The Lincoln Hall United Achievement Award

As Lincoln Hall grows and develops in new and exciting ways, programs and curriculum adapt with the times. The Lincoln Hall United Achievement Award (UAA) program was adopted in December 2017, taking the place of the popular Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award/USA.

This program offers Lincoln Hall students the opportunity to grow in their understanding and respect of themselves, their appreciation and respect of others, their understanding of and respect for the environment and their potential to make positive contributions to their community and the world.

The UAA is designed to offer every Lincoln Hall student the opportunity to learn a skill that interests him, develop a healthy body through a chosen athletic activity and participate in “giving back” to the community through volunteer work. They are also given the opportunity to experience cultural and artistic events.

Each Empowering Youth Program and Raise the Age youth is encouraged to enroll in the UAA, which focuses on physical, skill and service activities allowing each youth to challenge himself with new experiences which will enhance his personal growth and expose him to the importance of service to his community.

A key component of UAA is behavior modification. All activity participation is dictated by each student’s behavior throughout the entire Lincoln Hall program, including school behavior.

Once a UAA participant has completed all the requirements, they will be evaluated and will write an essay or complete a video presentation about their UAA experience. This is presented at a special UAA Award Assembly where each Award recipient is presented with a personalized UAA Award.

In addition to the UAA, Lincoln Hall’s Alumni Relations department plays a major role in helping departing students gain a leg up in the outside world. The Alumni Relations department develops a Resume Package for each departing student that includes a cover letter, current resume, and instructions on how to apply to college, apply for a job online, and ace a job interview.

Lincoln Hall Scholarships are also made available to any youth who successfully completes his placement at Lincoln Hall. The student is introduced to the Lincoln Hall Scholarship early on in his placement, so he can be motivated to do well in school and begin to explore educational, vocational and career options with the understanding that positive grades and positive behavior can result is financial support. The financial aid can be used for a trade/vocational school or college once the youth has graduated from high school or passed his TASC.

These Scholarships have helped many students to achieve their dreams of college or vocational school. Some of the colleges the students have graduated from include: St. John’s University, Pace University, Youngstown State University, Apex Technical School, SUNY Old Westbury, St. Thomas Moore School, Nassau Community College, Virginia State University, SUNY Plattsburgh, and Walsh University.

One former Lincoln Hall student who benefited from a scholarship wrote this moving letter to the head of Alumni Relations upon his graduation:

“Since my departure (from Lincoln Hall), like all people, there have been ups and downs. Every day people fail to get back up and back on track. I’m writing to you today as living proof that I’ve fallen, and I have gotten back up again. Nothing can stop me, because whenever I feel weak I just think back to where I came from: Lincoln Hall. The strength I need comes from the support of the family that was there for me. Biological or not, Lincoln Hall is my family. I’m proud to tell people where I came from, and I continue to wear my faded torn up Lincoln Hall shirts. You have saved my life. It was an honor to be a recipient of the Lincoln Hall Scholarship. Thank you.”

—A.K.

Hear first hand the difference Lincoln Hall has made:

“I love everyone at Lincoln Hall. I became a better, more mature person at Lincoln Hall. I am a better young man now with a good future, thank you, Lincoln Hall.”

—Z.J., 16, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, BUFFALO, NY

“At Lincoln Hall I learned that education is the key to success and that it is not just about me anymore.”

– K.R., 17, SYRACUSE, NY