Joshua attended Rise Up Academy (Greater Trinity Academy at the time) alongside his younger siblings during its humble beginnings in the early 2000s. The eldest amongst his siblings, Joshua had a challenging upbringing with his father being in prison, but things began to improve once they were introduced to Dr. Stoot. Through the guidance and mentorship of his  “surrogate father,”  as well as being able to have a  “safe haven”  at the school, Joshua began to see the benefits of a focused early learning education experience.

He cites many skills that have set him apart from his peers that he attributes to his time spent around Dr. Stoot, namely having a sense of passion and leadership, as well as  “having the courage to break through barriers and roadblocks and, of course, the gift of gab.”

Today, Joshua works for the Seattle Kraken as a Sous Chef and oversees the Owner’s Suite, where he is involved in catering for Premium Events and VIP Clients. He was also recently nominated for the James Beard Chef’s Award! In his personal life, he and his wife Samantha have been together since high school, married for 13 years, and have four children, ranging in age from 2 to 13 years old.

Jemyah attended Rise Up Academy during the summer of 2015 and considers herself grateful for the “rich experience, support, and attention given to help sow into the solid educational foundation and work ethic I have presently.” During her stint at RUA, she was able to deepen her love and appreciation for math and specifically, the importance of managing money. It was through the educational lessons that were geared toward math that she came to find herself fascinated by the logistics of financial literacy.

Fast forward nine years and she has earned her AA degree in Business Administration from Everett Community College and is currently a junior at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, where she is majoring in finance with a concentration in investments (and maintaining a 4.0 GPA). Additionally, Jemyah is in the Air Force ROTC program, and upon completing her bachelor's degree, she will be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. To add to the impressive nature of this resume, she will have accomplished all of this before she turns 21!

Jemyah says she chose to major in finance because “I am dedicated to the growth and betterment of my community, and just as Rise Up Academy sowed into my life, I desire to do the same for others. I intend to use my education to create change, improve lives, and empower people of color, both locally and globally.” She concludes, “I may not have the lofty goal of discovering a cure for cancer, but I am intentional and conscious of the fact that if you’re doing the ‘small things’ in a great way, they will also make an impact and can change lives for the better.”

Bobby attended Rise Up Academy (Greater Trinity Academy at the time) when he was between the first and third grades. A child of divorce, Bobby talks now about the school being a  “safe haven”  for him, giving him a place where he could feel comfortable and supported. The  “family atmosphere”  allowed him to explore the things that he loved at a young age, which came especially in handy after he was given his very first camera. Bobby remembers how his teachers let him carry his new favorite accessory everywhere on campus and this set him on a journey that continues to this day.

Today, Bobby is an Atlanta-based filmmaker. His love for the art of cinema has only grown since his early days, leading him to graduate from film school and attack the film industry  “organically,”  as he calls it, via writing, producing, and directing his own short films and independent features. He remains excited about what the future holds, despite the uncertainty surrounding the recent strikes in Hollywood. Forever the optimist, he says that the delays and limitations that resulted from the strikes have allowed him to go back to what he refers to as  “the bare essence of filmmaking,”  which involves telling personal stories with his closest friends. Ultimately, he says he remains grateful to Dr. Stoot and the team for always keeping the lines of communication open, even after he moved to Atlanta as a child, and through the present day. He says that the support he felt back in his days as a student has only continued and he is proud to be an alumni of Rise Up Academy.

Cortaysia attended Rise Up Academy (Greater Trinity Academy at the time) originally as a Pre-K student and then continued for 3 years after that until her family moved to California. Describing the school as having a  “homey feeling,”  she says that the teachers and staff  “really cared”  and filled each room with love and respect. She says,  “my emotions were heard and considered valid,”  adding that the teachers truly listened when difficult moments occurred. She also noted that she has greatly appreciated Dr. Stoot and the team at Rise Up Academy keeping in touch with her throughout her educational journey, referring to the school as  “companions.”



Cortaysia is currently a Certified Medical Assistant, working in the fields of pulmonology and neurology in San Diego, California. She will be completing her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology at the University of California, San Diego in 2025, and hopes to be able to split her time between her continued efforts in the medical field and real estate. All in all, she says,  “I really just like helping people,”  and while she also credits this to growing up in a military household,  “I very much believe that my time at Rise Up Academy established that as something I always wanted to do.”

