The recipient of this year’s Violet Richardson Award is Alexis T. Lockett-Glover, a student at St. Joan Antida High School.  Alexis was a peer volunteer at the Walker’s Point Youth and Family Center, a shelter for homeless teenagers who are facing a crisis at home, for six months.  As a result of her good work, she was offered a paid position as Youth Program Assistant.

As a peer volunteer, her main responsibility was to lend a listening ear to kids suffering a crisis. One has to be trustworthy and an active listener in this position. One has to give good, responsible advice.  She now supervises peer volunteers and helps train the teenagers who come to Walker’s Point.  She wants to give back to the community and help those less fortunate.

Alexis plans to study psychology when she enters college.

The Violet Richardson Award gives $150.00 to Alexis and $50.00 to the organization where she volunteered.

Alexis will receive her award on Wednesday, April 3, 2012.

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About the Violet Richardson Award

Named for the president of the first Soroptimist club, the ‘Violet Richardson Award’ honors girls who are making a difference through volunteer service. Each year, Soroptimist clubs honor girls between the ages of 14 and 17 who are caring, compassionate and creative. They donate their time and energy to causes that make the community and the world a better place—such as working to end discrimination and poverty, in particular, causes that assist women and children who are victims of domestic violence or mentoring young girls. The program begins on the Soroptimist club level. Club award recipients then become eligible for additional awards at other levels of the organization. One winner is chosen to receive a finalist award that includes a contribution of $2,500 to the charitable organization of the finalist’s choice.

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Dear friends and supporters,

Since the priority deadline is coming up, I wanted to remind you that Admission Possible (to be named College Possible TM in January 2012) is recruiting AmeriCorps and VISTA members for fall 2012!

We will be adding lots of talented, idealistic college graduates to our team and we need your help to recruit them. We get our best candidates from your referrals, so please take a moment to think of people who are passionate about changing the world – or others who might know of such people! Most often, our applicants are recent college graduates or current college seniors looking for opportunities starting next fall. Please consider sharing this message to your networks through email, Facebook and Twitter .

We are excited each year by the quality applications we receive from all over the country, especially with our recognition from the Princeton Review as one of the Best Entry-Level Jobs offered by companies or organizations nationwide.

We will select more than 100 AmeriCorps and VISTA members to start in the fall for positions in Minnesota’s Twin Cities; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Omaha, Nebraska and potentially a new expansion city. The Priority Application deadline is February 8, 2012 and the Regular Application Deadline is March 7, 2012. For more details on the specific positions and deadlines, please visit our website and click on ” AmeriCorps .” Interested in what life as a Corps member is really like? Hear the experiences first-hand from our Corps members here.

What is Admission Possible/College Possible?
Admission Possible/College Possible is a nonprofit organization making college admission and success possible for low-income students through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. We provide our students with (1) academic support through SAT/ACT test preparation; (2) guidance in the college application process; (3) assistance in the financial aid application process; (4) guidance in the college transition; and (5) support toward college degree completion.

We currently serve nearly 8,700 low-income students annually in 29 high schools across the Twin Cities, Milwaukee and Omaha and on more than 150 college campuses nationwide. Since our founding in 2000, we have helped 98 percent of our students earn admission to college and nearly 80 percent of students are working on their degree or have graduated!

We are thrilled to announce that Paul Gessner, former Assistant Principal at Rufus King High School, has been appointed as the new Head of School for St. Joan Antida High School.  He will begin his new position on February 13.

Mr. Gessner brings over 15 years of experience in urban education to St. Joan Antida, experience that will be valuable for our girls as well as the faculty and staff.  He strongly believes that all students can achieve at high levels and is dedicated to helping them believe in themselves. He has a collaborative, servant-leader spirit that will set a positive tone for learning.  In addition, Mr. Gessner is a true man of faith who can help to deepen the Catholic identity of the school and foster our mission to truly help each young woman develop to the fullest of her potential.

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Dear St. Joan Antida High School Community,

It is with great humility and honor that I have accepted the position of Head of School at St. Joan Antida High School.  While I leave a school community that has held my heart for nearly 15 years, I embrace the opportunities that new beginnings offer both SJA and me.  We must work together to build on the successes in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education that have already been realized.  We will broaden this STEM focus to include all academic areas in order to ensure that every young woman who chooses SJA as her high school will succeed in her pursuit of a four-year college or university degree.

I come to SJA from Rufus King High School in Milwaukee Public Schools.  I started my career at Rufus King as a history teacher for eight years.  In 2005 I was promoted to school administration and have worked tirelessly to ensure a quality, rigorous academic experience for the young people of Milwaukee.  I am eager to bring my experiences and talents to the role of Head of School.

As a lifelong practicing Catholic Christian, I am most excited about the opportunity to share my faith with students and openly proclaim the Word of God as we mold young people to embrace their community and each other.  A Catholic education offers students the opportunity to not only hear and understand the Word of God, but also a safe place to practice living that word each day.  In 1 Corinthians 13:13, St. Paul tells us that three things that will last forever are faith, hope, and love, with the greatest being love.  Through a focus on internationalism and the mission of St. Joan Antida, we will demonstrate our love for humankind.  We will continue the work already being done at SJA to think about issues impacting our brothers and sisters on a global level and act locally to alleviate their plight.

The Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida have built SJA high school with one simple vision and mission: to provide young women access to a quality education which makes Jesus Christ incarnate in thought, word, and action.  Through service to others and a commitment to experiencing new opportunities, we can fulfill this mission.  I thank the Provincial Team for entrusting me with the task of continuing the work of the mission of St. Joan Antida at SJA High School.

Families have chosen SJA High School because they believe in our ability to provide their daughters opportunities in life after high school unparalleled at any other secondary institution.  This trust is not taken lightly.  It is this understanding that will focus all academic, pastoral, and financial decisions that I make.  It is important that every young woman receive the academic and social tools she needs to pursue her dreams and achieve success after leaving SJA.  I commit myself to this task and would ask you to do whatever you can in your role within the SJA community to do the same.

As I entered SJA for the first time, I noticed a banner that proclaimed “It’s a new day at SJA!”  New beginnings are always exciting and often unsettling.  I ask you to keep me and the leadership team in your prayers as we explore opportunities for newness and renewed vision.

I look forward to meeting you over the weeks and months to come and serving SJA as the steward of its mission.  It truly is “a new day at SJA!”

Sincerely,

Paul T. Gessner
Head of School

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Read, “New Head of School appointed at St. Joan Antida” on Catholic Herald Online.