Aniya is an ACCESS graduate from Most Holy Trinity School & Academy currently attending Trinity Catholic High School, where she is active in the Diversity Club. She also enjoys interacting with younger students and has been involved with our ACCESS Give Back Work-Study program for the past two years.

According to Nick McDowell, Aniya’s Graduate Support Director, she “has been an asset to the program and a leader among her peers. She has been a great role model for the younger students through the work-study program, and very proactive about her approach to her post-secondary options.”

Aniya will be attending Fontbonne University in the fall and plans to take several finance and business courses.

 

Gabe, an ACCESS graduate from St. Cecilia Academy and alumnus of St. Louis University High School, will be graduating this spring with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Saint Louis University.

“I chose Biomedical Engineering because I’ve always wanted to be able to improve the health of others via technological advancement.  After working in this field for 20-30 years, I really want to be a high school or college teacher.  This may seem like a weird aspiration, but I’ve always loved tutoring/helping others with school work and I feel like I would be a fun teacher.”

Gabe will be pursuing his Masters in Biomedical Engineering this coming fall at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

 

We are thrilled to recognize Maria D., a junior at Ursuline Academy, as a Graduate of Achievement!

After graduating from our Academy program at St. Cecilia, Maria wanted to attend an all-girls high school that would challenge her and expand her horizons, and was accepted to Ursuline, a nationally-recognized school of excellence.

To ensure that the school was and is a good fit for Maria, Mrs. Heidi Klosterman, her Graduate Support Director, visits often.

“Heidi is very attentive and always makes sure we are putting forth our best effort and doing well on our grades. It helps motivate me,” said Maria.

The challenging academic environment at Ursuline also taught Maria the importance of staying on top of her work and grades. She advises any prospective freshmen not to slack off in their studies.

“I wasn’t unprepared for Ursuline but wasn’t prepared enough to take on the amount of homework that I have. I didn’t realize how important it was to have a 4.0 my first year to maintain a cumulative GPA high enough to earn the Ursuline Scholars Award. At the end of my freshman year, I had a 3.6 GPA and wanted the white sweater,” she said.

Proudly, during her sophomore year, Maria was awarded First Honors for both the Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 semesters, and was presented the Principal’s Award for Academic Excellence for achieving a GPA of 4.0 or higher for both semesters. This year, she was awarded First Honors for the Fall 2017 semester and look forward to seeing her achievements this semester. We believe she is well on her way to earning the Ursuline Scholars Award.

Maria is also active in a variety of extracurricular activities, including Project USS, a club that helps raise funds for students who need financial aid, and Posse, a club that helps encourage school spirit by making posters for games and cheering in the stands.

After graduating high school, Maria hopes to attend Washington University, St. Louis University, or the University of Missouri – Kansas City to study neuroscience and pre-med.

“I find the brain fascinating, and don’t think many people realize how important it is, especially if it shuts off. I have heard a lot about tumors lately and want to help people,” Maria added.

We are beyond excited for Maria and will continue sharing updates on her achievements!

ST. LOUIS, MO. February 23, 2018 – ACCESS Academies is thrilled to welcome Gus Gast, a partner at Moneta Group Investment Advisors, as the newest member of our governing board.

“Gus will be a strong addition to our Board of Directors. He is an accomplished businessman, bringing decades of business strategy and management experience to our organization,” said Tom Mackowiak, Executive Director of ACCESS Academies.

Gast has worked at Moneta Group since 2002, providing financial advice on a broad range of topics including retirement planning, estate planning, philanthropy, risk management, investment management, income tax planning, employer benefits planning, education funding and business issues. Previously, he served as the Vice President – Finance for Financial Settlement Matrix and Max Broadcasting Network, two start-ups; Vice President- Treasurer for Thermadyne; and Audit Manager for Price Waterhouse, now PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Gast earned his B.S. in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant.

As a board member, Gast will work with other board members to oversee the strategic growth of the organization, including the launch of the ACCESS’ programs within a school in East St. Louis and enhancing the Graduate Support Program by adding college and career counseling and support services.

Since 2005, ACCESS has partnered with middle schools serving high-poverty populations to propel low-income, first-generation students from middle school into college and career success through a multi-year commitment of enrichment, guidance counseling, and scholarships. Academies are currently located in Most Holy Trinity Catholic School & Academy; St. Cecilia School & Academy; and St. Louis Catholic Academy. ACCESS is also laying the groundwork to open their Academy program at Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School in East St. Louis this Fall.

To date, ACCESS has impacted more than 1,100 disadvantaged students in the St. Louis region. Ninety-eight percent of its graduates have been accepted to private, college-prep high schools; 99 percent graduate on-time; and 96 percent are accepted to college or other post-secondary institutions.

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

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Press Release: ACCESS Academies Welcomes Gus Gast of Moneta Group as Newest Board Member

We are thrilled to recognize Leslie G., an eighth-grader at St. Cecilia School & Academy, as a Student of Achievement!

According to Mr. David Hackett, her Graduate Support Counselor, Leslie is “an incredibly bright student and strong critical thinker. She has a strong work ethic and is a leader among her peers; this past semester Leslie excelled in her studies, achieving a near perfect GPA.”

Leslie, who is a member of St. Cecilia’s Student Council, has been accepted into Villa Duchesne.

 

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Favorite Teacher: “Mrs. Beyer because she wanted us to be overachievers. If we were assigned 15 facts then she wanted us to do more. She always wanted us to do our best and pushed us harder.”

Current Academy Programs: Young Professionals, Crafts, Harmonica, Study Hall, Piano, and Hip Hop

Favorite Academy Program: “Study Hall because it helps me complete my homework so I don’t have to do it at home. I also like having time to talk with my teachers. Sometimes I have math homework and it helps me having the extra time to ask questions.”

Career Aspirations: “I want to become a crime scene investigator. I find it very interesting and it is a great way to help people.”

Role Model: Michelle Obama because she is a leader, very outgoing.  She is her own person and I like how she helps young women around the world.

ACCESS Academies is thrilled to recognize Joachim F., an eighth-grader at St. Louis Catholic Academy, as a Student of Achievement!

According to Ms. Joslyn Sandford, Joachim’s Graduate Support Director, he “definitely marches to his own beat and isn’t afraid to try new things. He is open to accepting any challenges especially if it’s to better himself. He takes the initiative to motivate his class to be the leaders of the school.”

A student at the school since 5th grade, Joachim is a talented artist and is very interested in animation. He aspires to become a game designer, graphic artist or an author of comic books.

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Current Homeroom Teacher: Mr. Peter Jones

Favorite Teacher: One of the best teachers I have ever had is Miss. McBride, my preschool teacher.

Favorite Subject: Language Arts, because I like reading. I just finished reading Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods.

Current Academy Programs: Young Professionals, 4H Leadership, Robotics, Man Up, and High School Prep.

Favorite Academy Program: I like High School Prep because I like being prepared and it is helping us get ready for high school. Last semester I had to choose three of my favorite high schools and share what I liked about the high schools and why I felt they would be good choices for me.

Fondest Memory of School (So Far): Recently, my classmates and I went on a retreat and met the REAP Team. It was a lot of fun. We watched skits, did group activities, and talked about real-life situations.

What are you looking Forward To: I run the short distance and am looking forward to joining the track team in high school.

Prospective High Schools: I am hoping to attend John Burroughs, Chaminade, or Ladue High Schools.

Role Model: My dad is my role model because every time I do wrong he teaches me right.  He is always there for me.