ACCESS Academies is pleased to announce Terry Mehan as the newest member to our Board of Directors

Since the late 90’s Terry Mehan has advocated on behalf of students in Catholic schools. First, he served as the Associate Director at Loyola Academy teaching Spanish and offering support to the Executive Director as well as counseling services to students. He then moved to Christian Brothers College High School as the Director of Development to spearhead fundraising efforts.

In 2006, Mehan joined ACCESS Academies as the Director of Development to expand fundraising efforts, including new donor cultivation, and coordinate the annual Scholarship Dinner. He served until 2011 before returning to the schools and joining St. Cecilia School and Academy. There he has found a passion providing counseling and support for Academy graduates and their families as the Associate Graduate Support Director.

Maureen DePriest has been a Catholic educator for more than 20 years. After leaving the classroom, she’s served as principal of Notre Dame Catholic School before becoming the founding principal of St. Frances Cabrini. Later, she served as the Director of Mission Schools and Special Projects with the
Archdiocesan Catholic Education Office.

After many years of proven academic excellence, it is with great excitement that we announce Maureen DePriest has been promoted to Associate Superintendent for Elementary School Administration, following in the footsteps of Alan “Al” Winkelmann, whose retirement was announced earlier this year.

In addition to taking on this new leadership role, Maureen DePriest has accepted a position on the ACCESS Academies Board of Directors.

Other organizations DePriest actively supports include the Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation and the Principal Institute.

Previously, DePriest has been a convention speaker for the National Catholic Education Association. She’s also been a member of the Mayor’s Task Force on Education, St. Louis University Catholic Leadership Advisory Committee, Vincentian Partners Against Poverty Board, Youth Initiative Committee and the English Tutoring Project.

(Featured photo courtesy of Ladue News, Sarah Conard, Photographer.)

(Feature photo reprinted with permission from Ladue News.)

Al Winkelmann, Associate Superintendent for Elementary School Administration for the Archdiocese of St. Louis and active member of the ACCESS Academies Board of Directors, has retired after 30+ combined years of service to our community.

“Al is a role model for living your faith. By using the teachings of the Catholic church, he has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of education in our faith-based schools while expanding services and support to students and families in need. It is no surprise that his accolades outnumber his successes, and we wish him a peaceful retirement,” said John Vatterott, Board President.

Father Christopher Collins, SJ, Assistant Professor of Theological Studies and Assistant to the President for Mission and Identity at St. Louis University, has joined the ACCESS Academies Board of Directors. He assumed the role August 1st.

“It is an honor to welcome Father Collins to our board,” said Betsy Liberatore, Executive Director of ACCESS Academies.

“His expertise in academia as well as in faith and social issues inspires and motivates us to push further into our community and broaden our efforts as an organization,” she adds.

A member of the Peace and Justice Commission, Father Collins also is working to address societal issues such as poverty, racial tension and the lack of educational opportunities from a Catholic perspective.

Previously, Father Collins served as SLU’s Director of Catholic Studies and co-coordinator of the committee that established the Billiken Teacher Corps, a program allowing graduate students to earn a master’s degree while serving as teachers in Metro area Catholic schools.

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We would also like to note that Father Collins is a published author, whose latest book, “Three Moments of the Day: Praying with the Heart of Jesus” helps form simple, yet profound prayer habits.

He will be leading a day of prayer and reflection on Saturday, Sept. 12, 9am-2pm, at the Cardinal Rigali Center, 20 Archbishop May Drive.
Cost is $20. For more information, please call (314)792-7250.

The Employees Community Fund of Boeing St. Louis Awards $10,000 Grant to ACCESS Academies

ST. LOUIS, MO. July 28, 2015 – ACCESS Academies has received a one-year, $10,000 grant from the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of Boeing St. Louis in endorsement of the Graduate Support Program, which provides counseling and resources for Academy graduates as they pursue their secondary and post-secondary educational and career aspirations.

The ECF of Boeing St. Louis is an employee-owned and -directed giving program that allows employees to support the needs of the St. Louis community via tax-deductible recurring payroll deductions or one-time gifts. Boeing pays all administrative costs for the ECF so that 100 percent of every employee dollar contributed supports the community.

“We would like to thank Boeing, and its employees, for their support,” said Betsy Liberatore, Executive Director of ACCESS Academies. “The funds will be used to provide much-needed assistance to the mission and work of our Graduate Support Directors.”

Since the establishment of ACCESS Academies in 2005, Graduate Support Directors have been partnered with Archdiocesan middle schools to provide critical academic, social, and emotional support for low-income and/or minority students and their families for the next seven years of their educational journey. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Collaborating with school-based leadership and faculty to oversee the extended school day and mandatory summer school programs through the ACCESS middle school Academy
• Working with middle school students and their families to find a college-preparatory high school that fits the student’s unique personality and learning style. This includes high school visits, application support, financial guidance, and more through the ACCESS middle school Academy
• Transitioning Academy graduates from middle school to high school. This includes, but is not limited to, consistent high school visits, tutoring, mentoring, tuition scholarships, and monitoring each student’s individual academic growth and achievement through all four years of high school
• Providing post-secondary counseling and support for Academy graduates through college tours, ACT test prep, college application and essay support, and FAFSA counseling, as well as paying for all ACT tests and college applications
Impressively, more than 600 low-income students have benefited from the Graduate Support Directors’ support and services. What’s more, during the 2014-15 school year, 98% of Academy graduates were admitted to private, college-preparatory high schools; 99% graduated on-time; and 94% were accepted to a post-secondary institution.

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 this release, please click here)

We would like to announce that ACCESS Academies has moved to the campus of St. Louis University! It has been an exciting transition, and we look forward to settling into our new home. Please stop by and visit us in our new location:

• Our physical address is Wuller Hall, Suite #222, 3672 West Pine Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108
• Our mailing address is 3711 West Pine Mall, #222, St. Louis, MO 63108
• Our campus phone number is (314) 977-6359
• Please note, our former phone number (314)898-0430 also remains in operation during the transition.

We would also like to send a special note of thanks to Paul Miniorini and the Boys Hope/Girls Hope family, who, for the past several years, has generously shared office space with us in their corporate headquarters.

 

Photo descriptions:

• Betsy Liberatore, Executive Director of ACCESS Academies, is welcomed by Peg Weathers, Assistant Vice President, Community Relations, and Fr. Christopher Collins, SJ, Assistant to the President, Mission and Identity.
• Betsy Liberatore, Executive Director of ACCESS Academies, and Fr. Christopher Collins, SJ, Assistant to the President, Mission and Identity, celebrate new beginnings.
• Nick McDowell, Graduate Support Director at Most Holy Trinity School & Academy, brings several hardworking students to help with the move. These guys were awesome and we are eternally thankful for their support!
• Bobby Wassel, Assistsant Director-Service & Outreach for the Center for Service and Community Engagement, helps the team move and settle into the office.
• Nick McDowell, Graduate Support Director at Most Holy Trinity School & Academy, brings several hardworking students to help with the move. These guys were awesome and we are eternally thankful for their support!