Did You Know?

This is Black History Month. A time to celebrate the accomplishments, achievements and progress made to where we, as a society, are today. We must not forget the work Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Booker T. Washington and many others put in to change America for the better. Students at Simon Youth Pacers Academy at Washington Square Mall in Indianapolis, Indiana have been working throughout the month studying famous quotes, milestones and even trivia to gain a better understanding of what this celebration is all about.

Each day a new quote was featured in the classroom and students were asked to interpret it through their own eyes and experiences. It was explained in the context of the time so everyone could better understand why these quotes are significant. In addition, a 10 question quiz was given with clues hidden around the Academy. They were given a special prize for answering all the questions correctly. Without the help of the clues, can you pass this test with only five of the questions? Try it out.

1. Who discovered over 300 uses for the peanut?
   
2. Who invented the three way traffic light and gas mask?
   
3. Who performed the first open heart surgery?
   
4. Who was the first African American to win the Wimbledon Tennis championship?
   
5. Who was the only boxer to win the heavyweight championship three times? 

How did you do? You can find the correct answers below. These are some significant accomplishments, but there are many, many more. Learn more about these and others as the month concludes. And even though this month is dedicated to black history, take a few moments over the course of the year to expand your knowledge about African Americans.

1) George Washington Carver
2) Garrett Morgan
3) Daniel Hale Williams
4) Althea Gibson
5) Muhammad Ali

Teacher Focus, Mentor Passion

“I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.”
Lilly Tomlin, actress and comedian.

Simon Youth Academies across the nation have the best teachers and administrators in the profession. They work with at-risk youth to not only earn their high school diploma, but go on to become successful individuals. This dedication can be seen in the eyes of Ronni Miller, a teacher at Rose Tree Media Simon Youth Academy at Granite Run Mall in Media, Pennsylvania. As a math and science teacher, she is known for her ability to create a supportive classroom community while providing a rigorous course. She strives every day to improve the quality of small group direct instruction.

“Mrs. Miller is a passionate teacher who brings love and understanding to a diverse group of learners,” said Joseph Fuhr, Administrator at Rose Tree Media Simon Youth Academy. “She is an excellent resource for all staff and an asset to our school, community and district.”

Mrs. Miller is an avid researcher of new methods of instruction as well as progress monitoring through data collection. As described by Mr. Fuhr, her instructional practices are creative and the learning environment she constructs allows students to feel safe. This safe learning environment affords students the opportunity to take chances and be vulnerable in front of their peers.  Students not only learn from her in the classroom but from each other, as well as from their mistakes. Mrs. Miller is welcoming of all students at the Academy and works to develop personal connections with students. She is a shoulder to cry on or a person to go to for some words of wisdom or motivational inspiration.

Simon Youth Foundation is celebrating 15 years of igniting hope across 23 academies in 13 states. SYF has graduated more than 10,000 students at a 90% graduation rate and awarded more than $10 million to graduates pursuing post-secondary education and career paths. At Simon Youth Foundation, we believe that all students start here and go anywhere. We thank Mrs. Miller and all of our great teachers and administrators who work so hard to help our students beat the odds.

We Need Your Vote

Vote for SYF

Simon Youth Foundation is thrilled to tell you we’ve been pre-selected to compete for one of 20 spots in the Give for Youth Challenge, a partnership between GOOD and Microsoft!

It’s now up to us to generate as many votes between now and March 1as we possibly can. The top 20 vote-earners will then be featured on www.giveforyouth.org, where donations made to these 20 organizations beginning March 17 will be matched by Microsoft up to $100,000 total across organizations.

We are respectfully requesting the support of the entire Simon network in an easy but meaningful way: please vote (and encourage your friends, family, and contacts to all vote) for SYF following the instructions below. It truly only takes a minute (or less), but your vote could be the difference!

1. Visit the project page at http://giveforyouth.maker.good.is/projects/SYF15

2. Click “Vote for this idea”

3. Log in with your GOOD account. (Or if you don’t have one, all you need is

an email address or a Facebook account to register. You will be emailed

a link that you need to click to verify your address.)

4. Once you’ve voted, you’ll see a notification at the top of the screen

verifying your vote has been counted.

Thank you for helping SYF expand our national reach and capacity to Ignite Hope in at-risk youth!

A String of Firsts

Luis (on left) and sister (Lucy) take a break from taping.

