Board of Directors
Brandon Bean
Eva M.B. Higby
Robbin L. Higby
Ann N. Mittelstadt
Matthew Mittelstadt
Mike Volpe
Board of Advisors
Howard Anderson
Managing Partner,
YankeeTek
Gerald Chertavian
Founder and CEO,
Year Up
John H. Finley, IV
Executive Director,
Epiphany School
Gretchen S. Fish
Trustee, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Shawn Neville
President,
Keds Corporation
John B. Pearson
President and CEO,
Big Brother of Mass. Bay
John Werner
Executive Director,
Citizen School, Boston
Linda Whitlock
President and CEO,
Boys & Girls Clubs of
Boston
Recognition of Boston Scholars' Pillars of Support: As we embark on our 4th year of opening doors through educational opportunity for Boston area youth, we pause to recognize those donors who have been instrumental to Boston Scholars achieving milestones once thought impossible.
Boston Scholars Pillars 2004-06
* * * 3 yrs of support
* * 2 yrs of support
A.C. Ratshesky Foundation **
Albert Holman***
Andrew Crowley***
Ann Mittelstadt***
Bank of New York- Mellon
Bingham McCutchen LLP
Brandon Bean***
Cabot Family Chararitable Trust
Carol & Howard
Anderson***
Dan Fine & Sarah Snyder
Delta Partners
Edwards, Angel, Palmer, Dodge
Eva Higby ***
Florian O. Bartlett Trust
General Catalyst
Geoffrey Freeman & Marjorie Findlay
Gerald Chertavian
Gretchen & Edward Fish ***
Brigid & Hiram Samel
James & Jane Saccaro ***
Jim & Mary Nelson
KeyBank
Liberty Mutual
Lincoln & Therese Filene Foundation **
Mark Ward
Mary & James Nelson
Matthew Mittelstadt ***
McAdams Foundation **
Mike Volpe ***
The Hon. Mitt Romney
Mr. & Mrs. Eric Fleiss
New England Pension Consultants
Paul Newman’s Own Foundation **
Peter & Stephanie Kurzina***
Robbin Higby ***
Santa Claus Anonymous **
SolidWorks Corp. **
StrideRite Corp. **
Stephenson Pope Babcock Foundation ***
Silicon Valley Bank Foundation
Thomas Lehrman ***
Volpe Foundation ***
Wendy Crabtree
William & Mary Jane
MacLean ***
Special Mention to the
Mike Sullivan Memorial
Scholarship Fund, which
funds one Boston Scholar each year.
BSP 2007 Donors
Top Investors
$10,000+
-Mike Sullivan Memorial
Scholarship Golf Tournament
-Newman’s Own Foundation
-Santa Claus Anonymous
-Seattle Foundation
Lead Investors
$5,000+
Gretchen & Edward Fish
Investors $1000+
Andrew Crowley
Mr. & Mrs. Eric Fleiss
Mr. & Mrs. Hamilton
Thomas Lehrman
N.E. Plus Chapter
N.Y. Comm. Trust.
Jane & James Saccaro
Volpe Foundation
Lead Scholars $500+
Bynum Family Foundation
Catalogue for Philanthropy
David Mittelstadt & Cynthia Sarver
Katie and Mark Sullivan
Scholars $100+
Array Financial Services
Kimberly & Eric Barrett
Daniel Brazeau
Scott & Jessica Bush
Brandon & Kacie Cherry
Jeremy Dies
Josh Dorfman
Patrick Fitzsimmons
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Fleiss
Carl & Fran Harnick
KeyBank National Association
Gregg Miles
Shirley Schroder
Wolf & Co. Charitable Foundation
Staff
Frankie Cruz,
Executive Director
Laurine Lamour,
Program Manager
2007 Admissions Committee
Julia Bonarrigo
Walker Coppedge
Elizabeth Hamilton
Steve Hanmer
Matthew Katzman
Anne Mittelstadt
Gabriela Soto
Alejandra St. Guillen
2007 Admissions Volunteers
Julia Bonarrigo
Liz Davis
Robin Engel
Ramon Gomez
Elizabeth Hamilton
Steve Hanmer
Erin Hickey
Michael Horne
Matthew Katzman
Jongsun Kim
Nathaniel Marcum
Claire Mooney
Craig Nydick
Courtney Peterson
Kathy Rho
Gabriela Soto
Alejandra St. Guillen
Mike Volpe
Angela Yoon
A big thank you to all our volunteers!
