03/23/2026
✨ Did you know we’re about so much more than academics? ✨
Preparing our scholars for life after graduation means going beyond the classroom. While strong academics are important, we also focus on helping our scholars build real‑world skills they’ll use every day.
Our seniors participated in a life skills series called “Adulting with Carlos.” As part of the program, scholars identified areas they wanted to strengthen, and then put those skills into action with a hands‑on challenge: cooking a full meal from start to finish.
Divided into teams, our seniors planned menus, created budgets, grocery shopped, and worked together in the kitchen. While it was technically a competition, choosing a winner was impossible - both groups did an amazing job, and the meals were absolutely delicious!
More importantly, the experience taught valuable lessons in budgeting, teamwork, communication, and confidence - all essential skills for life beyond the classroom.
A heartfelt thank you to our longtime supporter, Karen Parise, for opening up her home (and kitchen!) and making this opportunity possible for our scholars. 💙🧡
This is what community support looks like. If you’re interested in volunteering your time or talents, there are so many ways to support our scholars on their journey.