|
|
, I hope you'll take a moment to enjoy the following story.
|
|
De La Salle Middle School
Making College Dreams Come True
Kimberly-Ann with De La Salle Graduate Support Director, Melissa Brickey  | Kimberly-Ann Collins, a De La Salle Middle School alumna, describes herself as a "very confident, outgoing young woman who gives hugs instead of handshakes, and likes to explore new things and meet new people." A very bright 2010 graduate of St. Elizabeth Academy, Kimberly-Ann just started her freshman year by entering the pre-med program at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. Along with the usual college room accessories (in case you're curious, Kimberly-Ann's color scheme is lime green and pink), she is also bringing, through hard-work and dedication to academic excellence, three scholarships to UMKC. The most notable of these includes the prestigious Horatio Alger Scholarship, given to college-bound students who have "demonstrated integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity."
Kimberly-Ann has certainly faced much adversity in her young life. Her father died of a heart attack when she was fourteen years old, leaving only her mother to raise Kimberly-Ann and her older sister and brother. It wasn't easy being raised in the Ville Neighborhood, one of the oldest and one of the poorest African-American neighborhoods in St. Louis, but through her mother's dedication to providing a supportive environment for her children, Kimberly-Ann stayed away from drugs and gangs.
Kimberly-Ann was introduced to De La Salle Middle School by her grandmother and entered as a sixth-grader in 2003. And it wasn't easy at first. Kimberly-Ann wanted to fit in, but she often ended up arguing with the other students. Fortunately, De La Salle's unique behavior intervention system - which teaches students to identify the feelings behind their disruptive behaviors - helped provide Kimberly-Ann the discipline she needed to succeed academically, socially and emotionally. "De La Salle really helped me get my act together - it is like no other middle school."
De La Salle also helped Kimberly-Ann start to dream about and plan for her future, including college. "I wasn't thinking about college at first, but as a class we went on a college-exposure trip each year." In addition to promoting a college-bound culture through these trips, De La Salle's Graduate Support program helped Kimberly-Ann by staying involved and invested in her education following middle-school graduation. This program not only helped Kimberly as she navigated and successfully completed St. Elizabeth's Academy, but it also prepared Kimberly-Ann to seek a degree from a four-year college.
Melissa Brickey, De La Salle's Graduate Support Director, describes Kimberly-Ann as, "a joy to be around because of her enthusiasm and curiosity. She is confident, believes in herself and has committed herself to affecting change." Kimberly-Ann believes that she is somebody who will affect change for the community around her, as well: "I chose pre-med because I want to become a pathologist and find a cure for heart disease. It is the number one disease among African Americans, and that needs to change."
Kimberly-Ann is only one of almost 100 graduates of De La Salle Middle School, each of whom we believe will achieve their dreams and, in the process, change our world. We wish Kimberly-Ann much success during her freshman year of college and look forward to keeping you posted on her accomplishments along the way!
If you would like to offer congratulations to Kimberly-Ann on her outstanding accomplishments, please click here to send her an email.
|
Join us for De La Salle's 7th Annual Golf Event
Saturday, October 2nd at the Norman K. Probstein Community Golf Course in Forest Park
Join us for a day of golf and fun to benefit the students of De La Salle Middle School:
* 12:00 pm - Lunch & Registration
* 1:30 pm - Shotgun Start
* 5:30 pm - Dinner & Silent Auction
* Platinum Sponsor - $5,000 (Foursome, sign, program listing
& public recognition) * Event Sponsor - $2,500 (Foursome, sign & program listing) * Event Patron - $1,000 (Foursome & program listing) * Hole Sponsor - $250+ (Recognition sign at hole) * Foursome - $600 * Golfer(s) - $150/ea * Dinner Only - $25/ea
Learn more and purchase tickets on our website.
|
De La Salle Family Loses Home to Storm
Will You Help?
Tree damages house - photo courtesy KSDK  | A storm that passed through the St. Louis area last Thursday ripped the roof off the home of De La Salle incoming 6th grade student Briana Williams and her brother, Devin, who graduated in 2009. As you can see in this KSDK video, the home has been destroyed. Luckily, no one in the family was injured, and they have found temporary housing.
Unfortunately, they have lost all of their possessions due to water damage, and their mother, Deborah, has turned to De La Salle for help in finding clothes for her children. We hope you will help us provide Briana, Devin and Deborah with clothing in one of the following ways: - Bring new or gently used clothes to De La Salle Middle School, 4145 Kennerly, St. Louis, MO. (Briana, size 13 Junior pants/shorts, large top/jacket, size 9 woman shoe; Devin, large Men's shirt/jacket, 34/34 pants/shorts, size 11 shoe; Deborah, Women 18 or 20 pants/skirts, XL top/jacket, size 11 woman shoe) For directions to De La Salle, click here;
- Bring or mail a giftcard for a store that carries clothing, such as Target, to the school;
- Or, click here to make an online donation to be used for clothing via our secure website (donations made on our website before Friday, August 27th will be used to purchase clothes).
Thank you in advance for helping a De La Salle family! If you have questions, please feel free to contact Melynie Blackshear at mblackshear@delasallems.org or 314/531-9820.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
