On November 4th, College Bound Dorchester received the Coming Up Taller Award for its Art a la Carte program at a ceremony hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. At the ceremony, Mrs. Obama commended Art a la Carte and all of the award winners by stating,

"Ultimately, each of your programs is using achievement in the arts as a bridge to achievement in life." She continued, "You ask our young people to dream, and you give them the tools to fulfill those dreams. You affirm that their contributions are valuable, and their success matters to all of us. You help them see beyond the circumstances of their lives to the world of possibility that awaits them. And for that, we honor you."

Media Coverage

Dot arts program hailed at White House
Dorchester Reporter (November 12, 2009)

College Bound Dorchester CEO Mark Culliton and Art a la Carte student Liana Rae Farmer were gretted by the first Lady at the ceremony in Washington. Read more here.

Boston Scenes
The Bay State Banner (November 12, 2009)

Liana Farmer, 18, a freshman at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and a 2009 graduate of Boston Latin Academy, joins First Lady Michelle Obama to receive a White House award. Read more here.

Art a la Carte received 2009 Coming Up Taller Award from First Lady at the White House
TuBoston.com (November 5, 2009)

College Bound Dorchester received the Coming Up Taller Award for its Art a la Carte program at a ceremony hosted by the First Lady Michelle Obama. Read more here.