Fourth Annual St. Louis NativityMiguel Scholarship Fund Dinner Raises More Than $400,000 to Support More Than 300 Underprivileged Students

Fundraiser Honors Archbishop Robert J. Carlson and 100-plus 2012 Graduates

ST. LOUIS – More than 300 underprivileged St. Louis city students are receiving private high school tuition support thanks to the generosity of donors at the St. Louis NativityMiguel Scholarship Fund Dinner.  The June 6, 2012 event celebrated the more than 100 middle school students who graduated from NativityMiguel schools in 2012; raised more than $400,000 in high school tuition assistance to support graduates of all seven NativityMiguel schools; and honored Archbishop Robert J. Carlson for his efforts to improve Catholic education. More than 96 percent of NativityMiguel graduates attend college-prep high schools.

“NativityMiguel’s foundation of faith, disciplined study habits, parental engagement, and scholarship support have combined to allow its graduates to fully develop their God-given talents,” said Archbishop Carlson.  He also noted that the Nativity Miguel Scholarships provide an opportunity for students to experience a faith-based school that advances the Church’s mission of social justice through academic excellence.

The more than 100 middle school students who graduated from St. Louis NativityMiguel schools in 2012 were honored at the annual St. Louis NativityMiguel Scholarship Fund Dinner, which raised more than $400,000 for college prep high school tuition support.

Nearing the end of his third year as head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis, Archbishop Carlson has been a strong supporter of Catholic education, emphasizing the need to make quality education available for all students, regardless of religious affiliation. He has launched a new effort – the Mission Advancement Initiative – to improve Catholic schools, ensuring performance and stability. He was honored for his work on behalf of students from low-income families.

The event was a collaboration of ACCESS Academies, which supports three NativityMiguel schools – St. Louis the King School at the Cathedral, Most Holy Trinity Academy and St. Cecilia Academy – plus three independent NativityMiguel schools – De La Salle Middle School, Loyola Academy and Marian Middle School, along with 21 area college-prep high schools. The fundraiser also benefits graduates of the Academy at King of Glory Lutheran School, which closed in 2011 but still has graduates in high school.

“We are grateful to our donors,” said Tom Nolan, executive director of ACCESS Academies.  “With the cost of private, high school education increasing an estimated 4.5 percent this year, the need for tuition assistance is essential if students are to realize their full potential in one of our many fine college prep high schools.”

The NativityMiguel education model features a rigorous middle school academic program to prepare students for success in college-prep high schools. The model includes a 10-hour school day, a 10-1/2-month school year, mandatory parental involvement and a demanding

Funds raised at the event will bridge the gap between the cost of private, college-prep high schools and the tuition available from each student’s family, the financial aid provided by the 21 participating high schools, and the high school scholarships provided to each student by his or her NativityMiguel

St. Louis college-prep schools currently with NativityMiguel graduates are:

ACCESS engages the community in education’s role in prosperity in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Tom Nolan discusses ACCESS Academies on KMOX Total Information AM

121 Graduates of St. Louis NativityMiguel Schools Honored at Scholarship Fundraiser That Generates $400,000

An icon of St. Louis education and the inspiring success of 121 students from low income neighborhoods were saluted at the third annual St. Louis NativityMiguel Scholarship Dinner. The June 8, 2011 event honored former University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Blanche M. Touhill and the 2011 graduates of the St. Louis NativityMiguel middle schools, more than 96 percent of whom will attend college-preparatory high schools. The dinner raised $400,000 to benefit the graduates. Download News Release

Blanche Touhill to be honored at fundraiser for NativityMiguel grads

SCHOOL RULES: Friends of education will gather on June 8 at the Chase Park Plaza to fete longtime educator and NativityMiguel middle schools supporter, Blanche Touhill.

The fundraiser will benefit the graduates of St. Louis’ seven Nativity Miguel middle schools, and help them pay tuitions at area college-prep high schools. Touhill, a former chancellor of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, is being honored for her dedication to the advancement and accessibility of higher education for St. Louisans, paricular urban youth, for nearly 50 years. St. Louis Post-Dispatch article

Heidi Klosterman’s title at St. Cecilia Academy in South St. Louis is graduate support counselor, but it may as well be the good shepherd. Download St. Louis Review