Scholarships
Graduation opens the door, but access to higher education is what helps students pursue what comes next.
Every student deserves the chance to dream bigger, to pursue college or career training that can transform their future. But for too many, the cost of higher education feels out of reach.
Simon Youth Foundation scholarships are more than financial aid. They are a powerful statement of belief in each student’s potential to succeed beyond high school, regardless of their circumstances.
Awarded based on academic promise, civic engagement, and demonstrated financial need, these scholarships open pathways for students who are often first-generation college attendees or facing significant barriers. In 2024, 175 students from SYF programs across the country were awarded scholarships totaling $733,250.
Since launching the program, SYF has awarded more than $21.8 million in scholarships to 6,252 students. Each scholarships represents an investment in a brighter and more equitable future.
One of those students is Esme LeDay, whose determination to succeed has carried her from instability to advocacy.
Scholarship Spotlight:
Esme LeDay
Simon Youth Calcasieu Parish Academy
For students who have experienced foster care, the statistics are discouraging. Fewer than half graduate from high school, and less than five percent earn a college degree.
But Esme LeDay refused to become a statistic.
In 2024, Esme graduated from Simon Youth Calcasieu Parish Academy, a milestone that represents far more than a diploma. It is a symbol of perseverance in the face of extraordinary adversity.
Esme’s journey has been marked by instability and heartbreak. At 13, her adoptive parents returned her to state custody. She spent her teenage years in foster care and eventually aged out of the system without a permanent home. While in high school, she faced mental health crises that led to multiple hospitalizations, all while experiencing periods of housing insecurity. There were times she considered giving up.
“I didn’t think it was worth my time to graduate. I was angry, I got into fights, I was expelled. I didn’t know where I belonged.”
Everything changed when Esme found Simon Youth Academy. After learning about the Simon Youth Calcasieu Parish Academy during her time out of school, she enrolled and found not just an education but a community. She credits Ms. Judith Burton for helping her turn her life around.
“She was there for support, but she would not hold my hand because she knew what I was capable of. I loved this about her. She did not see me as another statistic; she saw me for me.”
While working full-time, Esme completed her high school education and earned an Academy Scholarship to pursue her dreams of becoming a social worker. Today, she is enrolled at McNeese State University, still working full-time and advocating for foster youth.
Her goal is simple but powerful: to ensure that other young people feel seen, supported, and given the opportunity to succeed.
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