RED BANK, NJ — This May, Lunch Break proudly celebrated the graduation of its fourth cohort of students from the Alliance for Student Success (AFSS) youth program.
Formerly known as Alliance for Success, the AFSS program is a two-year initiative developed in partnership with Red Bank Regional High School (RBRHS), The Source, to help guide students through college preparation and career exploration.
The program was recently renamed Alliance for Student Success to better reflect its mission and focus on supporting junior and senior high school students as they prepare for life after graduation.
The updated name reinforces the program’s commitment to helping students build confidence, explore career pathways and pursue higher education opportunities, officials said.
Lunch Break Life Skills Manager Birgit Mondesir added that the name change "represents a noted adjustment to ensure transparency and clarity moving forward."
"While Lunch Break’s Life Skills encompasses several diverse programs, this update simply distinguishes our student initiative from our adult services," Mondesir said. "Our fundamental mission for both populations remains entirely unchanged."
Suzanne Keller, the supervisor at the Source & Inspire Academy at Red Bank Regional High School, added that being a part of the Alliance for Student Success "speaks to individual resilience."
“When we say ‘success’ we think it means everything goes perfectly, knowing exactly what you want to do, never making mistakes and getting there without setbacks. But real life doesn't work that way,” Keller said.“Growth happens in the detours and the setbacks and in the moments when you have to adjust and try again."
"You balance school with responsibilities at home, face personal challenges and keep going," Keller continued. "Would it be easier to give up? Yes, but being a part of Alliance for Student Success speaks to individual resilience.”
18 students successfully completed the program, having participated in a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare them for life beyond high school.
Throughout the event, students shared personal reflections on their time in the program, expressing gratitude for the meaningful relationships formed with mentors and the life skills they gained.
The celebration highlighted the strength of the partnership between Lunch Break, Red Bank Regional High School and the broader community.
“Our students are the epitome of resilience!" Mondesir said. "We are so proud of them — not only for their accomplishments but for the perseverance and character they’ve demonstrated throughout their time in the program.”
“Thanks to the collective efforts of school staff, parents, facilitators, mentors and our generous sponsors, these young people are leaving high school empowered and more ready than ever to take on the future.”
This fall, graduates Alexandra Serrano Quechol, Andrea Ruiz, Belen Mendez, Brady Carvente-Lopez, Carlos Grande Pasparico, Dulce Pacheco, Hugo Perez, Katherine Elias, Michael Fontanetta, Michelle Aponte-Huerta, Mina Miller, Yolanda Vargas Barrios, Chyla Richardson, Ximena Luna-Martinez, Marybeth Maher, Jeanette Maher, Daniel Carrillo and Gael Ortega will be attending institutions across the country, including:
Anyone interested in mentoring should email Ashley Newton at anewton@lunchbreak.org.
"Although I just got to know this group of students over the last few months, I am extremely proud of their growth," Newton, the AFSS coordinator, said. "Each student has grown not only academically, but personally, showing resilience and determination.”
“It’s been awesome to see all they accomplished, and I am very excited to see the impact they will make in their schools, careers and communities."
To learn more about Lunch Break or AFSS, you can click here.
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