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3500 Lindell Boulevard
Fitzgerald Hall, Room 200
St. Louis, MO 63103

314.898.0430

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ACCESS to Award $552,000 in Scholarships

ACCESS to Award $552,000 in High School Tuition Scholarships to 8th Grade Students

ST. LOUIS, MO. April 24, 2014– Forty-six middle school students who are completing ACCESS Academies’ rigorous middle school curriculum program will receive over $550,000 in tuition dollars the next four years to attend 13 private, college preparatory high schools in St. Louis. These scholarships are in addition to tuition scholarships already pledged to current high school students served by ACCESS.

“All of our 8th grade students were accepted to their high school of choice, and we are proud of the hard work and dedication shown by our students to earn academic admittance to these schools,” said Blake Youde, executive director of ACCESS Academies.

Founded in 2005, ACCESS Academies transforms the challenging middle school years into a launching pad for high school success for socially/economically disadvantaged students in faith-based schools in St. Louis by using a proven educational model, which includes 10-hour school days, mandatory summer school, and parental involvement. Nearly 600 students are currently enrolled and/or have successfully completed the program.

After completing the middle school curriculum, ACCESS students then enter the Graduate Support Program, which provides additional support at the high school level through tutoring, mentoring, tuition scholarships, and counseling. As a result, 99% of students graduate high school on time. High school students will also participate in ACT test prep courses, make college campus visits and receive assistance in completing college admissions applications. As a result, 93% are admitted to colleges and/or universities, many of whom are first-generation college students in their families.

“ACCESS makes a seven-year commitment to each student served, beginning in sixth grade, through high school graduation and college acceptance. The results speak for themselves. Our students are now enrolled at colleges and universities throughout the country,” added Youde.

The ACCESS Academies’ middle school program is found at three partner schools, including:
*Most Holy Trinity School and Academy at 1435 Mallinckrodt St.
*St. Cecilia School and Academy at 906 Eichelberger
*St. Louis the King School at the Cathedral at 4430 Maryland Ave.

For more information regarding this release, please contact Julie Linder, Public Relations for ACCESS Academies, by calling  (573) 268-0639.

For a printable copy of the release, please click here.

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News

Graduate Returns from Program in Panama

ACCESS Academies Graduate Returns from Successful Cultural Immersion Program in Panama

ST. LOUIS, MO. February 17, 2014– Jennifer Carrillo, a NativityMiguel graduate, has returned from a cultural immersion program in Panama, thus completing the final academic requirement for her Bachelor’s Degree in International Business at St. Louis University.

“I chose Panama because of my Hispanic heritage and my abilities to speak Spanish fluently,” said Carrillo.

The only person in her delegation with the ability to speak Spanish, she was very valuable spokesperson for the group.

“When we went to the villages I was the only one who could speak with residents, and when the businesses presented, I was able to overcome many language barriers that prevented our group from having a successful conversation. It feels great to be able to communicate in two languages, and it gives me great confidence.”

Panama has been recognized by the international business world as having the strongest economic growth in Latin America. Because of its strategic location, it is an international transportation hub as well as trading, banking, and services epicenter. According to export.gov, Panama’s dollar-based economy offers low inflation in comparison with neighboring countries and zero foreign exchange risk. Its government is stable and democratic and actively seeks foreign investment in all sectors, especially services, tourism and retirement properties.

“Panama’s way of doing business is very different. The businesses there succeed because they are relationship-based, and are very encouraging to outside entrepreneurship. I enjoyed the fact that the businesses there were very social and open to ideas, which is why I believe their economy has not failed,” said Carrillo.Â

Jennifer Carrillo is the first in her family to go to college, and thanks to hard work and dedication, she will graduate in three and a half years from one of the most respect universities in the area, St. Louis University. An impressive feat considering the U.S. Department of Education cites the average amount of time taken by college students to obtain their bachelor’s degree to be six years and four months.

