LEWISTON — Binto Matan, 18, who was born in Kenya to a Somali family, has applied to four or five colleges with help from Tree Street Youth Center.

She came to Lewiston in 2005, the same year she arrived in the U.S. She’s attended Longley, McMahon, Montello, Lewiston Middle School and Lewiston High School.

Like the Lewiston High School Aspirations Lab, Tree Street staffers helped her and others explore career options. During Matan’s sophomore year she took classes in gourmet baking. “They helped me realize my passion is baking,” she said.

She is finishing a second year studying culinary arts at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center. “Dan Caron is the greatest teacher ever,” she said.

When it was time to fill out college applications, at first it seemed overwhelming, she said. “At times I would have given up.”

She’s been accepted at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., and is waiting for a few more acceptance letters.

Matan wants to work as a baker and hopes to someday own a bakery.

Carrys Ngoy, 19, is another Lewiston High senior getting help from Tree Street in applying to colleges. He came to Lewiston from the Democratic Republic of the Congo one year ago.

“I spoke French and people couldn’t understand me,” he said. His friend, Isaac Kabuika, introduced him to Tree Street.

Ngoy recently applied to several colleges. “I’m waiting to hear if I’m accepted,” he said. His career plans are to be an architect or an engineer.

“That’s my dream since I was 9 years old, he said. “My father used to ask me what I wanted to do. That’s my dream.”