a keen interest in designing apparel.
Alyson Berman - Humane Educator, Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers (HEART)
Maria Isabel Vazquez - Maria's parents instilled in her that goals are achieved through hard work and determination. She is passionate about animals and wishes to become a veterinarian.
Christina Carino-Forrest - Television Director, LMC-TV
Tiffany Weston - Tiffany derives great satisfaction from being independent and internally driven. She is a diligent worker and is described by school faculty as a distinguished leader.
Mount Vernon High School
Quay Watkins - Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club of New Rochelle
Ann Marie Allen - Ann Marie enjoys socializing and meeting new people. She strongly believes in equality and leads by example.
Tracey Mitchell - Director, Westchester County Office of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Sarafina Gordon - Sarafina is inspired by her mother's determination to persevere over adversity. She wishes to honor her mother's achievements by continuing to do well in school and giving back to her community.
Jill Bradshaw-Soto, Esq - Managing Attorney, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, Mount Vernon
Taniqua Mighty - Taniqua has always made school a priority and achieves honor roll status for each marking period. She is grateful for the many sacrifices her mother makes to give her children the gift of education.
Randi Adelstein, Esq - Litigation Counsel, Law Department, MasterCard Worldwide
Samantha Moreno - Samantha is an honors student who maintains an A average while consistently working at a job after school. She wishes to attend an Ivy League university and ultimately pursue a legal career.
Luz Moreno-Casanova - Coordinator, Community Garden Project, Greyston Foundation
Berenice Osegura - Berenice will be the first person in her family to attend college. She maintains an almost perfect high school grade point average and is passionate about finding ways to help better our environment.
Jennifer Canter, MD, MPH - Medical Director, Children's Advocacy Center, Westchester Institute For Human Development
Mariame Samuda - Mariame's mother lives with epilepsy and it is Mariame's dream to help others with neurological disorders. She volunteers at the Westchester Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and is a high school honors student.
Tracey S. Alter, Esq - Director of the Family Court Legal Program, Pace Women's Justice Center
Diamond Wynn - Education is the highest priority in Diamond's family. She has an intense drive to succeed and hopes to pursue a career that involves advocacy for children.
Cheryl Archibald, MD - Acting Commissioner, Westchester County Department of Health
Fatu Yekeh - Fatu emigrated from Liberia to America at eleven years of age and describes her American education as "first class". She has a grade point average of 3.8 and plans to fulfill her dream of helping people through a career in medicine.
Nelson Mandela High School
Yolanda Robinson - Chief of Staff, City of Mount Vernon
Bobesha Blake - Bobesha is a young woman with an infant son. She works hard managing her dedication to school and balancing family responsibilities. She is described by school faculty as having an "unmatched will to succeed."
Honorable Kathie E. Davidson - Supervising Judge of Family Courts, Ninth Judicial District
Aquella White - Aquella describes herself as a curious person who is interested in the details and facts of a situation. She hopes to attend John Jay College of Criminal Justice and become a prosecutor following law school.
Saunders Trades and Technical High School
Patricia McDow - Majority Leader, Council District One, Yonkers City Council
Amel Al-Hariri - Amel moved to the United States at age one due to civil war in her birth country of Yemen. She is determined to have a career and be an example for the other young women in her family.
Olivia Rhodes - Director of Fiscal Affairs, Westchester County Board of Legislators
Kathy Ammari - Kathy is a United States citizen of Jordanian descent who speaks fluent English and Arabic. She has a passion for mathematics and is described by school faculty as an "exceptional" student.
Carla Smith - Deputy Director of Programs, My Sisters' Place, Yonkers
Nichole Christian - Nichole takes her education very seriously and is described by school faculty as an "ideal student". Helping her younger brother who struggles with schoolwork and speech development issues has influenced her to pursue a career that involves working with children.
Sharon Ebert - Deputy Commissioner of Planning and Development, City of Yonkers
Coreen Corniel - Coreen's high ambitions are a direct result of witnessing her parent's hard work. She is determined to fulfill her dream of becoming an architect.
