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2010 Summer Program Students and Teachers On July 31st, Breakthrough teachers, parents, students, and staff came together to celebrate the 2010 Summer Program. Spirits were high as teachers recognized the accomplishments of their students, who put in six weeks of hard work, including two hours of homework each night. It was a time to celebrate students’ perseverance, to show off what students learned during their Explorations (electives designed by the Summer Program teachers), to recognize Breakthrough’s tried and true volunteers, and to thank the summer teachers for their guidance and unflagging devotion to each Breakthrough student throughout the Summer Program. Summer Celebration was also a time to celebrate the students who will be attending high school in the fall. Rising ninth graders took the stage to share their “six-word memoirs,” statements of reflection on their time at Breakthrough. Many of them took this opportunity to show their gratitude. One ninth grader shared, “Breakthrough is everything I ever wanted.” The ninth graders then passed on the torch to the rising seventh graders during a candlelit ceremony. The evening ended with a dance performance by the summer teachers which culminated in the entire group of summer program teachers and students dancing with joy and celebration.
7th graders share statements of learning. Gabby and Mauricio were our hosts for the evening.
The Summer Program Faculty Dance
Keilen, Class of 2015, sharing his student testimonial.
Dipona, a Harvard University student, shares her teacher testimonial.
Posted August 19, 2010
Wednesday, July 28th was Pie Your Teacher Day at Breakthrough! Students who had exemplary attendance and who turned in their homework all summer were rewarded with the chance to exact revenge on their teachers for all those pesky homework assignments. One by one, these students lined up in front of their teachers and greeted them with a pie in the face.
Though the celebration was silly, the motivation behind it was serious. Michael Griffith, Director of Programs, explained why. In addition to being better prepared for academics during the school year, Breakthrough students learn good study habits by arriving at Breakthrough each morning prepared to learn. Students who have good attendance and who complete their homework in high school are far more likely to be successful in high school, and ultimately, to graduate from high school. “We care that you do your homework, and we care that you attend,” he told the students.
Each morning’s visit began with a rousing welcome during Breakthrough’s special roll call. When a student’s name is called, the entire community of students and teachers greets him or her with a “Welcome!” and then participates in a cheer or listens to a quote of that person’s choice. It’s a great way to begin the day! Visitors also peeked into classes and observed students strengthening their memorization skills, improving reading habits, and participating in activities that will help prepare them for school success this fall.
After a few words from our Director, Barry Aidman, Breakthrough students Sheldon, Christy, and Cinnamon took a few moments to share their experiences with Breakthrough:
Sheldon, an 8th grade student at Kealing Middle School who will attend St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in the fall, told the crowd that Breakthrough has helped him improve his study skills. “Breakthrough has helped me develop a system for getting things done, in academic and regular life…I can now take this system to applying to colleges and to the work field.” Sheldon has clear goals, and a plan for achieving them. “This is important to me,” he says of the organizational and study skills he learned at Breakthrough, “because my goals for the future are to attend a college of my choice and to have a satisfying career where I can have a lot of responsibilities and a chance to move up.”
Christy recently graduated from McCallum High School and will be attending Texas State University in the fall. She told visitors how the skills she gained as a student with Breakthrough have allowed her to become an effective teacher during the Summer Program. Although she used to feel apprehensive about public speaking, she drew upon the skills and confidence she gained as a Breakthrough student and is now a fabulous teacher who feels comfortable leading classrooms of students. She is even considering becoming a teacher after college.
Cinnamon is a recent graduate of Austin High School and a Dell Scholar who will attend the University of Houston this fall, described the support she received from her teachers and advisors at Breakthrough: “My four years of high school were very rigorous…I wasn't sure I was good enough. Breakthrough stepped in and pushed me to dig deep within my values to overcome these hardships. This proved to me that I can achieve my goals, and now I know that I am college material… Even though there were times when I lost faith in my studies and beliefs Breakthrough never lost faith in me.”
