An Achievable Dream began as a summer and after-school tennis and tutoring program for 95 rising third-grade students.

First Lady Barbara Bush visited An Achievable Dream Academy students.

An Achievable Dream held its inaugural Tennis Ball in partnership with the Virginia Peninsula Rotary Club on November 13, 1993, at the Holiday Inn Conference Center.

An Achievable Dream Academy opened at Dunbar-Erwin Elementary School for 400 children in grades 3-5.

An Achievable Dream Dunbar-Erwin Elementary School expanded to include grades 6-8 and continued to focus on college preparation and career readiness for students.

School administration at An Achievable Dream Dunbar-Erwin Elementary School began setting a precedent for parent and family engagement and relationships – by sending parents and guardians a specially designed report card encouraging involvement in their child’s education.

Walter Segaloff, founder of An Achievable Dream and Jacob Wilson, III, principal of An Achievable Dunbar-Erwin Elementary School were awarded the Reader’s Digest American Heroes in Education Award.

Actor and filmmaker Jackie Chan visited the students at An Achievable Dream Academy.

An Achievable Dream was recognized as a National School of Character by Character.org.

An Achievable Dream Academy became a year-round school. Kindergarten through second-grade students zoned for Dunbar-Erwin Elementary School participated in An Achievable Dream programming.

The first class of An Achievable Dream graduated from the AAD program at Heritage High School.

An Achievable Dream partnered with Newport News Parks and Recreation to open a tennis center in downtown Newport News for its students and the surrounding community.

An Achievable Dream students closed the achievement gap on Standards of Learning (SOL) tests by scoring equal to or higher than students from other regional public schools.

An Achievable Dream Academy became fully accredited under Virginia Standards of Accreditation at the start of standardized testing in Virginia.

The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award was awarded to An Achievable Dream and its partners, Newport News Public Schools, City of Newport News, U.S. Army at Fort Eustis, Newport News Sheriff’s Department, Riverside Health System, Rotary Club of the Virginia Peninsula, College of William and Mary, and the Business Community.

U.S. Senator John Warner visited the students at An Achievable Dream Academy.

An Achievable Dream was recognized as the 2005 United Stated Tennis Association (USTA) Organization of the Year.

The Newport News Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Marcus Newsome approached Walter Segaloff with a request to take over operations of Briarfield Elementary School with the AAD program. Walter requested the school’s building and began planning the opening of An Achievable Dream Middle and High School.

After renovations were completed at the former Briarfield Elementary School (with construction partner W.M. Jordan Company), An Achievable Dream Middle and High School opened its doors.

An Achievable Dream was featured on The Early Show on the CBS network.

An Achievable Dream held its first and only “no-show” Tennis Ball in response to the 2009 economic climate.

Nearly 480 students at An Achievable Dream Middle and High School signed an “Anti-Bullying Pledge” during “Black Out Bullying” week, which emphasized practicing kindness toward one another.

Forty-two seniors became members of the first graduating class from An Achievable Dream High School.

An Achievable Dream’s Boards of Directors appointed Aubrey Layne, Jr. as president, succeeding Walter Segaloff after his retirement.

An Achievable Dream partnered with Virginia Beach City Public Schools and began plans for the program’s first expansion beyond Newport News beginning with Seatack Elementary School.

The Virginia Press Association named Walter Segaloff as its 2013 Virginian of the Year.

On August 8, 2013, An Achievable Dream founder, Walter S. Segaloff, passed away unexpectedly. Nearly 500 family, friends, AAD staff, students and families, and community members gathered at the Rodef Sholom Temple to honor his life. All who knew him remembered Walter Segaloff for always putting others before himself, and for his relentless mission to improve life for other people, especially children. His legacy and impact left an indelible mark on the Hampton Roads communities.

Kathy Edwards, former chief operating officer of AAD, was appointed president and CEO, succeeding Aubrey Layne after his appointment as secretary of transportation in the administration of Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Seatack Elementary An Achievable Dream Academy began programming for students in grades K-2 in July, with a summer intersession.

On December 9, 2015, An Achievable Dream remembered Walter Segaloff during the dedication of the Founder’s Hope Wall and the Walter S. Segaloff campus at An Achievable Dream Middle and High School.

