After Two Years of Planning

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AFTER TWO YEARS OF PLANNING, The Steppingstone Foundation launched its newest initiative— the College Success Academy— in July, based in two Boston public K-8 schools, the Edison and the Jackson/Mann. While most of their classmates had put away their textbooks for the summer, the pilot class of 46 Scholars at the College Success Academy were rolling up their sleeves for six weeks of classes in math, English/ Language Arts, science, and VWXG\VNLOOVWRQDPHDIHZɻ Photo credit: Meg Birnbaum Photography Photo credit: Meg Birnbaum Photography Photo credit:MegBirnbaum Success Academy. Terrero attheJuly6launchofCollege CSA ScholarsLudnerExantusandLeandra Mayor ThomasMeninosharesalaughwith Reggie Farina’94 Christina Wing-O’Donnell John S.Weinberg John G.Simon Brent EdwardShay Karl W. Reid,Ed.D. A. PeterMonaco,Jr. Dr. RichardI.Melvoin Isabelle Loring Allison Johnson William Helman Andrew Hahn Richard Friedman Epker Bart Michael P. Danziger Brian J.Conway, Chairman Clagett Robert Chuck Brizius Amy SmithBerylson ofDirectors Board Steppingstone Foundation 2 FALL 2011 NEWS (continued from front) (continued from of theprogram.” supportivecommunity and astrong, The Steppingstone Academyover20yearsago thatwhatwasimportantto good forothers.SeeingCSA’slaunch isaffirmation todo fordependability,andtheirgenuinedesire integrity, theirappreciation butsowilltheirsense of skillswillimprove, confidence. Thestudents’classroom and fosterpersonalgrowth its students,andthatthesecharacteristics inturn engendersauthenticityandhumilityin methattheprogram visit reminded The supportiverelationships. nity filledwithgoodpeoplewhobuildsincere, acommu- foryears—thatSteppingstonecontinuestofocusoncreating ered however,lenge. MyvisittoCSAconfirmed, whatIknewbuthadn’tconsid- uptothatchal- goal—Steppingstone hasshowntimeandagainthatthey’re successisCSA’send in actionmeanstome.Yes, educatingstudentsforfuture Academy Scholarsandallthosewhohavefollowed. did withthefirstSteppingstone ofCSAScholars,justasTSAstaff with thisgroup mentors,advisors,andsupporterswhowillbuildlife-longrelationships they’re – thanjuststaff more challenging theScholars.Andyoucouldtellthatthey’re to answerquestionsaskedofthem.Thefacultywaspalpablydedicated to somethingnewthatday.You couldsensetheirmindsworking intently learning in focused,curious,andinterested important similarities.TheScholarswere other, were more mer sessionendswithatriptoCanobieLakePark,butthere have takenSpanish(can’tremember). suchasdrummingandvideo/filmstudy;Imight cover arangeofinterests, my familygotourfirsttypewriterinNovemberof1994.CSAelectiveoptions ScholarsintheEnglishclassIvisitedhandledMacBookslikepros; different. my timeatTSAcamebacktome.Seventeenyearslater, somethingsare toseefriendsduringbreaks, andboltbetweenclassrooms worldproblems, real dents day.WhilewatchingCSAstu- present inamemory,asifitwere you squarely however,Visiting oldenvironments, hasawayoftransportingyouandplanting in ninthgrade.Buttoreallycompareandcontrastthetwoprograms,who program willspanfivesummersratherthantwo,withextraacademicsupport no placementintoindependentorpublicexamschools;instead,theacademic first threeyearswillonlyrecruitScholarsfromthoseschools.Therebe social/emotional supportservicesthroughhighschoolandcollege. summers; andtherearecomprehensiveacademic,collegeguidance, is anacademicprogramthattakesplaceafterschoolandovermultiple students whoareeagertoworkhardachievetheircollegegoals;there Boston studentsonthepathtocollegegraduation.Bothprogramswelcome with TheSteppingstoneAcademy(TSA)beginningthegoalofsetting While it took a few days, I’ve realized what seeing a new brand of Steppingstone whatseeinganewbrandofSteppingstone While ittookafewdays,I’verealized So much,however, thesameinbestwaypossible.Yes, thesum- remains Catching upwitholdfriendsbringsbackmemories—noquestionthere. CSAisbasedintwoBostonK-8publicschools,andits What’s different? work through non-fictionEnglishlessons,applymathknowledgetosolve work through strong to resist? Yes, No,andTBD. toresist? strong everything andheadtoCanobieLakeParkbetoo todrop urge 17 yearsbeentoomuchtimetomakecomparisons?Would the on August3.Would itbelikeTheSteppingstoneAcademy?Had University myself. IheadedtovisitCSAsummerclassesatSuffolk I wascurioustoseetheinauguralCollegeSuccessAcademyfor thebuzzofa newgenerationofSteppingstoneScholars, heard Agency BusinessDevelopmentgroup,tovisitCSA. Google, whereheservesasanAgencyLeadfortheDigital University ’04.Reggietookanhouroutofhisworkdayat Reggie Farina ’94 better thanan “Fresh off of the Steppingstone Alumni reunion, andhaving oftheSteppingstoneAlumnireunion, off “Fresh The College Success Academy (CSA) shares many similarities TheCollegeSuccessAcademy(CSA)sharesmanysimilarities Alumnus from The Steppingstone Academy, Alumnus fromTheSteppingstoneAcademy, , NobleandGreenoughSchool’00,Georgetown —continues tobe adefiningcharacteristic —building lasting relationships —building lasting relationships