Many visitors noted that hearing about the impact of the Breakthrough program in these students’ lives was the highlight of their visit.
Breakthrough Students Give Back
Picking up trash in Waller Creek
This summer, ninth grade students took a break from their studies and volunteered for a day at the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. Working together as a team, they created boxes of food to distribute to local families. Their selfless work helped the Capital Area Food Bank provide many meals for Austin families. Additionally students in grades seven through nine spent a day cleaning up Waller Creek. This volunteer activity was completed in partnership with Keep Austin Beautiful, who provided materials and guidance. In just one day, students made a huge impact on our local environment. They collected 30 large bags of trash totaling 65 pounds! By picking up litter along the creek, they helped to improve water quality, prevent storm drains from becoming blocked, protect animals from ingesting or getting tangled in litter, and beautify Austin. Both of these activities helped students practice a core Breakthrough value--giving back to the community.
Breakthrough Gets Fit with St. Stephen's Spartans
BT Gets Fit activities included lots of team games.
The 2010 Summer Program was not all essays, math problems, and practice in good study habits. The seventh, eighth, and ninth grade Breakthrough students also participated in Breakthrough Gets Fit, a fun, active program that taught students the importance of physical fitness in keeping their minds alert and contributing to overall health. Breakthrough partnered with the St. Stephen's Spartan Cross Country Runners, who donated their time to develop, implement, and co-lead the program.
Collectively, Breakthrough students:
Students participated in 50 minute Breakthrough Gets Fit activities twice each week which often included team games such as soccer and flag football. Several University of Texas football players even got involved, participating in exercises and motivating students by leading stretches and volunteering at fitness stations. Barry Aidman, Breakthrough's Director, remarked that, "With the leadership and support of the Spartan Runners, Breakthrough students have a greater appreciation of the importance of exercise and had fun at the same time."
The benefits of physical activity to our general health and well-being are widely acknowledged. Interestingly, research points to a significant relationship between academics and physical fitness for adolescents. In a recent study by Lesley A. Cottrell PhD, presented in May at the American Heart Association’s 2010 Conference, researchers compared the fitness levels and standardized academic test scores of 725 fifth grade students. Two years later, they then compared that data to the now seventh grade students' fitness and academic performance. The researchers found that students with the best academic scores were physically fit at the beginning and end of the study (physically fit fifth graders who were still fit in the seventh grade), but that the next highest academic achievement scores belonged to students who were not physically fit at the beginning of fifth grade but became fit by the end of seventh grade.
These sorts of studies demonstrate a consistent, positive relationship between overall fitness and academic achievement. Hopefully, the Breakthrough students who participated in Breakthrough Gets Fit will continue to exercise and enjoy the benefits of healthy bodies and minds.
Click here for more information about the relationship between physical fitness and academics: Science Daily.
Posted August 18, 2010 Individualized Guidance and Practice in Good Learning Habits during the 2010 Summer Program Prepare Students to Transition into New Grade Levels
To better prepare our students for a more rigorous middle school curriculum and later the transition to high school and increased expectations to be independent and self-reliant, we offer BT (Breakthrough) Habits for 7th-9th graders and PEEPS (Personalized Exploration Education Plan for Students) for our rising high school freshmen during the Summer Program. Both courses teach study skills and strategies for school success, in addition to providing one-on-one time for individual student mentorship.
BT Habits BT Habits gives students the opportunity to explore their personal learning styles and personalize the tools they need to be successful. 7th, 8th, and 9th graders practice different note taking techniques and memory strategies. Other workshops focus on things like the logistics of working in a group on academic projects with a focus on communication, leadership, and teamwork, giving students an overall understanding of the goals of group work and the importance of cooperative learning. This summer’s curriculum was revised by AJ Ronen, a 2010 Summer Program teacher, with the goal of making lessons more engaging and relevant for students. For example, the 9th graders put on a BT Habits Showcase for the 7th and 8th graders. In groups, the 9th graders invented products that could help students improve a particular learning skill. They displayed their inventions at the Showcase and invited 7th and 8th grade students to visit. At the end of the Showcase, 7th and 8th graders voted on their favorite products. The winning products included a candy bar with special, memory-improving powers and glasses that could be used to surf the internet. AJ reported that the 9th graders were very creative and enjoyed presenting their products.
