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In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Grads, Golf & Gratitude
New Staff Announcements
Hope Prep Highlights
Get Involved!
Shop for BHGH
Upcoming Events
Ginger Bay Spatacular!
July 18 
5pm-9pm

Where Hope Lives Open Houses

Girls Hope
August 4th 
4:30pm

Boys Hope
September 8th
4:30pm

RSVP to:

Evening of Hope
October 23
The Palladium

Holiday Boutique & Luncheon
 December 3
Sunset Country Club
Meet a Scholar!
Janaya
Rising 7th Grade

Why She Came:
She heard BHGH would help her with her education, help her be a woman for others as she grew up, and prepare her for college

Favorite Thing About Girls Hope:
Living with all the girls is like being with sisters she has never had.

Hardest Thing About Girls Hope:
Living with all the girls-they really are like sisters.

2 Things She Wants to Pursue:
-studying medicine for those with cancer
-singing and acting

Excited/Nervous About:
7th grade-It is exciting, but the work will be harder.

Hopes For:

"I hope that I do graduate from college and do grow up to be a doctor and help other people"


Collegian Spotlight
Demetrice
Rising Sophomore
Quincy University

Major
Business

Accomplishments:
Demetrice had an academically successful freshman year while starting on the Qunicy football team. For the summer, he is enjoying interning with the Archdiocese of New Orleans and exploring the doors that are opening to him there.

On BHGH Support and New Opportunities:
I am thankful and grateful for all that has been done to help me.
Special Thanks 

We would like to acknowledge the following supporters for their vital generosity:
Ascension Health Care

Cardinals Care

The Dana Brown Charitable Trust

Employees Community Fund of Boeing

Executive Functions Management (Gateway 2 Innovation)

Jordan Charitable Trust

Old Newsboys Fund

Pershing Charitable Trust

Herman T. & Phenie R. Pott Foundation

The Saigh Foundation

St. Louis Service Bureau

DeWitt & Caroline Van Evra Foundation

George Von Hoffmann Foundation

Message from the Director

Summer is here! Graduation is over and three of our alumni are readying themselves for their college journeys to begin in the Fall. Our current scholars have scattered to the winds to attend camps near and far; and some will get a taste of college through our annual college camp experience in Nebraska.  New boys' house candidates are going through the application process and eagerly await word on whether or not they will be joining our family. The Hope Prep staff are preparing for their first class of seniors in high school. 

 

On the staffing front, some of our old friends have moved on to the next phase of their lives and their replacements are coming on board. Our new Program Director, Angela Whitlow, starts on Monday, July 6th. Annual staff training will take place late July and early August. The golf tournament was both a lot of fun and a great success. The Hope Builds Capital Campaign is going gangbusters. The design of our new campus is being completed, subcontractors are being lined up and the shovels will be hitting the dirt on August 3. 

 

So much for the lazy days of summer; and I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be. Happy 4th of July Everyone!

 

Deacon Farrelly

Graduations, Golf & Gratitude
Seth graduated as "Man of the Year" from De Smet Jesuit High.
We have been thrilled to celebrate our three graduating seniors this spring and to support them as they prepare to start college in the fall! Michael, Seth & Alik have grown immensely during their years at Boys Hope and have served as leaders and role models in and outside of the house. Michael has already begun training with the Iowa State football team, which signed him on a full scholarship, Alik is excited to begin studying Chemical Engineering at Clark-Atlanta University, and Seth has already spoken as a new BHGH collegian representative several times this summer as he prepares to begin his freshmen year at Washington University in St. Louis with a full ride.

Top: Janaya & India volunteered with Jan to drive the snack cart.
Bottom: Brandon golfed on a team with his mentor, Dick Schul, for the day.
At our Golf Tournament last Monday, Seth shared his reflections on the ways that Boys Hope Girls Hope has changed the odds and made an irreplicable difference in his life to bring him to where he is today. His speech was one of many highlights on a very warm and successful day of golf and giving. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and their guests we were able to meet our goal, raising $144,295 to continue changing the trajectory of promising young people in our community.

Another group who could not be more vital to the success of our scholars are the youth volunteers who devote countless hours to establishing transformational relationships and building a network of support for scholars. This year, we have been overwhelmingly grateful for their tireless efforts as mentors, tutors, meal parents, and drivers. The have been a part of late night study sessions, track meets, skills workshops, awards celebrations, and all of the little moments in between. 

We have been impressed by the initiative many volunteers have taken to create new opportunities for scholars and  further support them as a community. With mentors who have facilitated skills workshops and served as home visiting resources and tutors willing to jump in with community service efforts and the new Scholar Council, we know we are incredibly fortunate. In response, scholars once again helped to plan and execute a Volunteer Recognition BBQ this May, creating and presenting individualized awards for the volunteers who had impacted each of them. Volunteers also received a flower pot and seeds as a reminder of the schoalrs' sentiment, "Thank you for helping us grow!"