News of Note Photo credit: Karen Snyder Photography On Saturday, August 13, Steppingstone families, friends, and staff celebrated alongside 132 Scholars as they graduated from The Steppingstone Academy. The day is a milestone for Scholars as it marks the completion of the academic component of the program.

UÊ On August 1, KPMG hosted UÊ Shawnna Thomas ’05 (Boston Latin ﬁve College Success Acad- Academy ’11, Yale University emy Scholars for lunch and a ’15) was interviewed on NECN discussion of the importance of after being named a Gates Mil- college. lennium Scholarship recipient. Shawnna plans on focusing on UÊ On July 29, Boston’s Neighbor- hood Network News aired their Classics and Women’s Studies visit to the College Success at Yale. The Gates Founda- Academy. tion will cover her tuition and expenses at Yale and at her UÊ Governor Deval Patrick sur- graduate school of choice. prised Steppingstone Scholars on July 15 at The Steppingstone UÊ Channel 5 featured CJ Masdea Photo credit: Meg Birnbaum Photography Photo credit: Meg Birnbaum Academy where he recalled his ’05 (Boston University Acad- own journey to Milton Acad- emy ’11, Brandeis University emy and encouraged Scholars ’15) on April 25 as an “A Plus” to pursue their education. high school senior, ﬁlming him on campus at Boston Univer- UÊ The Boston Globe, July 7, 2011 sity where he took classes his and The Boston Courant, July 8, senior year in calculus and 2011 featured Mayor Thomas astronomy. Menino launching the College Success Academy at Suffolk Governor Deval Patrick chats University. with Scholar Bergelin Jean.

The Schott Foundation for Public Educa- tion), and Pedro Noguera (Peter L. Agnew Professor of Education, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Development, New York University). The National Partnership for Educational Among the featured Access (NPEA) hosted its third annual con- panelists was Alumna ference, Developing 21st Century Leaders: Natasha Herbert ’99, Creating Paths to Success, on April 28-29, 2011 Boston Latin School in Atlanta, Georgia. Attended by more than ’05, Spelman College 260 participants, the conference focused on ’09. She is currently leadership development and creating paths pursuing a master’s in to success in the ﬁeld of educational access. public heath degree In addition to addressing what students and at Emory University’s professionals need to be effective leaders, a Rollins School of Public Kelly Glew, President & COO of special focus included topics relating to young Health. Natasha spoke Steppingstone, Natasha Herbert ’99, men of color. The conference featured more on a panel with alumni and Yully Cha, Executive Vice President than 40 speakers and 20 workshops. Topics from various academic of Programs at Steppingstone. ranged from promoting college retention of outreach programs who shared the challenges low-income and ﬁrst-generation students and and successes of their respective paths to empowering young men of color, to more college and beyond, as well as how the hands-on topics, including integrating 21st programs they attended made a difference century skills into teaching and learning. in their lives. Special presentations also included an The fourth annual conference will be