Christina attended Rise Up Academy (Greater Trinity Academy at the time) for seven years, beginning as a Pre-K student and continuing on into before/after school care until the age of 12. She emphasizes that the ability for the school to provide transportation for her was a huge benefit and allowed her to experience all of the great aspects she remembers from her time as a student. She specifically recalled Ms. Anna, a teacher that Christina says created  “fun lessons”  and was “incredibly supportive”  to her.

Currently, Christina works at an all-black owned restaurant in Seattle called Communion and attends Seattle Central College, where she is earning a general degree, with an emphasis in Nursing. While formerly interested in the world of accounting and business, she now states that she hopes to pursue a career in the cosmetics industry and use her skills and experience to master the beauty market. A passionate traveler, Christina has made her way to Dubai, Barcelona, and Paris twice over the last several years and is excited about exploring further in the near future.

During her time at Rise Up Academy (Greater Trinity Academy at the time), Brittany thrived in an academic environment that not only focused on closing the achievement gap but also fueled her passion for social justice and community engagement. The Academy’s innovative approach to learning and its emphasis on leadership helped her develop the skills she needed to pursue higher education and a career focused on equity. It was here that Brittany’s commitment to advocating for others was nurtured, which propelled her to further her education and become a leader in nonprofit management and social advocacy.

Today, Brittany is a dedicated advocate, having earned her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School and her BA from Hampton University. She has held prominent leadership roles, including serving as the Executive Director of Charleston Friends of the Library and College Factory, where she led efforts to improve access to education and resources in underserved communities. In addition to her professional work, Brittany enjoys spending time with her husband Dr. Daku Siewe (an Athens, GA based radiologist) and daughter Sabrina, embracing the joys of motherhood while continuing her commitment to creating lasting change in her community.

Joshua attended Rise Up Academy (Greater Trinity Academy at the time) alongside his younger siblings during its humble beginnings in the early 2000s. The eldest amongst his siblings, Joshua had a challenging upbringing with his father being in prison, but things began to improve once they were introduced to Dr. Stoot. Through the guidance and mentorship of his  “surrogate father,”  as well as being able to have a  “safe haven”  at the school, Joshua began to see the benefits of a focused early learning education experience.

He cites many skills that have set him apart from his peers that he attributes to his time spent around Dr. Stoot, namely having a sense of passion and leadership, as well as  “having the courage to break through barriers and roadblocks and, of course, the gift of gab.”

Today, Joshua works for the Seattle Kraken as a Sous Chef and oversees the Owner’s Suite, where he is involved in catering for Premium Events and VIP Clients. He was also recently nominated for the James Beard Chef’s Award! In his personal life, he and his wife Samantha have been together since high school, married for 13 years, and have four children, ranging in age from 2 to 13 years old.

Christopher graduated from Kindergarten at Rise Up Academy (Greater Trinity Academy at the time) in 2006 and continued to attend After School programs through 3rd Grade until his family relocated out of the area. He now cites his time at RUA as introducing a foundation of social skills and structure to him that he was able to build upon throughout his educational career. Beginning his time at Rise Up as a self-proclaimed  "little rascal,"  Christopher matured into a well-behaved student through the mentorship within the program, which he says  "taught me how to listen."  He says,  “the early literacy and numeracy skills I developed helped me grasp more complex subjects over the years, while the social and emotional learning taught me how to work well with others and navigate challenges.”

Christopher recently graduated from the University of South Carolina with his bachelor's degree in information technology and has been accepted into the same school's graduate program, where he will be earning a master's degree by the end of 2025. He is constantly  "looking for his niche,"  aiming beyond his current work as an IT Project Manager for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Ultimately, he emphasizes the fact that he  "can't stop learning"  and attributes that mentality to the foundation he established at Rise Up Academy all those years ago. He concludes,  “the routines and structures I learned gave me the discipline needed for academic success, and the curiosity fostered in me then continues to drive my love for learning. These early experiences set the stage for a lifelong journey of education, leading me to excel in college.”