PEEPS A 9th grade student uses a dry erase board to practice math equations in PEEPs Breakthrough created the PEEPS program in order to meet the needs of rising 9th graders preparing to enter high school in the fall. Research shows that the transition to high school is a critical turning point for many students, particularly those with similar backgrounds to Breakthrough students. This year, PEEPs was based upon the Sylvan Learning program Ace It, which is a national, research-based supplemental reading and math program designed in partnership with school districts and community organizations. The addition of Ace It this year provided 9th grade students with 24 hours of individualized, intensive math and reading instruction in a small group setting. This instruction was supplemental to their regular math and reading courses. Because the Ace It curriculum is designed to target individual student needs, students had the benefit of creative, hands-on learning tools, such as dry erase boards for math practice, colored chips to map out equations, and even a number line they could walk across.
Summer teachers received training and ongoing guidance from Michiko Hikida, a representative of Sylvan, as they introduced the curriculum to Summer Program students. Michiko remarked that she was impressed by the teachers’ ability to problem solve and their thoughtful approach to their work and students. Rising 9th graders completed diagnostic pre-tests at the beginning of the summer to determine their skill levels in math and English. Students were divided into small groups of three to five students with comparable skill levels in either math or English, depending upon the subject the student needs to improve the most for the upcoming school year. In these small groups, students received focused, individualized instruction and practice based upon his or her current skill level and pace with the goal that each student would be on-track and on grade level in order to be successful in the upcoming freshman year.
Michiko feels that PEEPs was a success overall. She remembers one female student who had a difficult time in math. The Breakthrough teacher discovered this student struggled with understanding negative numbers. Because of the small-group environment and the ability to personalize instruction, this teacher was able to work closely with the student on this particular area. One week later, Michiko saw the student at work solving linear equations. “She was smiling—you could see her self-confidence had changed,” Michiko stated. Positive Results
Students and their summer teacher
Summer Program faculty reported improvement and successes among students in both the PEEPs and BT Habits programs. BT Habits teachers reported that students were more engaged in their lessons this summer. AJ shared that students should now have the knowledge and tools to formulate good study habits as they need them. Additionally, 9th grade teachers saw skills students learned in their PEEPs classes transfer over to other disciplines. Science teachers found students who were receiving math Ace It instruction in PEEPs were better prepared to complete science lessons. Overall, students were positively affected by their experience in BT Habits and PEEPs and summer teachers are pleased with their students’ progress.
Our students took part in several memorable learning experiences this summer that we hope will keep them excited about learning.
Performing Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Over 40 eighth grade students in the Summer Program took part in an annual Breakthrough tradition of visiting Winedale to study Shakespeare. After studying the literature of Shakespeare, eighth grade students rehearsed and mastered selected scenes of the play Twelfth Night in preparation for a large-group performance. Students then took a field trip to Winedale, where they were coached and mentored by devoted theater students. As a culmination of these activities, the students performed Twelfth Night on the stage itself!
Long after the return trip to Austin, our eighth graders continued to rave about their experiences and the performance. One student said, “This field trip really made my stage fright go away and the most memorable part is actually performing. It was fun!” Another reported, “I thought it was the coolest place I have ever been to. I will always remember how we got to talk to the UT students and how we saw them perform.”
Students in ninth grade visited Texas State University. They toured the library, the recreation center, the Honors Program, and the writing center and had lunch in the dining hall. They also had the opportunity to hear from current Texas State students who were also the first in their families to attend college. Each student also received a Bobcat t-shirt at the end of the day.
A Breakthrough student experiencing the Challege Course in Georgetown.