In addition to averaging 18 credit hours a semester, Carrillo successfully works a job, serves as the Vice President for SLU’s Hispanic-American Leadership Organization (HALO), and helps her family by providing additional support and care for her five younger siblings. She attended St. Cecilia School and Academy, an ACCESS partner school, before graduating from Nerinx Hall.

“ACCESS opened doors for me. From an in-depth education to tuition scholarships and graduate support, they helped pave the way for me to achieve my personal goals. I am graduating college and I am excited for what comes next,” says Carrillo.Â

For more information regarding this release, please contact Julie Linder, Public Relations for ACCESS Academies, by calling (573) 268-0639.

For a printable copy of the release, please click here.Â

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Pictured: Jennifer Carrillo, in blue, located in the second row on the right side, with her peers and program coordinators in the cultural immersion program in Panama.Â

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News

Filmmaking Program Teaches Valuable Lesson

Filmmaking Program at St. Louis the King Teaches Valuable Lesson While Enhancing Student Skills

ST. LOUIS, MO. December 10, 2013– NativityMiguel students at St. Louis the King School at the Cathedral are learning the art of filmmaking and enjoying the experience.

“Today we are learning how to write a short skit script. It is fun, but my favorite assignment is improv(isation),” said Jared Scott, an 8th grader.

Taught by Gus Robinson Jr., the filmmaking program is taught over the course of 16 weeks to all middle school students in the ACCESS Academy.

“Each grade is making their own anti-bullying video while learning the entire process of film making,â” said Robinson.

Included in the instruction is video shooting (camera holding and positioning), designing storyboards, writing scripts, producing video (directing), transferring video files, editing and formatting, downloading and adding music, and video transitioning.

“My goal is to teach students how to create videos that share a positive and healthy message. All too often personal and recreational videos are lacking in this regard,” added Robinson.

At St. Louis the King, NativityMiguel students are learning how bullying affects children, and are creating their own anti-bullying message to share with their classmates and friends.

Jared Scott was hard at work writing on the day’s short skit script assignment, which required students to create a learning situation on either preventing bullying or stopping bullying as it was occurring. The skit required characters (a bully and a person being bullied), a scene, and a list of classmates who Scott felt would be good actors in the roles.

“My character’s name is “Robert” and he is real smart. He is in math class and says something smart when “AJ” coughs ‘nerd’, making the class laugh. I am having Robert tell AJ how that makes him feel,” said Scott, writing intently, barely looking up from his paper.

“I focus on letting the kids express their creativity, especially in writing. After we go over it together to see if their decision is right or wrong, and why,” said Robinson.

The filmmaking program is taught three days a week at St. Louis the King School at the Cathedral. At the end of the 16 week session, each grade will have created a 5-10 minute anti-bullying video. For more information regarding this release, please contact Julie Linder, Public Relations for ACCESS Academies, by calling (573) 268-0639.

For a printable copy of the release, please click here.Â

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Pictured: Gus Robinson Jr. and Jared Scott working together during a review of the student-made anti-bullying video introduction.

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Saigh Foundation Awards $10K Grant

The Saigh Foundation Awards $10K Grant to ACCESS Academies

ST. LOUIS, MO. November 5, 2013 –The Saigh Foundation has awarded ACCESS Academies a one-year, $10,000 grant in endorsement of ACCESS’ Graduate Support Program, which provides counsel and resources for NativityMiguel graduates as they pursue their secondary and post-secondary educational and career aspirations.

The Saigh Foundation, founded by former St. Louis Cardinals owner, Fred M. Saigh, assists St. Louis–area organizations that benefit children and youth, primarily in the areas of education and health care. The Foundation is particularly interested in stimulating the development of new ventures, as well as in supporting organizations that feature innovative approaches or programs.Â

“We would like to thank the Saigh Foundation for their support, and will use this grant to enhance the Academy’s seven-year commitment to our NativityMiguel graduates through the work of our Graduate Support Specialists,” said Blake Youde, Executive Director of ACCESS Academies.