(c) 2007
Boston Scholars Program
www.bostonscholars.org
If you can't see this newsletter correctly, click on this link: http://www.bostonscholars.org/BSPNews_September07.htm
In this Newsletter
Volunteering at Cradles to Crayons
Thompson Island Ropes Course
Pine Manor College Visit
Artful Adventures
Scholar Spotlight
Profiles of Boston Scholars MentorsHalloween Party
Saturday, October 27
An Tua Nua, 835 Beacon St.
Boston Scholars Volunteer at Cradles to Crayons
Boston Scholars Program Scholars and Mentors gather to celebrate their day of community service at Cradles to Crayons in Quincy, MA.(back to top)On July 14th, Boston Scholars and their Mentors met for a day of community service at Cradles to Crayons. The Boston Scholars community volunteered in two shifts. At 10am, the classes of 2010 and 2011 and their Mentors met, and at 2pm the older group, classes of 2008 and 2009 met at the Cradles to Crayons building in Quincy. Many Scholars, however, came early and served during both cycles.
Boston Scholar Deandre Lawton (Boston College High School), Class of 2010, is locating what he needs in the warehouse to create a package of items for a less fortunate 7 year old in the Boston area.Given the mission of Cradles to Crayons, Boston Scholars saw it as a perfect place to perform our community service and donate our time. Cradles to Crayons provides low-income and homeless children the basic essential they need to be safe, warm, ready to learn, and valued. Since the Cradles to Crayons partners with social service organizations, shelters, and family-service agencies, Boston Scholars knows that our community service will directly help many of the children in need in the Boston area.
Upon arrival, any Boston Scholars started by delivering gifts of their families for the children that Cradles to Crayons served. After that, each Scholar logged in as a new volunteer, making future volunteer times easier. When each group of Boston Scholars and Mentors first arrived they were taken to various parts of the warehouse to help sort through contributed gifts. One group of Scholars joined other volunteers in going through a bin of donated toys. Some Mentors and Scholars were responsible for making sure that the toys were in working order. This meant counting the pieces of puzzles, replacing batteries, sorting through parts, and separating Lego blocks; their job was to make sure that each toy would work, be clean and help the child feel valued.
Scholar Elaine Goncalves (with little sister), Mentor Gabriela Soto, and Scholar Michelle Molina help in matching donated newborn clothing at Cradles to Crayons.After all the sorting work had been completed the two groups came together to discuss with the Cradles to Crayons staff members the operating procedures of the organization. They discussed how contributions are distributed to all recipients by social workers. The Boston Scholars groups were handed lists and asked to package gifts for specific low-income or homeless children. Scholars were given the child’s age and individual packaging lists of all the items a child would need at various ages. The Cradles to Crayons staff member explained what clothing, toys and books are normally given to each age and Scholars and Mentors gathered these items together to create packages with specific books that would interest each child. Once they had packaged everything on the list, the volunteers then took it over to the staff member who double-checked everything one last time. Once approved, the bag was sealed and the packaging list was attached.
Boston Scholars Aaron Lawton, Daniel and Santiago are seen here cleaning the toys and making sure they were properly working so that a child could enjoy it them in the future.At the end of each shift, the Boston Scholars groups were asked to come together to consider the personal impact that these assembled gifts would have on the children who would receive them. Cradles to Crayons staff asked Scholars to think about the number of families they impacted as a result of their efforts through the course of the day. Scholars and Mentors really seemed to enjoy the opportunity to help and give back in a fun and relaxed setting. Even though it was a hot summer day, the camaraderie and sense of mission seemed to keep everyone focused and working together.