Ninth grade students also took part in team-building activities at the Challenge Course in Georgetown.
Breakthrough students on their way to Summer Program classes. This summer, we welcomed rising Breakthrough 10th graders back to the University of Texas campus to participate in a summer leadership institute designed especially for them. During this two-week program, students learned about effective communication and public speaking—they then got to practice these skills by teaching several lessons to the seventh and eighth grade students. During the program, students evaluated personal strengths and weaknesses, explored college and career options that interested them, and visited the campus of Rice University in Houston. Students also interviewed college admissions officers and listened to the advice of successful professionals in a variety of careers, who motivated them to work hard and achieve their long-term goals.
Robotic Soccer Competitions - LEGO Mindstorms
Programming robots for LEGO Mindstorms soccer competitions.
Students cheering for their teams during the soccer game.
For the past six weeks, Breakthrough students in grades seven, eight, and nine have been hard at work completing academic projects on the University of Texas campus. In addition to taking their core academic classes, students discovered new hobbies with elective Explorations classes in art, cooking, dancing, and other subjects, and got active with fun physical fitness activities. Classes were taught by exceptional high school and college students from across the country. This year, our summer teachers hailed from as far away as New York City and Boston, Massachusetts. Students also took field trips to Texas State University, the Challenge Course in Georgetown, and Winedale to study Shakespeare.
High School Class of 2010 College Enrollment
Posted August 17, 2010
Breakthrough's Class of 2010 at Graduation Celebration, May 15, 2010
In May, our third class of students graduated from high school! On May 15, over 150 Breakthrough students, staff, family and friends gathered at St. Edward’s University to honor the class of 2010 and celebrate their accomplishments. The audience of students, family, friends and donors enjoyed speeches by Breakthrough senior Miguel Munoz, Breakthrough parents Pete and Candy Moncada, and Lawrence Sampleton, Director of Admissions at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School. Long-time Breakthrough teacher Tommy Luna shared how his six summers teaching Breakthrough students have inspired him to pursue a career in education. Tommy just graduated from Texas State University and is moving to New Jersey to work for Teach for America.
Posted August 17, 2010 Summer Visitors Days
Join us on the University of Texas at Austin campus on July 20 from 8:30 - 9:30 am and see what our students are accomplishing! View the fun morning roll call, meet a few of our students, and learn first-hand more about all that Breakthrough does. Complimentary parking will be available at the UT Co-Op parking garage, which is located on San Antonio at 23rd street behind the University Co-Op. For questions or to RSVP, please contact Sara at sara@breakthroughaustin.org or 512-692-9444 x23. Hope to see you there!
2010 Tower Picture for Graduating Seniors
The date has been set for the 2010 Senior Tower Picture. On Friday, April 9th we’ll meet at the UT Tower for a Breakthrough Tower Picture Reunion and pizza at Austin’s Pizza! More details to follow!
Breakthrough's Summer Visitors Days
Spend an hour with Breakthrough on the University of Texas at Austin campus and see what our students are accomplishing! View the fun morning roll call, meet a few of our students, and learn first-hand more about all that Breakthrough does.
Complimentary parking will be available at the UT Co-Op parking garage, which is located on San Antonio at 23rd street behind the University Co-Op.
For questions or to RSVP, please contact Sara at sara@breakthroughaustin.org or 512-692-9444 x23.
May 21, 2010 Breakthrough's Class of 2010 Graduates!
We are proud to announce that our third class of students has graduated from high school! On May 15, over 150 Breakthrough students, staff, family and friends gathered at St. Edward’s University to honor the class of 2010. Seniors have been admitted to over thirty-five colleges across the country, including: Angelo State University, Austin College, Austin Community College, Baylor University, Blinn College, Boston University, The Citadel, College of Wooster, Colorado State University, Concordia University, Evergreen State College, Hampshire College, Howard Payne University, Huston-Tillotson University, Kansas State University, Manhattanville College, Northern Arizona University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, St. John’s University (NY), St. Mary’s University, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Texas A&M Galveston, Texas A&M Kingsville, Texas Lutheran University, Texas State Technical College, Texas State University, University of Houston, University of Hawaii, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of North Texas, University of Tampa, University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Congratulations to the class of 2010!