ACCESS Academies provides a unique college preparatory education for economically and/or socially disadvantaged students in under-represented neighborhoods in the city of St. Louis through the NativityMiguel Model of Education program, which:

  • Extends the school day and school year from 6-8th grade to provide additional academic support. This includes a robust academic curriculum, homework assistance, service projects, and enrichment.
  • Encourages family involvement to further support the physical, social, emotional, and academic well-being of each student.
  • Eases the transition into high school and college through the Graduate Support Program.

ACCESS Academies’ Graduate Support Specialists visit NativityMiguel graduates at area college-preparatory high schools quarterly for two purposes: first, to interact and support students in their current academic environments; and secondly, to encourage college and career planning. This includes, but not limited to, tutoring, mentoring, academic scholarships, and monitoring each student’s individual academic growth and achievement.

Since the establishment of ACCESS Academies in 2005, more than 567 students have benefited from its services.

For more information regarding this release, please contact Julie Linder, Public Relations for ACCESS Academies, by calling (573) 268-0639.

For a printable pdf of this release, please click here. Â

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Graduate Featured in Award-Winning Series

ACCESS Graduate Featured in Award-Winning “What Would You Fight For?” Series

ST. LOUIS, MO. October 23, 2013 – Former ACCESS Academy graduate, Luis Llanos has been featured in the University of Notre Dame’s award-winning “What Would You Fight For?” series.

Now in its seventh season, the series showcases the work, scholarly achievements, and global impact of Notre Dame faculty, students, and alumni. These two-minute segments, each originally aired during a home football game broadcast on NBC, highlight the University’s proud moniker, the Fighting Irish, and tell the stories of the members of the Notre Dame family who fight to bring solutions to a world in need.

Luis Llanos segment, titled “Fighting to Build Bridges,” highlights his time as a member of Notre Dame Students Empowering through Engineering Development (NDSEED), a service projects course that partners with Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), a nonprofit organization that builds bridges in impoverished areas. It aired on October 19th as the UND defeated USC 14-10.  (Click here to view the video)

Luis Llanos is a 2006 NativityMiguel graduate of the ACCESS program at St. Cecilia School & Academy, and a 2010 graduate from St. Louis University High School. He is currently enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering program at the University of Notre Dame, where he is expected to graduate in the spring of 2014. After graduation, Llanos hopes to work in the renewable energy industry.

For more information regarding this release, please contact Julie Linder, Public Relations for ACCESS Academies, by calling (573) 268-0639.

For a printable pdf of this release, please click here.Â

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Energizer Charitable Trust Awards $10K Grant

Energizer Charitable Trust Awards $10K Grant to ACCESS Academies

ST. LOUIS, MO. September 30, 2013 – Energizer Charitable Trust, which supports not-for-profit organizations whose programs address the educational needs of children and young adults in underserved and disadvantaged communities, has awarded ACCESS Academies a one-year, $10,000 grant.

“We thank Energizer Holdings for the support they have shown us, and will use this grant to advance our seven-year commitment to each student through the NativityMiguel Model of Education,” said Blake Youde, Executive Director of ACCESS Academies.

ACCESS Academies provides a unique college preparatory education for economically and/or socially disadvantaged students in under-represented neighborhoods in city of St. Louis through the NativityMiguel Model of Education program, which:

  • Extends the school day and school year from 6-8th grade to provide additional academic support. This includes a robust academic curriculum, homework assistance, service projects, and enrichment.
  • Encourages family involvement to further support the physical, social, emotional, and academic well-being of each student.
  • Eases the transition to high school and into college through graduate support. This includes, but not limited to, tutoring, mentoring, academic scholarships, and monitoring each student’s individual academic growth and achievement through high school and into college.

Since its establishment in 2005, more than 567 students have benefited from ACCESS’s services.

For more information regarding this release, please contact Julie Linder, Public Relations for ACCESS Academies, by calling (573) 268-0639.

 For a printable pdf of the release, please click here.Â

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