alumni panel, featuring graduates of various held on April 19-20, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. NEWS academic enrichment programs, as well as Keynote speakers will include Eric Bettinger a panel of presidents from several colleges (Stanford University), Wes Moore (author, and universities. Featured keynote speakers The Other Wes Moore), and Melissa Roderick included Beverly Daniel Tatum (President, (Hermon Dunlap Smith Professor, University FALL 2011 FALL Spelman College), John Jackson (President, of Chicago). 3

4 FALL 2011 NEWS Coming Back to Steppingstone to Back Coming

Photo credit: Karen Snyder Photography Reunion, wrote articlesforalumninewsletters, and at HowardUniversity, helpedorganize asuccessful Jennings ’02 Foundation headquarters, AlumniRelationsintern and CarroCourtney co-taught atTSA.Backthe CSA tohelpjumpstartSteppingstone’s newestinitiative, at ’07, BrynMawrCollege’11. Anthonyjoinedthestaff MonahanCourtney ’01 Boston LatinAcademy’08,HamiltonCollege’12; and Latin Academy’09,SmithCollege’13; Of those10,threewereAlumni— University,hometoTSA andCSA,respectively. Suffolk senior facultyinclassroomsatMiltonAcademyand administrative ofﬁce.Ten supported the collegeinterns Academy (CSA),orTheSteppingstoneFoundation The SteppingstoneAcademy(TSA),theCollegeSuccess made theirwaybacktoSteppingstoneworkateither generation ofSteppingstoneScholars. ends, makingthemtheidealrolemodelsfornext work andattendedschooloverthesummersweek- and they’vesuccessfullyjuggledtheadditionalclass once intheshoesofScholarssummerprogram back andinspireyoungerScholars.Theseveteranswere Itprovidesthemwith theopportunitytogive journey. teacher, apalpablenextchapterintheiracademic offers another capacity,suchasaTeaching or Assistant,intern, toTheSteppingstoneAcademyinFor some,returning beginning ofanotherforSteppingstoneScholars. component markstheendofonechapterand GRADUATING FROM THE14-MONTHACADEMIC Last summer, astellargroupofScholarsandAlumni , a graduate of The Winsor School and a senior , agraduateofTheWinsor School andasenior , NobleandGreenoughSchool Carro Hua ’03

Anthony Mathieu ’02 Photo credit: Bile Miles Productions Miles Bile credit: Photo , Boston Alumni Nicole , summers attheHarvard Crimson Academy. in ChinaandTurkey, hisreliefworkinGuatemala, and at Steppingstone,aswell ashistravelsabroadstudying ly ashespokeabouthis personal andacademicjourney around asthekeynotespeaker. Scholars listenedintent- pingstone AcademygraduationinAugust,butthis time tothestage atTheStep- at Williams College,returned School ofMathematicsandScienceasophomore Alain Davis ’91 Steppingstone Academyclassjoinedtheteachingfaculty. Meanwhile, overatCSA,aScholarfromtheveryﬁrst tours andvisits,participateinroundtablediscussions. in classrooms,provideadministrativesupport,lead site Academy. TheTAs workeddiligentlytoassistthefaculty Academy; and Haymon ’05 Fanney Zhu’07 Aman Stuppard ’07 School; David Paradela ’06 Uyi Idahor ’08 Jeremy Guevara ’06 Jennings ‘02; and College Success Academy college intern AnthonyMathieu ‘02. Jennings ‘02; andCollegeSuccess Academycollege intern Nicole atThe SteppingstoneAcademy;AlumniRelations intern assistants andcollege interns Lora‘03delivering hiskeynoteaddressatgraduation; TeachingLeft toright:Fernando Andres Cardone ’06 process tobecomeTeaching Assistants(TAs) atTSA: were selectedthroughahighlycompetitiveselection networking purposes. created acareermatrixwhichwillbeusedforalumni Fernando Lora’03 Also makinganimpact,nineScholarsinhighschool Marynee PontesMarynee ’05 , TheParkSchool’08,senioratPhillips , senioratMt.St.JosephAcademy; taughtamedia(ﬁlmandvideo)elective. , junioratBostonLatinSchool; Karen Morales ’08 , senioratBostonCollegeHigh , junioratRoxburyLatinSchool; , junioratBrimmerandMaySchool; , senioratBostonLatinAcademy; , agraduateoftheJohnD.O’Bryant , senioratDanaHallSchool; , senioratPhillips Miranda