Highlights from Volunteer Recognition


















 Welcoming Our New Teammates!
Angela Whitlow 
Program Director
We are thrilled to announce that on July 6th, Angela Whitlow, a skilled advocate for BHGH who has served as head of our Program Committee, will be taking over as our new Program, Director. Angela is a "champion of first-generation college students" and has years of experience on the forefront of college access in St. Louis. As founder and director of Irons in the Fire, she brings with her a wealth of knowledge and resources, and we are excited that our scholars and program will benefit from her commitment and skill.

A host of other new faces have joined the BHGH family over the past few months to fill key roles in the residential program. They have valuable and diverse backgrounds in social work, college access, financial aid counseling, volunteering, and coaching. Each has already proven themselves a true all-start, jumping in mid-year and learning on the go to ensure that scholars didn't loose any momentum in pursuing their goals. If you run into them, take a moment to meet these wonderful additions to our team.
Lisa Rose
Girls Hope RC
Breanna Branch
Academic Achievement Coordinator
 
Candace Williams,
Girls Hope RC
  
Travis Meyer
Boys Hope RC
 

 

 

Spring & Summer Hope Prep Highlights


 

Hope Prep Scholars Academy has been busy! Towards the end of the school year, each class of scholars wrapped up their respective programming and jumped right into various summer opportunities, including the YMCA's Camp Lakewood, BHGH national camps, and a number of other exciting endeavors.
 

Many of the scholars attending Campus Camp were excited for their first flight.

Class of 2016 (rising seniors)

Accountability groups proved to be a success this year. Students and a volunteer or board member met together monthly in groups of 3 or 4, exploring topics ranging from the importance of professionalism and career selection to hands on community service and job shadowing experiences. All of this culminated in a celebratory dinner where scholars were given the opportunity to present their mentors with awards and discuss ways to maintain the relationships they fostered. In July, the seniors will be attending the BHGH national Collegiate Prep camp to give them a feel for campus life and get them started on the application process.

Karisah, Emani & Devon went with Jack Cahill for their job shadowing excursion.


 

We want to give a shout out to Karisah for two exciting recent accomplishments. Last month, she was awarded $200 for winning a poetry contest for which she reflected on her experiences in Ferguson this year. She also took part in a Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship competition and ended up presenting the winning business plan to a panel of industry judges at St. Louis University. She will be given the chance to work a mentor to refine her idea and bring it to a regional competition next year.


 

Every card displayed the effort and creativity of the sophomores.
Class of 2017(rising juniors)

The rising junior class of Hope Prep Scholars wrapped up their year with a Community Service Learning project dedicated to celebrating staff and faculty members at McCluer South-Berkeley High

 School. Over a month was dedicated to creating personalized cards for each one. Gift bags were distributed and the teacher's lounge was decorated all with the intent of demonstrating how much they appreciate the hard work and dedication put into educating them everyday.


 

This summer, these scholars are looking forward to the annual "rising junior" road trip to Chicago with Hope Prep. During this tour they will visit Columbia College, DePaul University, and Loyola University, in addition to learning what the Windy City has to offer. Deonta will also be attending the rigorous and selective MODOT summer camp in July, and Taujh will be attending the National Scholars Institute's Advanced Leadership Seminar at the University of Iowa.


 

Class of 2018 (rising sophomores)

Last year's 9th grade scholars designed the annual carnival for MSB's Head Start program. From manually creating a bean bag toss game to generating a playlist for musical chairs, they met this challenge with vigor and ingenuity. This summer, the class will travel to Jefferson City and Columbia, MO to tour the State Capitol, Lincoln University, and the University of Missouri-Columbia. Duane will have the opportunity to attend the National Scholars Institute's Advanced Leadership Seminar at the University of Iowa.


 

8th Grade scholars organized ticket sales for their fund raiser.


 

Class of 2019 (rising freshmen)

Our former 8th grade scholars ended the school year by running the annual PJ and Hat Day fundraiser, selling tickets that allowed peers to wear these clothing items throughout the school day. All funds raised were donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Saint Louis, the scholars' chosen charity. Thus far this summer, three of these scholars-Arionna, Nathan, and Markita-represented in BHGH's annual Golf Tournament, and Yahcyria and Ja'Neice have joined the Norwood Hills Golf Caddying program. Additionally, the scholars attended BHGH's annual Campus Camp at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

Get Involved!

 

We are are already collecting school supplies for next year to be distributed to all scholars at our Back-to-School Gathering in August. Please contact Caitlin Bone with questions or to arrange drop-off times.

 

Provide a Meal for the one of the homes. This is a vital help to our residential staff and a wonderful treat for scholars! To sign-up on our Care Calendar, contact Caitlin for instructions. 
 

 

Sign up to send a Care Package to a Collegian Here
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   Call: 314-692-7477
       Mail To: 755 S New Ballas Road, Suite 120
St. Louis, MO 63141