April 28, 2010 Breakthrough's Champions Event covered in the Austin American-Statesman
On Thursday, April 22, Breakthrough held its annual Champions event at the stunning home of board member Neil Webber. Over 275 guests attended and a record amount of pledges were made! Michael Barnes, social columnist for the Austin American-Statesman, was in attendance and covered the event in his Out & About column. You can read the article here.
April 13, 2010 Two Breakthrough Students Win Prestigious Dell Scholarship!
Congratulations to Cinnamon Robinson of Austin High School and Alexandra Kleinberg of the Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School! These two Breakthrough students were chosen out of 10,600 applicants for the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Dell Scholars Program. Cinnamon will be a freshman at the University of Houston in the fall and Alexandra will be at the University of North Texas! We are proud of Cinnamon and Alexandra for this exciting recognition by this national scholarship program. Dell Scholars receive $20,000 to help pay for college, as well as a laptop computer and mentoring. These supports are designed to ensure Dell Scholars obtain a college degree. Congratulations to three other Breakthrough seniors who were recognized as semi-finalists in the Dell Scholar Program: Alicia Flores and Pykasu Kobe of the Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School, and Christy Torres of McCallum High School.
March 1, 2010 Breakthrough is KUT's spotlight of the month
KUT 90.5 FM is focusing on Breakthrough as its non-profit of the month. Listeners all over Central Texas heard a two-minute piece about our mission and the students we serve, as well as how to get involved as a volunteer! You can listen to the piece, which features some familiar voices, here.
January 20, 2010 Student Accepted to School for Ethics and Global Leadership
Aaron, a junior Breakthrough student at Austin High School, recently received a full scholarship to attend the School for Ethics and Global Leadership in Washington D.C. this spring semester. Aaron says, "I would never have known this opportunity was out there for me if it was not for Breakthrough. My case manager told me about it, encouraged me to apply, and helped me every step of the way. I'm nervous and yet excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new and challenging. I hope to come home this summer with confidence in my ability to go to and succeed in college."
November 17, 2009 The Hillside Natural Area Project
On November 7th, 40 St. Stephen's mentors, 60 Breakthrough students, and 25 Breakthrough families came together to witness the unveiling of The Hillside Natural Area Project. As briefly mentioned in the last news update, students learned about invasive species and the ecological problems they cause, visited an ecologically restored preserve, learned about working together in teams, removed invasive plants behind Gunn Hall, planned and designed the restoration project, planted 170 seedlings, and created paths and sitting areas in the Natural Area. To read more about this at the St. Stephen's website and see pictures of the project, click the image below.
October 22, 2009
The Emerging Scholars Fund was founded in 2008 by Carolyn and Jack Long based on the simple principle that education truly is the great equalizer in American society. Find out more on what it's doing for Breakthrough students by clicking the link above.
October 5, 2009 St. Stephen's Saturdays are Underway!
The Saturdays at St. Stephen’s program kicked off on September 19th. Despite an unexpected change in venue to O. Henry Middle School, the day was a huge success! Students toured the Mayfield Nature Preserve and worked together to hone their writing and problem-solving skills. This past Saturday, October 3rd, marked the second Saturday of the program. Returning to St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, seventh and eighth graders met with their St. Stephen's mentors, participated in many team-building activities, attended botany labs, and worked to restore a natural common area in desperate need of care. Braving the rain, mentors and mentees alike worked hard to remove invasive species, create paths, and propagate sustainable native plants. Please plan to join us on November 7th for an unveiling ceremony of the new Hillside Natural Area at St. Stephen’s! Invitations will be coming soon – please contact the Development Office at 692-9444 x16 for more information.
