Michael Soars to Tuskegee on Jordan Wings Scholarship

Tyler Green has known Michael for five years and has been his mentor at Friends of the Children - Portland for the past two, providing extra community and encouragement through Michaels final years in high school and seeing him off to college at Tuskegee University in the fall.

One of Tyler's favorite things about Michael? Said Tyler,

“As young as he is, his view on the world is wise beyond years. He understands life’s circumstances ebb and flow, and he’s one of the most resilient people I’ve met. He leads with positivity and counts his blessings. For someone to have that positive outlook when things have been stacked against him is one of the things I most admire about him.”

While Michael is still in touch with his biological family, his two moms, May and Mikayla, officially adopted him last year and have provided Michael the encouragement and structure needed to help him achieve a lofty goal – attending Tuskegee University in Alabama this fall on the Jordan Brand Wings Scholarship, which is gifted for academic excellence as well as extracurricular activities. Michael has many interests, however playing the saxophone is at the heart of what he loves to do.

Said Michael, “winning the Wings Scholarship is more than just financial support, it’s a symbol of the hard work, growth, and community that’s shaped me over the years. In five years, I see myself graduating college, making music that tells real stories, and using my platform to mentor others. I want to be someone young people look to and say, “If he made it, I can too."

Michael leaves behind fond memories of his time with FriendsPDX. His best memory? “My best memory is the everyday moments from the laughs, the car rides, the real talks. Those little things added up to big life lessons. It was always more than just showing up, it was knowing someone had my back, no matter what.”

Michael sees 1:1 mentoring with FriendsPDX as more than getting a lift; for him, “it’s about transformation.” His advice to newly enrolled FriendsPDX youth? “Let the program shape you; don’t be afraid to outgrow the version of you that started.”

Tyler knows Michael’s inherent drive and determination will serve him well into the future, and May and Mikayla couldn’t be prouder of their son. Michael is proud of himself too. As he embarks on this new chapter, he does so with the unwavering support and admiration of all of us in the Friends PDX community.