Featured Alumni

About Christian

Christian joined the Teen Center at Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens during his freshman year of high school. Spending his after school time at the Club allowed him to make meaningful connections with Teen staff members who helped him stay focused academically and athletically.

While at the Club, Christian received athletic training, went on college tours, and took part in business workshops and seminars. “Coaches Barry, Asia, and Larry helped me tremendously with the college process and gave me great advice. I look up to them.”

In June, Christian graduated John Adams High with a 90+ average and will be attending University of New Haven to major in Business Management and play for the basketball team.

Quaran McPherson

My name is Quaran McPherson. I’m 18 years old and from South Jamaica, Queens. I am currently enrolled at Woodstock Academy. If it were not for the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Queens I do not know where my life would be right now. I found out about this club through my Dad, who is good friends with one of my life mentors Barry Witter, Athletic Director at the club. 

The Boys & Girls Club of metro Queens has given me a safe place to train and improve my basketball skillset. Barry has become one of my inspirations because he makes the success of his students his top priority. Barry always makes sure that we stay focused but not without dedicating ourselves to our schoolwork with the same passion as we do with basketball. Most importantly, he wants to make sure we become people of substance. Coming from South Jamaica, Queens where not many of us make it out, the support of the club has given me the fighting chance to defy the odds. 

Brian Stevens

My name is Brian Stevens and I am from Queens, NY. My ethnic background is Jamaican. I graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School and am currently enrolled at the Assumption University as the class of 2024. I am majoring in Biology and plan on pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant. Throughout high school, I maintained a 3.6 GPA and scored an 1100 on my SAT. I attended the Boys and Girls Club for about 3-4 years and am proud to be a member of the club. 

I take part in the basketball workouts with Athletic Directors, Barry Witter and Asia, who organize these trainings to empower the youth in our community. I am inspired by Barry because he guided me from a very young age and pushed me to become a better athlete and a better basketball player. He has played an essential role in helping me become a strong, black man. The Boys and Girls Club helped me overcome several obstacles such as violence, peer pressure, and gave me an escape from being on the streets. The members of the club have become a family to me, and inspired me to chase my dreams and stay focused during my college journey. 

ABOUT TAMOY

Tamoy was named the 2020 Youth of the Year. After losing her father to cancer, she and her mother moved to the United States in search of opportunities to live a better life. The transition proved difficult as they had to constantly move causing Tamoy to frequently change schools.

While attending her junior year at Richmond Hill High School, she signed up for Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens where she found support and stability in the programs and staff. “I found a father figure in the Executive Director, David Kupecky, whom I am extremely thankful for. He sat with my guidance counselor to create my schedule and to ensure I was on track academically. He helped me when I felt there was no hope and for that I will forever be grateful for him and all the other staff at the Club.”

With the help of BGCMQ, Tamoy was able to graduate in the top 10% of her class and will be attending University of Buffalo to study medicine. The Club has provided her with financial grants, college books, and a computer to help her transition into college life as a freshman. She credits the Club for helping her build resiliency to overcome obstacles and leading her down a path toward a great future.

Jovone Cater

Hello! My name is Jovone Cater, and I am from Far-Rockaway, NY. I went to catholic school for all four years at Holy Cross High School. I now attend the University of Iowa on a 4-year academic scholarship. Throughout my life I was always pushed to maintain a 90+ average which helped me get into the top schools. Although I don’t play in college, basketball has also helped in many ways. It has provided me with many traveling experiences, getting into schools that would put me in the best situations, as well as meeting many new people. Basketball has also led to my participation in the Boys and Girls Club. At the end of 9th grade, I met Barry who became my trainer, and eventually a mentor. We would workout at the Club every week, which helped me make new friends and build connections with the staff. The Club invited me to attend college tours that allowed me to go to states I’ve never been to down south and on the west coast. This opened my mind about going away for school, and now I see, was one of the best decisions I ever made. I decided to attend the University of Iowa. The school is not only the top school for my major but offered me a full scholarship and a chance to gain new experiences. 

One person who inspired me at the club was Ms. Asia. She was the first person to tell me that I would like to go away for college. She attended LSU and seeing her come back to NY to help so many kids at the Club is an inspiration. Barry is also an inspiration because he does a lot for kids who aren’t put in the best life situations whether it’s basketball training, setting them up for photo shoots, or inviting them to events that would motivate them to reach their full potential in life. Going to the Boys and Girls Club was honestly a great choice. I received a lot of help from them that put me on the right path, and I am very appreciative! My next steps are to complete college, become a physical therapist, and help other kids become successful.