October 1, 2009 1 Hour For Kids Partnership
Breakthrough has recently joined in the 1 Hour for Kids collaborative, an initiative launched by United Way that brings together eight nonprofits that specialize in providing mentors and tutors to vulnerable youth. To find out more about 1 Hour for Kids, you can visit 1HourForKids.org.
September 16, 2009 New Videos Are Up!
A new teacher recruitment video has been posted under the Get Involved | Become a Teacher tab, a new student recruitment video has been posted under the For Students | How to Apply to Breakthrough tab, and a Univision news clip has been posted under the Current News | Breakthrough in the News tab. Enjoy!
August 1, 2009 The Summer Program Wraps Up
Congratulations to all the students of the Summer Program 2009! After a long summer filled with homework, science experiments, literary essays, field trips, community service activities, and fun, we celebrated the acievement of our rising 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students in style. The night's festivities consisted of a few Exploration performances (Explorations are electives designed by our teachers), reflections from the summer, and lots of applause. More than 300 families and friends filled the halls of the University of Texas' Welch auditorium to witness the efforts of 130 hard-working students and 33 dedicated teachers. If you attended Celebration, you may have noticed the halls also filled with impressive student work and dinner graciously provided by the families themselves.
Below you will find a certificate from the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas earned during the Summer Program by the ninth graders!
July 8, 2009 Breakthrough Summer Program is here!
It's that time of year again, and the Summer Program is off to a great start. Over 130 rising seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students have arrived on the University of Texas campus for six weeks of academic enrichment, taught by outstanding high school and college students. In its seventh year, Breakthrough's cornerstone program will not only include core classes such as math and science, but will also feature exciting summer activities such as a spirit day, community service projects, and visits to Aquarena Center at Texas State University and Shakespeare at Winedale. Contact Breakthrough for an opportunity to visit this amazing program and see our students hard at work!
April 21, 2009 2009 Breakthrough Champions Event more successful than ever!
With a record number of attendees and dollars raised, the 2009 Champions Event was the most successful in Breakthrough's history! Hosted in the beautiful gardens of James David and Gary Peese, the event raised awareness of Breakthrough's mission and allowed donors and community members to interact with Breakthrough students. Guests roamed the gardens while enjoying food and drinks from local restaurants Fino and Asti. Thank you to our sponsors, hosts, and all who helped make this event such a great success!
April 16, 2009 Breakthrough seniors receive exciting college acceptance news!
March 5, 2009 Breakthrough and St. Stephens announce partnership made possible by Emerging Scholars Fund!
St. Stephen's, Breakthrough Austin, and the recently formed Emerging Scholars Fund have joined together to provide financial assistance for Breakthrough students attending St. Stephen's Episcopal School. The goal of the partnership is to remove the financial barriers to success for Breakthrough students that will be the first in their families to go to college. While these Breakthrough students will face many challenges on the road, from entering St. Stephen's as a ninth grader to walking across the stage with a college diploma, lack of financial resources should not be one of those challenges for students participating in this program. The Emerging Scholars Fund is providing the financial resources to fund up to 12 students participating in the Breakthrough program through four years of high school at St. Stephen's and four years of “gap” funding at any public college or university in Texas. An additional seven Breakthrough students currently enrolled at St. Stephen's will also be eligible for college gap funding. The unique aspect of the Emerging Scholars support is that it spans eight years from high school through college and is dependent only on the student remaining in good standing in school and with the Breakthrough program. Breakthrough is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful partnership that will help students continue on their path to college.
Photo by Kirk Tuck
October 22, 2008 Breakthrough Receives AT&T Grant!
We are grateful to AT&T for their generous support of the Breakthrough program!
October 8, 2008 Breakthrough Student's Artistic Talent Featured in Local Online Magazine!