5 FALL 2011 NEWS Stepping Out Summer@Brown Scholars Walk for Hunger 2011 Summer@Brown is a two-week residential program that enables students from across the country to experience life on a college campus and take part in real college courses. Over the summer, eight Scholars took part in the program, funded by a small group of Brown alumni who contributed to Steppingstone’s Summer Opportunities Fund.

On Sunday, May 1, Steppingstone Scholars, families, Refjola Malushi ’07 and Olivia Lau ’06 enjoying classes and staff were in high spirits as they participated in the at Brown University. Walk for Hunger to raise funds for hunger awareness. The group raised just over $1,000 for the cause and is Vanessa Rivera ’05, 12th grader at Boston ready to do it all over again next year! Trinity Academy Habib Omar ’08, 12th grader at The Dexter School Farrah Beaubrun ’05, 12th grader at The Cambridge Phillips Exeter Academy Hosts School of Weston Overnight Retreat David Paradela ’06, 12th grader at Boston College High Bright Osajiie ’05, 12th grader at Milton Academy Opeoluwa Olukorede ’09, 11th grader at The Rivers School Olivia Lau ’06, 11th grader at Thayer Academy Refjola Malushi ’07, 10th grader at North Quincy High School

Last May, Steppingstone Scholars in Acad- emy Nine traveled to New Hampshire on a Friday evening and settled into the dorms at Phillips Exeter Academy. Schol- GRAB YOUR POM POMS! ars were paired up with current Exeter Show your school spirit at Step- students who would serve as guides for the duration of the retreat. Friday night pingstone’s Pep Rally Gala! This was jam-packed with fun events such as year’s event will be held on dinner in the dining hall, a performance Wednesday, November 2 at The by an MIT a cappella group, ultimate frisbee, watching movies, and making Charles Hotel. In addition to cel- s’mores. The following day, an Exeter sci- ebrating the Scholars, we will ap- ence teacher led the Scholars in a Hark- plaud all of the schools that have ness discussion regarding “survival of the ﬁttest,” and Scholars were able to use partnered with Steppingstone to NEWS Exeter’s science facilities to explore the set more Scholars on the path to concept themselves. Afterwards, Michael college success. For more informa- Gary, Director of Admissions at Exeter, spoke to the Scholars about the process tion, please contact Kate Wood at FALL 2011 FALL of applying to high school and his own [email protected]. 6 experience at boarding school. Photo credit:BostonUniversityAcademy of World Youth Day. summer withhischurchaspart North Carolina,andSpainthis Boston UniversityAcademy’s Belmont HillSchool. Middle SchoolAward ofMeritat Iwejuo ’06 Tamayo ’05 Genesis DeLosSantos’08 C.J. Masdea’07 ’07 Axel Marcelin Winsor School’s Scholarly Achievements thusiasm, maturity,and dedication Award duetoherleadership,en- At DanaHallSchool, freshman atDartmouthCollege. ation ceremony.Sheiscurrentlya class speakerattheschool’sgradu- research facilities. doing researchatHarvard’s program andspentthesummer Medical School’sProjectSuccess was acceptedintoHarvard Meadowbrook School’s Greenough Schoolthisfall. started ninthgradeatNobleand School’s graduationceremonyand selected tospeakatMeadowbrook Roxbury LatinSchool’s Gregory Award onPrizeDay. Baez ’05 Roxbury LatinSchool’s Independent SeniorProject. Diaz aspartofhisschool’s House withSenatorSoniaChang- Polk ’08 wasgiventheHeadmaster receivedtheKatherineT. traveled to California, traveledtoCalifornia, interned attheState interned (picturedabove) wasawardedthe Lisa Luo’04 Alejandra Alejandra was Valentine Nelson Destiny Destiny was the wasthe over thesummer. nology &Math(STEM)program The Winsor School’s her school’ssoftballsquad. try DaySchoolwasco-captainof from BLA, Successful SquadoftheYear. Also an awardforbeingtheMost of BLA’sdebateteamandreceived Lacerna ’09 Kwong ’09 summer. club andtraveledtoEcuadorthis ’10 Louise, alongwith the HarvardCrimsonAcademy. Academy spentthesummerat ninth gradeatMiltonAcademy. school. Destinyiscurrentlyinthe to thevaluesandtraditionsof Nancy Kacupaj’08 Denny Yu ’10 Boston LatinSchool’s Alice inWonderland Hare intheschool’sproductionof Greenough SchoolwastheMarch ’10 Gabriela Ureña Pauline Suncar’08 Louise Barias’08 in ParkSchool’s works selectedfor publication and in thecityfair. school sciencefairandthirdplace Victoria alsowonﬁrstplaceinthe writing withfellowBLAstudents. Club wheretheysharetheirloveof attendedMIT’sScienceTech- Michael John’10 joinedtheBoomWriter’s joined thecartooning Alissa He’09 , Ayan Warfa ’09 Ayan Warfa ofBostonLatin fromNobleand allhadliterary ofDedhamCoun- Anthology , are members , aremembers Hassan Sakhta’08 . Luisa Perez Luisa Perez and Eileen Cheung Eileen Cheung , and . Victoria Victoria