Boston Scholars Seniors Joanne Gomes and Michelle Tineo help sort donated clothes and prepare them for easier distribution. "These outfits are so cute!"Thompson Island Ropes Course(back to top)
New Boston Scholars, Mentors and staff pose for a photo after an exciting and physical day of challenges at the Orientation held at Thompson Island.On Sunday July 29th all new Boston Scholars and their Mentors traveled by ferry to Thompson Island for the second annual Orientation Ropes Course. The day was a chance for the new Scholars, class of 2011, to get to know one another and their Mentors better. The group, along with BSP staff Laurine Lamour and Frankie Cruz, took a ferry over to Thompson Island where they participated in a full day of ice-breaker games, ropes courses, and team-building activities. First working in a large group and then breaking into two smaller groups, the new Boston Scholars were challenged to solve puzzles and complete tasks while learning the benefits of teamwork and trust.
A group of Boston Scholars and Mentors discuss how to approach a group challenge while on the BSP Orientation held at Thompson Island.Half way through the day all the Scholars and Mentors regrouped together. Thompson Island staff asked Scholars to make lunch for their Mentors and Mentors to make lunch for their Scholars. After lunch they broke into smaller groups again to do an obstacle course and tight rope. They had to work as a team always, and realized they had to listen to each other, and never be afraid to ask for advice. One of the highlights for one group was getting the entire group to scale a 12 foot wall. Regardless of size, strength or confidence level, each member of the group discovered they had helpful input into the group planning process.
A group of Scholars and Mentors gather before a 12 foot wall. The group devises a plan on how to get everyone over the 12 foot wall safely.Working together, the group was proud that no one “opted out” of participating in this scary challenge. Because of the group trust that Mentors and Scholars in the groups developed, individual participants were able to overcome their fears and participate completely. While Mentors gave Scholars the choice, Scholars felt confident and safe enough to go for it. As a result, the entire group was able to make it over the 12 foot wall in a safe and enjoyable manner.
A group of Scholars help one another over the 12 foot wall. Working together, the group executed a plan to overcome the obstacle that first seemed insurmountable. In the end, the group succeeded!The Orientation day at Thompson Island was a really great chance for all the new Boston Scholars and their Mentors to have fun together. At the end of the day Scholars and Mentors alike all felt closer to each other and now say they are excited to meet the rest of the Boston Scholar Community. Boston Scholars is grateful to the incredible staff at Thompson Island for helping us feel safe, challenged and capable to take on new challenges. Through group discussions, facilitators helped Scholars see how many of the lessons of the day should carry over to their academic, personal and leadership challenges that lie ahead. The facilitators were excellent at helping Scholars understand the importance of asking for help, encouragement and guidance as well as the importance of effective communication.
Pine Manor College Visit(back to top)
Boston Scholars Monique Grannum (’08), Haakim Ferguson (’08) and Michelle Tineo (’08) work on exercise at the Center for Inclusive Leadership & Social Responsibility at Pine Manor College during a recent college visit.On August 2nd the Boston Scholars classes of 2008 and 2009 and BSP staff went to visit Pine Manor College. The group spent the entire day talking with staff members of the college, getting a more full understanding of the college process. The group first met with Whitney Retallic, Director of Youth & Student Programs. They played icebreaker games and did team building activities together and then met with Stacey Corin, Assistant Director of Admissions-Urban Access, who went into detail and broke down the process of applying to college. Stacey talked about how to put a college list together and importance of organization and time management. She shared with the group that above all they must to have confidence in their abilities and not give up when someone or something discourages them. She went over the college-search process, and told the group of Scholars to ask for help with the SATs and when putting their college lists together. She warned the Scholars against so-called senioritis, citing examples of students whose acceptance had been rescinded due to poor grades in the last semester of senior year. Stacey also talked about long- and short-term goals, the importance of asking for recommendations, and keeping in contact with teachers.
Boston Scholars Seniors take a tour of Pine Manor College. Scholars took full advantage of the opportunity to ask the tour guide, a current Pine Manor student, about college life.