PaperDolls Magazine has highlighted Breakthrough senior Arianna for her artistic talents in fashion design. PaperDolls, an online magazine for girls, chose to feature Arianna for her talent, ambition, and hard-working attitude. Check out the full interview here and be sure to see Arianna's work in the upcoming Thread Fair fashion show.
Photograph by Erica Nix, courtesy of PaperDolls Magazine
October 1, 2008 Breakthrough Students named Semifinalists in National Achievement Scholarship Competition!
Two Breakthrough students, Daniel and Andrea, were named semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship competion for African American high school seniors. Of 1600 students nationwide, four are from AISD. Click here for the full article and more information.
Breakthrough Seniors Invited to Visit Colleges with All Expenses Paid!
Breakthrough senior Jasmin was accepted to Middelbury's "Discover Middlebury" program. Only 60 students who apply from across the country are accepted to this selective all expenses paid, overnight fly-in program.
Breakthrough student and St. Stephens senior Jorge was accepted to Occidental College's Multicultural College Visit. Students selected for this program will have the opportunity to visit Occidental's beautiful Los Angeles campus, stay overnight in a residence hall, participate in classes, and interact with faculty and students. This prestiegious program was offered to Jorge with all expenses paid.
In related news, Breakthrough senior Daniel was invited to Carleton College's "Taste of Carleton" Program. This competitive program will allow Daniel to visit the Carleton campus with all expenses covered to learn more about the college. Daniel's strong academic record led him to be one of the few students selected to participate in this exciting opportunity.
June 18, 2008 Breakthrough receives Impact Austin grant!
The grant will support a key component of Breakthrough’s program: a six-week, academic summer session for rising 7th and 8th graders on the UT campus. Students will take English, science, math and history classes, as well as electives and study skills, and will complete two hours of homework every night. All the teaching in the middle school program is done by 24 exceptional and diverse college and high school students selected through a nationwide search process and mentored by Master Teachers. According to Executive Director Barry Aidman, “Over the next two summers, this grant will allow us to launch 135 middle schoolers on the path to college, strengthening their academic skills and providing mentors who demonstrate that ‘it’s cool to be smart’ and that going to college is both possible and important. As these students advance to high school and then earn college degrees, they will have the power to end poverty in their family lines forever.”
We are grateful to the women of Impact Austin for their generous support!
Tour a College Campus with Breakthrough! It’s never too early to begin going on COLLGE VISITS! Breakthrough is offering sophomores and juniors visits in March, April, and May of 2010. March 27 - University of North Texas April 10th - Texas A&M University May 8th - Houston area schools (tentative) Transportation will be provided. We have a limited number of spaces remaining. Please email Brook or call 692-9444 x 15 to reserve your spot. First come, first served!
St. Stephen's Saturdays This year, Breakthrough 7th and 8th graders will participate in five Saturday programs at St. Stephen’s School. Students will be challenged academically, will learn about college, and come together with BT friends! St. Stephen’s is a highly rigorous and challenging private school in Austin, that also offers boarding to its students (that means, some students LIVE at school - just like college students!)! Students will be picked up from schools close to their homes and taken to St. Stephen’s in the morning where we’ll have breakfast, begin classes, do team building activities, eat lunch, do homework, and end the day with special activities like swimming, hiking, rock climbing and games! Students will then be bussed back to their neighborhood school.
Each Saturday, students should bring their backpacks with all of their school work, homework, binders, and a book to read. They should also wear comfortable walking shoes. WHO: All 7th and 8th graders WHEN: February 27, March 27th, April 17th (remaining dates) All 7th and 8th graders are expected to attend all of the St. Stephen's Saturdays. If you have a conflict with any of the above dates, please communicate that to Michael or Jennifer! Michael: 692-9444 x 19 or via email Jennifer: 692-9444 x 21 or via email
January 30, 2010 Road to College
On Saturday, January 30th, Breakthrough held its annual Road to College event. Students and families came together to learn more about the college-going process and attend several workshops aimed at milestones on the road to college. State Representative Eddie Rodriguez and former UT football player Ahmad Brooks showed their support and spoke to our families on the importance of following dreams and pursuing higher education. May 16, 2008 College Admissions News
Congratulations to the following 2008 students on their acceptances:
February 15, 2008 Austin Community College News Check out Breakthrough student Manuel talking about Austin Community College's Early College Start program on YouTube! Breakthrough encourages all of its students to take free college classes through this program. We help our 10th graders with the application and enrollment process. To see the video, click here.