Partners and friends of An Achievable Dream gathered to celebrate the 2016 Beach Ball.

In continuation of the partnership with Virginia Beach City Public Schools, An Achievable Dream and VBCPS initiated expansion plans for middle school students to attend AAD at Lynnhaven Middle School in Virginia Beach.

An Achievable Dream partnered with Henrico County Public Schools to open An Achievable Dream Certified Academy at Highland Springs Elementary.

An Achievable Dream began its program at Lynnhaven Middle School with the first day of summer intersession on July 9, 2018.

Following the retirement of Kathy Edwards, Dr. Lee Vreeland, former vice president of academics, was appointed president and CEO of An Achievable Dream. Dr. Vreeland, who was mentored by founder, Walter Segaloff, held numerous positions with An Achievable Dream over her 23-year career with the organization, and continues to lead AAD today.

Ten-time Grammy Award-winning artist Pharrell Williams brought the Something in the Water festival to Virginia Beach, partnering with AAD as one of the beneficiaries of the event. Pharrell and friends visited Seatack Elementary An Achievable Dream Academy during the week of festivities, participating in a ribbon-cutting to re-open the recently renovated Community Garden at Seatack, as well as engaging with students during other activities and events.

The inaugural A Night to Dream was held on February 7, 2020 at the Historic Cavalier Hotel. AAD alumnus Lieutenant Commander Franklin Roberson delivered the keynote address.

The Virginia Beach City Public Schools school board approved funding for a dedicated high school building to house An Achievable Dream Middle and High School at Lynnhaven.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when all Virginia schools were required to close for a minimum of two weeks, An Achievable Dream successfully transitioned students to virtual learning. AAD staff and volunteers also purchased, packed, and delivered a two-week supply of food, school supplies, and hygiene items to 430 families. This included families at all five AAD schools (elementary, middle, and high schools), as well as families at Newsome Park Elementary School in Newport News, Parkway Elementary School in Virginia Beach, and Fair Oaks Elementary School in Henrico County.

The Dreamers for Change Task Force was created in the summer of 2020 with a membership of staff, community members, and Dreamer alumni. The Task Force focused on work around equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. Task Force efforts later expanded to encompass An Achievable Dream’s DEI Framework.

The 28^th Annual Tennis Ball, A Virtual Mask-eurade Event, was held virtually on November 14, 2020. Guests enjoyed the Tennis Ball during socially distanced watch parties or from the comfort of their homes.

The 2^nd Annual A Night to Dream, a virtual speakeasy, was held on March 5, 2021 to benefit AAD Virginia Beach. Guests joined virtually and heard from AAD alumnus, Dr. Brian McGowan.

With plans for a permanent building underway, An Achievable Dream expanded to high school in Virginia Beach with ninth grade students at An Achievable Dream Middle and High School at Lynnhaven.

An Achievable Dream Certified Academy in Henrico County expanded to middle school with sixth-grade Dreamers at Fairfield Middle School.

An Achievable Dream broke ground on An Achievable Dream Middle and High School at Lynnhaven, projected to open in September 2023.

In partnership with Henrico County and Henrico County Public Schools, plans began for An Achievable Dream’s Middle and High School space at the Oak Avenue Complex (formerly Highland Springs High School). This innovative, collaborative space will include state-of-the-art facilities in a dedicated section for An Achievable Dream Middle and High School, and a shared community center and continuing education space from which AAD students and families will benefit as well.

An Achievable Dream welcomed Governor and First Lady Youngkin and Governor Youngkin’s cabinet members and leadership team on a Seatack Elementary An Achievable Dream Academy tour.

For the first time in a decade, Community Project Funding (formerly congressional earmarks) were made available and An Achievable Dream received significant Community Project Funding (CPF) through the offices of Congresswoman Elaine Luria for Virginia Beach and Congressman Donald McEachin for Henrico County.

An Achievable Dream celebrates its 30-year anniversary beginning July 1, 2022. As a family, we collectively celebrate all we have achieved together over thirty years, and all we have overcome. As the Dream community, we reflect back on the many years of life-changing work and with excitement, look ahead to the future.