Life often brings challenges and obstacles that test your resolve to succeed. The number one goal for students in Simon Youth Academies is to earn a diploma, but these difficulties and others make this objective low on the priority list. This was the case for Luis Preito-Pena, a graduate of the Simon Youth Pacers Academy at Washington Square in Indianapolis, Indiana. SYF captured his story for the next student testimonial being unveiled soon.

Luis went to the Indianapolis, Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI to create a video which would convey how his experience at a Simon Youth Academy made a difference in his life.

"I'm the first in my family to graduate high school. I'm the first in my family to go to college," said Luis. "I've been able to accomplish a lot of firsts thanks to SYF."

Luis' remarkable story shows what hard work, determination and support from caring individuals can do. Be on the lookout for his story coming soon.

Simon Youth Foundation thanks WFYI for their support and generous assistance bringing Luis' story to life.

Love of the Game

Black History Month is a month set aside to learn, honor, and celebrate the achievements of black men and women throughout history. At each Simon Youth Academy, students are looking at various components of this celebration in their own unique way. Some have a daily quote to read from a famous or influential African-American, while others are listening to speakers to learn more.

Simon Youth Judson Learning Academy at Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio, Texas, welcomed Dick “Lefty” O’Neal author of "Dreaming of the Majors, Living in the Bush" for the first Friday Forum in February beginning Black History month.

Mr. O’Neal is the only white baseball player to pitch for two teams in the Negro Leagues. He played for the Biloxi Dodgers in the Gulf Coast Negro League and the San Antonio Black Sox in the South Texas Negro League. He also served in the United States Air Force for twenty-two years. Mr. O’Neal spoke to the students about overcoming learning disabilities and crossing racial barriers.

"I felt humbled that a black team would give me a chance to play in an established black league," O'Neal said. "I wasn't worried about getting into any record books; I just wanted to play the game I loved."

Dreaming of the Majors, his book, is described as: his account of the dream he nurtured from the age of five to play Major League baseball, the people God brought into his life who shaped the dream, and the amazing and unexpected twists and turns Dick experienced along the journey toward fulfilling the dream.

"For me, it wasn't a black-white issue. I was just a person who had a love affair with baseball and who was willing to play it anywhere."

SYF Graduate Studies Around the World

Start here. Go anywhere. is what Simon Youth Foundation, through Simon Youth Academies and Simon Youth Scholarships, stresses to students. The concept of this phrase has resonated since 1998 and with more than 10,000 graduates. A prime example of this is Roland Lewinski, a graduate from the Simon Youth Academy at Northgate Mall in Seattle, Washington. He has been in four different countries and two different states in the United States pursuing educational goals.

Roland’s journey has taken him to the countries of Poland, Italy, China and the United States, including Seattle, Washington and Chicago, Illinois.  This is quite a unique journey for a 23-year-old. Originally from Poland, both of his parents are teachers at the University of Wroclaw. At the age of seven, the family moved to Chicago where he attended elementary school and learned English. He finished middle school in Naples, Italy. They moved back to Poland in time for Roland to attend high school, but his father received a Fulbright Scholarship to the University of Washington. This is where some difficulties begin.

“The main problem was that I arrived after school had started in Washington and all my transcripts were foreign,” said Roland. “Most of the high schools in Seattle didn't know what to do with me, not to mention that none of them was sure if I actually had enough credits to finish my senior year in USA.”

In addition to this, the differences in teaching systems between Italy and Poland had him in line to finish high school two years ahead of schedule. The school system administrators weren't sure if he could graduate at the age of 16. This is when he was introduced to the Simon Youth Academy.

“I was warmly welcomed and the teachers promised to help me,” he said. “Thanks to the Academy, I had enough time to get my transcripts translated and I could graduate the same year. It was a great experience.”

After graduating from high school, he went back to Poland and began college at the University of Wroclaw. He has completed a degree in journalism and social communication with the specialization of branding and communication design. In addition, he has almost finished a master’s degree in international relations with the specialization of public diplomacy. He still needs to defend his thesis, but postponed this to study abroad.

Last year he applied for two scholarships: Confucius Institute Scholarship for language study in China and a Fulbright scholarship for studies in the USA. He received the Confucius Institute Scholarship and is currently studying in Shanghai, China until July. Roland is still awaiting reply on receiving the Fulbright Scholarship, but he wants to pursue a Master of Arts in east asian studies at a United States university. He credits the Academy to helping him stay on track for his educational goals.

