Blog Issue 6: PRYSE Academy 2025: Recap and Reflections
By Cody Weisel (he/him), PRYSE Academy Program Manager
As the days grow shorter and the year begins to wind down, I sit with a full heart and immense gratitude for everything that we were able to accomplish this past summer. 2025 was truly a transformative year for PRYSE Academy - ushering in tremendous changes such as daily ESL instruction, a revamped classroom model to maximize engagement & program offerings, updated roles and responsibilities for youth leaders, the opportunity to receive college credits, and new levels of coordinated support to bolster student well-being. Planning and preparation for next year are just around the corner, but first, let’s have a look back at this past summer to warm our hearts. Happy PRYSE, everyone!
To see what a typical day at PRYSE Academy 2025 was like, watch our 2025 video by Anna Brewer Productions.
Student Participation
This past summer, a total of 129 students ranging in age from 10 to 21 years old were enrolled into PRYSE Academy. This cohort, which spanned 5th grade to the high school graduate level, came from some 20 different schools across the Pittsburgh region, and represented countries such as Afghanistan, Burundi, Cameroon, Columbia, Nicaragua, DRC, Eritrea, Guatemala, Guinea, Mexico, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, and Venezuela. In addition to the many familiar faces, 34 students were welcomed to PRYSE Academy for the first time. Overall, an average of 87 students attended the program each day.
Compared to PRYSE Academy 2024
2024:
Total number of students enrolled: 132
Average daily attendance: 90
Youth referrals enrolled: 43
Countries of Origin: 15
Languages spoken: 12
2025:
Total number of students enrolled: 129
Average daily attendance: 87
Youth referrals enrolled: 32
Countries of origin: 15
Languages: 12
Students enjoy playing with balloons during classroom time.
Partnerships
2025 marked our 4th consecutive year of operation at the University of Pittsburgh. This was made possible through an ongoing partnership with the University Center for International Studies, and a handful of key individuals who continually connect ARYSE to allies across campus. As a result of these connections, the PRYSE team was supported by Pitt conference services for the first time, ensuring that our needs were taken care of every step of the way.
A special shout out to Laura Daversa and Kelsey Forrest for their work in making PRYSE even more well-known across the university, and for troubleshooting with us throughout the program. We would also like to give special thanks to Stephen & Patrick for once again allowing us to store our mountain of supplies within the Asian Studies Center, dining services and the entire Eatery staff, and Erik Schuckers at the Center for Creativity for providing our students with top notch maker spaces!
Students enjoy recreation time on the lawn by the Cathedral of Learning.
Perhaps this year’s biggest shift in programming at PRYSE Academy was the introduction of daily ESL class instruction for all students. This addition was implemented in response to years of student feedback and after the tremendous success of our afternoon English learning workshop in 2024.
To accomplish this task, ARYSE contracted 3 ESL teachers in the Pittsburgh area who were willing to give up their well-earned summer vacations for time in the classroom with PRYSE students. These outstanding educators included Michele Kelly & Megan Sommers from Pittsburgh Public Schools and Katherine Andrews from Woodland Hills School District. Each member of this team led 2 classroom groups through 45-minute sessions each day, providing every student with nearly 15 hours of explicit English language instruction.
A new model for creative workshops was implemented this past summer, enabling every PRYSE student to participate and learn within each of the 5 workshop spaces. This came as a result from years of student feedback, and was facilitated by rotating classroom groups through a new workshop topic each week. Offerings included acting by Ty Greenwood & City Theatre, printmaking by Eoin Guidas & The Warhol Museum, Zines by Maggie Negrete, STEM by Carnegie Mellon’s STEM Ambassador program, and mural painting by Conor Coleman.
Students participate in an activity in the acting workshop.
In 2025, ARYSE youth leaders serving as Junior Counselors were enrolled into a college seminar class offered through CCAC’s Dual Enrollment program. Rising juniors and seniors attended the class once per week on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus, learning a variety of college-readiness and professional skills to prepare them for life after high school. Upon completion of the seminar course, participants were awarded college credit and a generous stipend through the BNY Early College Program.
Increasing students' awareness of mental health has been a priority at PRYSE for many years, and in 2025, our longstanding partner, UpStreet, worked closely with PRYSE leadership to develop a reimagined approach for the program. Each of the six classroom groups were led by a licensed clinical social worker once per week to build further awareness around mental health, and to learn techniques which support self regulation and mindfulness. Many students became so accustomed that they even began advocating for one-on-one conversations with our amazing counselor, Shelby!
Interpreters at PRYSE provide so much more than just language access for our students. ARYSE has been incredibly fortunate to find individuals who share a mutual sense of care for our students, while simultaneously acting as cultural brokers to ensure that everyone continues to grow in cultural competence. We cannot thank these amazing partners enough, and sincerely hope that we’ll see Ameerah, Nancy, Mansor, Roqia, and the many Spanish interpreters provided through Global Wordsmiths very soon.
Our Pashto interpreter, Mansor, talks with two students in Purple Class.
Outside the Classroom
While so much was done to enhance the student learning experience, we would be remiss not to mention all of the amazing time that was spent outside of the classroom. Each day, students were able to participate in recreational activities such as jewelry making, friendly soccer matches facilitated by our longtime partner, OpenField, and a variety of different field games. Daily cricket matches, in addition to a weekly cricket clinic through the Services to Afghan Survivors Impacted by Combat (SASIC) program, were also on full display. Students were also taken on a field trip to the Phipps Conservatory where they were greeted and led on special guided tours of the gardens.
One of our counselors, Jasmine, supports students with bracelet making.
The Final Showcase
PRYSE Academy drew to a close in early August with our Final Showcase event. This celebration highlighted the many talents of PRYSE Academy students, in addition to celebrating graduating seniors and the accomplishments of our youth leaders. The event also housed a resource fair where attendees and their families could connect with a variety of organizations and service providers. While student work is always on display at the Showcase, the event debuted an especially impressive piece with the nearly 30 foot mural which was co-created by every student in the program.
Our Staff Cohort
None of this work, nor our many accomplishments, would have been possible without the incredible efforts of our 2025 PRYSE staff. Long-time supporters of ARYSE programs, in addition to a new face, helped to comprise this year’s leadership. Thank you so much to our co-directors Ariana, Bahishta, and Vito for always bringing such amazing vibes and setting the tone for such a successful summer, and to our Senior and Junior Counselors for showing up day after day with such grace, patience, dedication, and love for our students. This was nothing short of an exceptional group, and working alongside each of you will have a lasting impact in my life. Last but not least, I need to give a massive shoutout to our Operations Coordinator, Amya. I could not have asked for a better counterpart, and I hope that 2025 serves as just a starting point to your future in PRYSE leadership.
Our 2025 PRYSE Leadership team from left to right: Bahishta, Ariana, Vito, Amya, and Chance.