Yale University Institute Worcester Polytechnic Wheelock College(2) Westﬁeld State(2) Wesleyan University(2) Technology (4) Wentworth Instituteof California (2) University ofSouthern University ofNewEngland Lowell (3) University ofMassachusetts, Dartmouth (4) University ofMassachusetts, Boston (3) University ofMassachusetts, Amherst (9) University ofMassachusetts, Union College(2) Tufts University The UniversityoftheArts University(3) Suffolk Stonehill College St. John’s University University NewHampshire Southern Smith College Simmons College Salve ReginaUniversity Technology (2) Rochester Instituteof University(3) Northeastern New York InstituteofTechnology Mount IdaCollege(2) Mount HolyokeCollege(2) Technology Massachusetts Instituteof Merrimack College Sciences andHealth Pharmacy (6) Massachusetts Collegeof Manhattanville College Lynn University Lasell College Knox College Howard University College Hobart College Harvard University (2) George Washington Framingham StateCollege(2) Fordham University Fairﬁeld University University Emory Emmanuel College Drew University College Dartmouth College Curry Columbia University College oftheAtlantic Colby College Chapman University Centre College Brandeis University(2) Boston University(4) Bentley College(5) Belmont University Bates College College Barnard Babson College Assumption College(2) College AcceptanceList

7 FALL 2011 NEWS NONPROFIT ORG An Alumnus’ perspective US POSTAGE ® PAID of Steppingstone’s newest BOSTON MA PERMIT 50495 155 Federal Street program Suite 800 ALSO INSIDE: Boston, MA 02110 Founded in 1990, The Steppingstone Foundation® is a non-proﬁt organization ) In their shoes: Scholars giving back RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED that develops and implements programs which prepare urban schoolchildren for ) Governor Patrick makes a surprise visit educational opportunities that lead to college success. Based on the premise that, regardless of circumstance, children can achieve at high levels if they are prepared in a focused, demanding academic environment, Steppingstone programs emphasize rigorous standards Photo Credit: Meg Birnbaum and achieve meaningful results.

Steppingstone programs include: The Steppingstone Academy Boston; Steppingstone Scholars, Inc. Philadelphia; The Steppingstone Academy Hartford; National Partnership for Educational Access; and College Success Academy Boston

FALL 2011