{Aphelion Graduate Foundation}
The Coral Springs-based Aphelion Graduate Foundation celebrated a milestone year in its mission to recognize students who have overcome significant personal challenges to earn their high school diplomas.
For the third consecutive year, the nonprofit partnered with Cross Creek School, a Broward County school serving students with developmental, intellectual, emotional and behavioral disabilities, to present the Aphelion Graduate Award.
The award program invites teachers and faculty members to nominate exceptional students who have demonstrated perseverance and determination in overcoming obstacles on their path to graduation.
This year, record community support allowed the foundation to provide more than $5,000 in awards, celebrations and individualized recognition for Cross Creek School’s Class of 2026. For the first time in the organization’s history, every nominated senior received an award.
Fifteen graduating students were honored with new Acer Chromebook laptop computers, commemorative Aphelion Graduate medals, custom canvas laptop bags created by The Blonde Peach Boutique, custom 2026 “Year of the Horse” water bottles and notebooks, and personalized Certificates of Recognition.
The foundation also hosted a celebratory luncheon for the graduates. The event featured food provided by Publix and ice cream donated by Coral Springs-based Let’s Chill Homemade Ice Cream.
According to the foundation, students expressed gratitude and excitement about the gifts, particularly the Chromebooks. Several graduates shared that the computer they received was the first they had ever owned.
The laptops are intended to help students pursue educational and career opportunities after high school while remaining connected with friends and family as they transition into adulthood, according to the foundation.
This year’s awards were made possible through donations from Erica’s Plumbing and Restoration and Seacoast Bank.
In addition to recognizing graduates, the foundation has expanded its efforts to promote disability awareness and advocacy among local youth.
In 2025, the Aphelion Graduate Foundation launched an extension program that allows middle and high school students to earn volunteer service hours by participating in quarterly disability rights and advocacy training sessions.
As part of the initiative, four students from Broward County schools were selected to serve on the Aphelion Graduate Foundation Junior Board of Directors during the 2025-26 school year.
In December 2025, the Junior Board organized a project to encourage Cross Creek’s graduating seniors by creating care packages filled with teen essentials, treats and custom Aphelion Graduate Foundation hooded sweatshirts.
The board also partnered with members of the National Junior Honor Society at Imagine School at Broward, who volunteered to write personalized motivational notes for each graduating senior. The handwritten messages were included in the winter care packages.
The collaboration continued in May 2026, when NJHS students assembled graduation gift bags containing candies, stickers, and teddy bear keepsakes. Students also wrote individual congratulatory notes for every graduating senior.
Looking ahead, the Aphelion Graduate Foundation plans to continue expanding its mission through disability advocacy, awareness programs, and youth outreach initiatives in collaboration with schools throughout Broward County.
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