Every fall, we introduce 300 new freshmen to their mentors and give them a chance to get to know each other at an Opening Dinner. These dinners celebrate the new relationships and provide a safe space for conversation. In addition, they are also a great opportunity for returning mentors and students to reconnect. Junior and senior SSP students share their advice with the incoming class and celebrate their achievements.
This September, St. Raymond High School for Boys student, Salvador Paniagua, shared stories from his successful internship with the NYPD and thanked SSP and his mentors for their assistance in finding him this opportunity. Sal remembers meeting a St. Raymond alum in law enforcement and making a valuable connection. With the support of his SSP mentors and family, Sal was able to get an internship at the New York City Police Department at One Police Plaza where he worked alongside top executives Dr. James O’Keefe and Chief Joseph McGrann. Sal even got a chance to meet Commissioner Ray Kelly himself.
Sal had always dreamed of a career in law enforcement and this opportunity was once in a lifetime. “I spent most of my time with Chief McGrann so that I could study his responsibilities,” Sal describes. He also got one-on-one attention from Dr. O’Keefe, who acts as the Deputy Commissioner of Training. “Whenever I got a chance to speak with him, he would give me advice on how best to move forward. It was invaluable for me.”

Sal then took a moment to thank SSP and his mentors, Fabrizio Zichichi and Mark Whieting, for their guidance. Navigating the internship market can be difficult and confusing for any student, but the support that Sal received made it possible for him to confidently connect. “The decision you made to be a sponsor, to be a role model for others, has caused a ripple in the waters of my life. You gave me another choice, another path, and a better way to succeed,” Sal concluded, “My life and my career will be an echo of your choice and sacrifice.”