At the end of the day the group met over dinner with Robin Engel, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Pine Manor College, to talk about financial aid, scholarships, and the cost of tuition for college. He informed the group of Scholars about the many alternative scholarships that are available to them that will help them pay for college, besides the financial aid they may receive. He advised Scholars to do their research when choosing these scholarships, and to make sure they pick a program that works for them. He also talked to the Scholars about how to approach the topic of college tuition with their parents. The group of Scholars was pleased to be given the chance to hear first-hand, the ins and outs of applying to college, and the staff at Pine Manor was extremely helpful in showing them this inside view.Artful Adventures(back to top)
On August 4th a group of Boston Scholars took a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston for a chance to explore the art world. The group had two tour guides who took them around the museum and showed them various types of art. They started by looking in the photography section, with an emphasis on how things can be artistic even if they seem ordinary. The tour guide showed the group a chair, asking them what they thought of it as a piece of art, not just a functioning piece of furniture. She discussed with the group the process of becoming an artist and took them to see some water-color painting in the Asian wing. There she discussed how art, especially painting, captures history because it shows how people feel politically, socially, and emotionally at a given time. She also talked about the various jobs at the MFA and showed the group that there are many ways to work in the art field without having to get a masters in fine arts. After the tour was over, the group got to work on a project of their own, sitting down in a studio and working on watercolor paintings of their own. The day was finished with a dinner of pizza nearby where the group debriefed and discussed what they learned in the museum.
Mentor Leland Cheung with his Scholar Hein Vu (’11) taking a rest during the Ropes Course Orientation on Thompson IslandScholar Spotlight(back to top)
Monique Grannum, Boston Scholar Class of 2008, came back last in August from a month long trip to Panama and Costa Rica with the summer abroad program International Doorways. Monique found International Doorways through Boston Scholars after asking BSP staff for help. She says she’s always loved doing community service and never had the chance to go outside the Country by herself, so she really wanted to experience a new culture on a trip like the ones offered through International Doorways. Right before Monique left for Panama she suddenly came to doubt her decision to go in the first place.
Monique Grannum (Loomis Chaffee ’08) takes a moment from her community service in Panama to learn more about the culture from a young volunteer.“My mind was filled with questions and reservations about the trip. I was thinking ‘Am I going to like the food?’ ‘Will the group be weird?’ and most of all, ‘How am I going to communicate with people when I don’t speak any Spanish?’” Monique is a rising senior at the Loomis Chaffee School in Connecticut, where she has been taking Latin for three years. She speaks no Spanish; and yet had the nerve to travel to the remote jungles of Panama where only Spanish and native dialects are spoken. Her fears about traveling were washed away the moment she met her group and leaders in the airport in Miami. Her group had six students and two leaders, each from totally different places in North America. Monique says the moment she saw everyone she would be traveling with she suddenly stopped worrying and second-guessing and started getting excited about what this experience was going to be like.
The trip started as the group flew in a tiny plane to Costa Rica, where they spent a few days hiking in the mountains. From there the group drove to Panama, to the village of Chiriqui, where they visited coffee and strawberry plantations and went, despite Monique’s fear of heights, on a Canopy Tour—a zip line that takes you on a harness, speeding through the jungle. Next the group went to Gamboa, a village built solely for the workers of the Panama Canal during the late 19th century. While in Gamboa they stayed at a research center, went hiking and visited Panama City.
Next the group took a boat to the village of Embara, population approximately 100, where they stayed for ten nights; each set of two students stayed with a different host family. Although it is only a 20-minute drive from Panama City, Embara is as different from the city as possible. Deep in the jungle, surrounded by lush greenery and beautiful flowers, the group stayed in huts made from palm leaves and bamboo, bathed in the waterfalls nearby, and had no electricity or running water. Monique stayed with a family of five, in a two-room hut, sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor. For ten days she could barely communicate with the people she was living with: they spoke no English and she and the other American girl with her spoke little or no Spanish. But they managed to get by, and even forged strong bonds despite the language barriers.
