Meringoff Family Foundation

“I love MESA so much,” said Cynthia Estevez, a bubbly 21-year-old originally from Bushwick. “The administration, they do not want to see kids fail.”

Cynthia and her brother José, now 23, both formed strong bonds with advisors and teachers at MESA — and when the siblings each hit roadblocks that upended their college plans, the school was there to help, said MESA founding co-director Arthur Samuels.

“This past year we launched a full-scale alumni support program called the 13th Grade,” Samuels said. “We’re expanding our focus to help our kids build sustainable, satisfying careers.”