Enterprising teens who spent their summer helping out at the circus in Coney Island, were delivered a high-flying salute when Urban Neighborhood Services (UNS) held a graduation for youngsters enrolled in its curriculum hospitality program.
Festivities, held at the New York Aquarium, capped a tribute hailing enrollees of the non-profit organization’s eight-week 2009 Summer Youth Academy in Hospitality, Tourism and Entertainment program, a joint venture between UNS and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which operated the Coney Island Boomering.
The graduates, who had “shadowed” the staff as ushers, greeters and hand-stampers, plus learned vital business skills such as letter-writing, received certificates in addition to awards from Assemblymembers Diane Savino and Alec Brook-Krasny, and Councilmember Domenic Recchia.
The experience had kept youngsters “off the streets” and provided them with future job skills, said UNS Executive Director Mathylde Frontus.