February 6, 2008 Havard Business School Alumni Donate to Breakthrough
Top: Gabriel, Kelly, Douglas Plummer, Gillian Coates, Kirsten St. Croix, Barry Aidman, Bill Loven, James Bottom: Yariselis, Rebecca
The Harvard Business School Alumni Association of Austin recently held an event and named Breakthrough as the beneficiary of the proceeds raised. On February 6, Breakthrough received a check for $3,000. We are grateful to the Harvard Business School Alumni Association of Austin and their support of Breakthrough’s mission and programs.
January 8, 2008 Innovative Corporate Giving Breakthrough was fortunate to receive a donation recently from Texas Realty Capital as part of their “Funding the Future” Campaign. Texas Realty Capital specializes in debt and equity financing solutions for commercial real estate. When establishing their company, founders John Morran and Jim Lemos decided to set up a giving program. It was important that giving back to the community be an integral part of the culture of the company. From the beginning, they knew they wanted to focus on organizations that support youth, environment and services for the future of the Austin area. John and Jim agreed to take 3% of the revenues received from each loan closing and set it aside in a separate fund from which charitable gifts would be made. It makes each closing mean something more than just funding a loan because they know that hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars from each closing will go back into the community. Towards the end of each year, everyone on staff recommends an organization they would like to submit for consideration. After research and discussion, the employees vote on the division and recipients of the monies collected. When asked why his company chose Breakthrough, John Morran said “Breakthrough provides a great opportunity to help students in our community achieve a higher level of education than they would likely not obtain without the extra support and guidance (our program) offers. This will not only help them on a personal level in terms of self-esteem and quality of life, but it will help our community as they advance in their careers after school and serve as role models to their peers and families. We like to support programs that actively touch people’s lives on a personal level but can also have a multiplier effect for the benefit of the whole community.” We are grateful to this innovative giving strategy of Texas Realty Capital. July 27, 2006 History Day Fair
Pictured above are Breakthrough supporter and History Day Fair judge Jose Ofman, Representative Eddie Rodriguez, Breakthrough Executive Director Jessica D'Arcy, Breakthrough Development Committee Chair Ted Whatley, and AT&T Director of External Affairs Eva Munoz.
Breakthrough held its first annual History Day Fair on The University of Texas campus. The fair consisted of 12 student finalists who, after competing against 80+ other Breakthrough student presentations, presented to a panel of judges, using the standards of the National History Day Competition. The theme this year was Triumph and Tragedy in History, which students related to the 1965 Grape Strike, the work and life of Cesar Chavez, and the immigration issues of today. First, Second, and Third place awards were presented by Representative Eddie Rodriguez. Breakthrough students presented him with a memento of thanks for representing his constituents, and showing leadership in the Texas legislature for families. AT&T was the Honorary Sponsor of this year's History Day Fair.
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Breakthrough received a pledge of $400,000 over the next four years from AT&T to help Breakthrough students graduate from high school and go on to college. Breakthrough is one of 170 schools and nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive $12 million in competitive grants from the AT&T Foundation. The grant is part of the company’s signature initiative, AT&T Aspire, which was announced earlier this year and helps address high school success and workforce readiness. Dallas-based AT&T (NYSE: T) has committed $100 million in grant dollars through 2011 to schools and nonprofit organizations that are focused on high school retention and better preparing students for college and the workforce.
Breakthrough received a pledge of $102,000 toward its 2008 and 2009 summer programs for low-income Austin ISD students working to become first-generation college graduates.