Honorable Janet C. Malone - Westchester County Family Court Judge, Yonkers
Emily Cruz - Emily is a hard working student who holds the distinction of high honor roll. She is grateful for her education and is dedicated to pursuing a career that is community oriented.
Nancy A. Shenker - Founder, theONswitch
Karla Guadron - Karla's parents want her to get the college education they were not able to obtain. She has a wide range of interests from engineering to film and hopes to ultimately find a career that combines these various specialties.
Beth Schorr-Lesnick, MD - Gastroenterologist
Klarissa Hernandez - Klarissa maintains an excellent average and is in the top five percent of her high school class. She is inspired by doctors and impressed by the vast amount of information they possess.
Carol Bengis - Constiuent Affairs Liaison to Yonkers City Council President
Guadalupe Rivera - Guadalupe's American history teacher describes her as having an "innate ability to comprehend and synthesize information in a manner rare for her age." She is a natural leader who has been selected to tutor others in the school as well as a volunteer teacher with her church.
Renee Fleuranges-Valdes - Business Development Executive, IBM Software Group
Cynthia Sanchez - Cynthia is an American citizen of Mexican descent and the middle child of five daughters. She is interested in computer engineering and is currently ranked ninth in her class of approximately 300 students.
Noel D'Allacco - Executive Director, Operation PROM
Amna Siddiqi - Amna is one of six sisters born to a Pakistani father and Irish-American mother. She is passionate about art and fashion and wishes to attend college at the Fashion Institute of Technology or Parsons School of Design.
White Plains High School
Donna Fishman - Chief Executive Officer, Gilda's Club Westchester
Nadia Abdulwahab - During trips to visit family in Kenya, Nadia witnessed friends and family struggle for health care. She plans to become a physician and use her skills to assist people in Africa.
Jane Aoyama-Martin, Esq - Executive Director, Pace Women's Justice Center
Eboni Andre - Eboni is interested in the area of youth advocacy and human rights. Family law or social work are potential career choices.
Saungi McCalla - Director, Infection Control, White Plains Hospital
Jessica Bedoya - Jessica was awarded high honor roll status throughout her junior year. She is a member of the school 'Nurse Apprentice Program' and will pursue a career in nursing.
Doris Schwartz - Chief Operating Officer, Mental Health Association of Westchester
Jessica Gonzalez - Jessica has volunteered her time working with patients at White Plains Hospital and has discovered that "happiness is found in the little things one does for someone." Her goals include becoming a nurse and future mentor.
Lisa Schwartz - Founder and Proprietor, Rainbeau Ridge Farms
Morgan Haggins - Morgan is passionate about veterinary and environmental science. She has worked for a local environmental project learning about various aspects of sustainability.
Cathy Schauber - Owner, Cathy's Biscotti
Markelin Moscoso - Markelin describes herself as having a sweet tooth and loves cooking and baking. She wants to attend a culinary institute following college graduation and ultimately own her own bakery.
Martha Anderson, Esq - Spanish Speaking Program Specialist, Westchester County Office for Women
Diana Osorio - Diana moved from Colombia to the United States at 10 years old. Her dream has always been to pursue a career in law.
Delores Brathwaite, Esq - Commissioner, Westchester Human Rights Commission
Melissa Rodriguez - Melissa's sense of justice likely comes from experiences with a mentally disabled younger sister. She credits this sibling as an inspiration and the most important person in her life. Melissa plans on going to law school and becoming a prosecutor.
Roseanne Braiotta - Director, Volunteer Services, White Plains Hospital
Marisa Rosario - Marisa maintains a 3.6 grade point average while volunteering twice a week at White Plains Hospital. She is determined to graduate college as a registered nurse so she can spend her life "healing the souls and bodies of people."
Judith L. Werbitt - Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch
Tawesha White - Tawesha's math teacher describes her as a well-behaved, serious and prepared student. She wishes to make herself and her family proud by working hard and getting good grades.