Boston Scholar Monique Grannum (Loomis Chaffee ’08) is seen here (with white bandana) performing community service while in Panama on her travel opportunity BSP identified.While in Embara the group dug a giant ten-foot hole in the heavy clay earth for a toilet for the village and taught English to the adults of the village. These days in Embara were Monique’s favorite part of the trip because they gave her the opportunity to learn about Panamanian culture and interact with the native people. The group learned how to cook and prepare native foods, they had bonfires and native dancing at night, and overall learned to appreciate the intensity with which the villagers live their lives day to day.
The group left the village for the Cloud Forest in the mountains where they painted a school in the village of Duran. Next they went to Bocas Celtora, a group of islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama. There they went shopping at the street market, swam at the beach and went on a dolphin watch. The group finished the trip by returning to Costa Rica for the last two days where they went shopping white water rafting.
Monique says that the trip was incredible. “I did things on the trip I never thought I would do or even thought of doing,” she says. There were parts that were really challenging for her, but she says that now that it’s all over she’s really glad she can say she did actually do it all. The community service that the group did was hard work and she says they all had to be really dedicated to keep going at times. She says that the trip has given her a real appreciation for how much work the natives have to do every day. Monique recommends going on a program like hers, especially, she says, “for someone who doesn’t usually like to push themselves beyond their comfort zone. You have to do what makes you uncomfortable. You just have to do it. Even if parts are scary, you just have to push through them.” Monique says that the trip was a great experience because it helped her to understand a totally different culture—something that she believes to be extremely important. “I believe learning about different cultures helps open people’s minds and makes them capable of learning how to understand people who are different from them. Many people I know do not get to experience other culture and it prevents them from being able to understand why another person may talk, walk, dress, or act a certain way.” This trip opened her eyes to some of these differences and she hopes that other Boston Scholars will have the opportunity to experience the same kind of things.
Profiles of Boston Scholars Mentors(back to top)
Czarina Biton: Czarina moved from California to Boston to get her Masters of Public Health from the Boston University School of Public Health in 2004. She now lives in Jamaica Plain and works as a Policy Analyst for Community Catalyst to promote health care advocacy of Medicaid through the Medicaid Matters Campaign. She has just been matched with Boston Scholar Kelly Andrews, Class of 2011.
Lateef Akinyemi: Lateef earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Georgia in 2005. He now works for the Aon Corporation as an Account Specialist for the Early Career Development Program. He has tutoring experience through the University of Georgia Athletic Department, lives in Boston, and has just been matched with Boston Scholar Santiago Molina, Class of 2010.
Mark Daoust: Mark earned his Masters of Business Administration from the Boston College Carroll Graduate School of Management in 1997. He now works as the Vice President of Introspect Hosting Operations and Services at Zantaz Inc. Mark lives in Boston and has just been matched with Boston Scholar Anthony Norman, Class of 2011.
Nathaniel Marcum: Nathaniel earned his Masters in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2006. Nathaniel works as a Science teacher in Massachusetts. Nathaniel lives in Watertown and has just been matched with Boston Scholar Daniel Molina, Class of 2010.
Congratulations to Members of the Boston Scholars Community
(back to top)Congrats to Founding Board Member Michael Volpe and Elizabeth Hamilton on the occasion of their wedding, which occurred on July 21, 2007. Special thanks to the Hamilton family for making Boston Scholars the recipient of a family contribution in lieu of a party favor. We thank them for their creativity, thoughtfulness and dedication.
Congrats also go out to Boston Scholars Program Mentor Justin Bartinowski for being selected as one of the top 40 business leaders under 40 by Boston’s Business Journal. Justin and others will be honored at an event on October 11th.
We Need Your Support (back to top)The success of the Boston Scholars Program hinges on our volunteer mentors, who spend a few hours a month meeting with their students to mentor them and help make sure they are on a path to success, and our donors, who provide the critical financial support to make our program a success.
Click here to learn more about volunteer mentoring
