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FRED SAIGH YOUTH LEADERSHIP GRADUATION TO HIGHLIGHT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
5/2/2007
Special Education Foundation Hosts Graduation Ceremony
The Special Education Foundation hosts the Fred Saigh Youth Leadership Graduation at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, at St. Luke’s Hospital Auditorium in Chesterfield. Eighteen high school juniors from 14 St. Louis County School Districts will present individual overviews of their experiences during the year-long curriculum, hear about the leadership of Fred Saigh, see a video of the Year in Review, meet the Miss Missouri contestant guest speaker and receive graduation certificates. Students’ families, friends, teachers and Foundation board members will be in attendance.
The Fred Saigh Youth Leadership Program, made possible by a grant from the Fred Saigh Foundation, provides a year-long leadership training curriculum that introduces and develops leadership skills by involving students in issues that face the community. Students in the leadership program visit key sites/locations one day each month and meet leaders throughout the metropolitan area. Examples include visits to the St. Louis County Executive’s Office, the office of the St. Louis City Mayor, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Patrick’s Center, a recycling center and the State Capitol in Jefferson City. Students also spend a day on diversity issues and spend time studying the arts of problem solving and debate. They attend two Saturday morning sessions and hold a car wash to raise funds for the purchase of gifts for St. Patrick’s Center. The program culminates with the graduation on May 9.
“Students selected for the Fred Saigh Leadership Program complete the year prepared to return to their respective schools ready to campaign for school offices, manage school projects and assume leadership roles and responsibilities,” states Gene McNary, Special Education Foundation Board President. “The growth in the students’ self confidence and in the discovery of their individual talents and abilities after a year in the program is simply amazing.”
This is the third year for the Fred Saigh Youth Leadership Program. In 2004, the Special Education Foundation received a grant from the Fred Saigh Foundation to initiate and implement a leadership program for students with disabilities. The program’s purpose is to develop skills that prepare students for leadership roles, broaden their understanding of community issues, problems and advantages, gain insight regarding resources needed to assist their school/community, and assist in recruiting and mentoring for the following year.
“Students with disabilities participate in all educational endeavors today and so many possess great leadership potential. It is a natural for them to become leaders,” states Diane Buhr, Executive Director, Special Education Foundation. “However, organized and structured opportunities to develop such initiatives and pursue such challenges are not readily available. This program gives students the opportunity to become contributors in their schools and in their communities.”
The Special Education Foundation, established in 1984, is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of children with disabilities, ages 3 to 21 in St. Louis County, through programs, support and services not provided by tax dollars. The Foundation does this through providing financial resources through scholarships, camperships, teacher mini-grants, specialized equipment, student recognition, arts in the classroom, leadership programs and parent speaker series. The Foundation is depends solely on private contributions and donations. No funds are received from the United Way or the Special School District.
Who: Special Education Foundation
What: Fred Saigh Youth Leadership Program
When: May 9, 2007 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: St. Luke’s Hospital Auditorium Woodsmill and Conway Roads
Why: Celebrate Student Graduation from Leadership Program
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