“It gave me a chance to keep on my quite individual and unique educational path,” Roland said. “I am grateful for the understanding of my situation and willingness to help. If not for that I wouldn't be able to finish two faculties at the age of 22, only because I didn't fit the regular scheme. Some people need to move faster and others need more time – SYF helps both succeed.”

Sandra Cath, Beth Fortune, Collin Sam & Dr. Anita Silverman Elected to SYF Board of Directors

Simon Youth Foundation is proud to announce that Sandra Cath, Beth Fortune, Collin Sam & Dr. Anita Silverman have been elected to the SYF Board of Directors for three-year terms. The new directors bring a combined 89 years of experience in their respective areas of expertise to SYF and will continue leading the charge for educating at-risk youth.

“For the last 15 years, SYF has played a considerable role in reshaping the public-education model for at-risk students,” Debbie Simon says. “We want to maintain our position as a leader in the field, and our new Board members are charged with sparking new opportunities to positively impact public education.”

Sandra Cath holds a Masters of Business Administration from Northwestern University, a Masters of Social Work from Smith College and a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University. Ms. Cath has more than 20 years of experience overseeing the strategic and financial management of multifamily and retail real estate portfolios working with BRE Properties in San Francisco, California, Catellus Urban Development Group in San Francisco, California, and Equity Group Investment Affiliates in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, Ms. Cath spent six years working with at-risk children as a clinical social worker, primarily in the Chicago school system. She currently provides consulting services to private equity and debt investors through Cath Consulting and resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Beth Fortune has more than 25 years of experience in journalism, politics, government and public affairs. She holds a Master’s of Arts in journalism and public affairs from American University, and a bachelor’s degree from Anderson University. Ms. Fortune is currently the vice chancellor for public affairs at Vanderbilt University. Ms. Fortune leads the university’s comprehensive communications, marketing government and community initiatives and serves as the chief spokesperson. An award-winning former journalist, Ms. Fortune was previously the press secretary to former Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist for more than six years. A member of the Governor’s Cabinet and the first female gubernatorial press secretary in Tennessee history, Fortune served as the primary spokesman for the Sundquist administration. Ms. Fortune resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

Collin Sam holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.  Mr. Sam has more than 25 years of experience in accounting and finance, currently the Executive Director of Finance and Accounting for Saban Brands. Mr. Sam previously served as the Treasurer for the national organization GLAAD and lives in Pasadena, California.

Dr. Anita Silverman has more than 19 years of experience in education and holds a Doctorate in Education from Ball State University, an Education Specialist Degree from Ball State University, a Master’s of Arts in Educational Leadership from Governor’s State University, and Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Science Education from The Ohio State University. She is currently the Director of Education Services for the Indiana Department of Child Services, an Education Research Consultant for Silverman Education Consulting and Assistant Professor at Ball State University, and resides in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Silverman has previously served as a Principal for the Simon Youth Foundation Academy Network.

“We are thrilled to have these four dynamic individuals join our SYF Board of Directors,” said Dr. J. Michael Durnil, SYF President & CEO. “Their combination of great work and dedication to their professions will bring a wealth of knowledge in our effort to raise the foundation’s profile on the national alternative education stage.”

What's Your Potential?

Potential - how do you measure it? Is it experience in a given profession or subjective? The question is one that puzzles job talent evaluators and chief executives across the country. It is something that rarely can be measured by standards or established practices. Proof is often in the pudding as opposed to how well someone can sell themselves during an interview process.

In the Simon Youth Academy at the Terrace at Florida Mall, two students worked hard to accomplish something that hadn't been done before. They wanted vending machines available so students could grab a snack in between classes. Something most take for granted was important to Josh and Anthony, both successful individuals at the SYF academy. They were both passionate about making this opportunity possible, so they started working towards making it happen.

They began a process of researching everything from statistics of potential monthly profits to why others would want the machines. They compiled the information and presented it to the administration. Much like an entrepreneur presents a business plan to potential investors, Josh and Anthony, both potential high school dropouts, presented their case.

They were successful. The profits will go towards a small yearbook the students have desired for a while. A little ambition resulted in a win-win for the academy and students. This is the type of experience that can speak volumes to a student's potential. Josh and Anthony took a simple request and made it a reality. This is the type of story Simon Youth Foundation works to replicate. They may not realize their impact right now, but it's like a stone thrown in water - the ripples continue. Their example shows others if they start here, they can go anywhere.