INDIANAPOLIS – December 11, 2019 – Simon Youth Foundation (SYF), a national nonprofit dedicated to helping students reach graduation day, is today announcing and celebrating its 20,000th lifetime graduate, a significant milestone for the Foundation.
In its 20-year history, SYF has helped 20,000 students earn their high school diplomas. SYF has reached this milestone through partnering with local public school districts to launch Simon Youth Academies, alternative classroom settings dedicated to high school dropout recovery and personalized learning environments. The Foundation has been counting down to this moment since their 10,000th graduate in 2013.
Alexis Porter, SYF’s 20,000th graduate, earned her diploma from Simon Youth Academy at Opry Mills, an Academy operated in partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools, at a graduation ceremony this morning in Nashville, Tenn. In honor of this significant milestone and Alexis’ academic achievements, SYF awarded her a scholarship valued at up to $32,000 to pursue post-secondary education.
“We are proud to be celebrating the milestone of reaching 20,000 lifetime graduates in 20 years,” said Dr. J. Michael Durnil, President and CEO, Simon Youth Foundation. “SYF sees students who struggle to succeed in a traditional classroom for who they really are – a girl working two jobs to support her family, a boy surviving homelessness. SYF understands that their circumstances require a different kind of learning, which is why the Foundation builds educational spaces right for them. Through our partnerships with local public school districts including Metro Nashville Public Schools, we have been able to reduce high school dropout rates in communities where Simon Youth Academies are based, and help countless young people realize a successful future is possible. We look forward to continuing to expand our programs in the next 20 years to reach even more students.”
SYF has not only given youth across the country hope for a bright future; the nonprofit has also made a significant economic impact through its work to combat the national dropout crisis. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that high school dropouts earn $10,386 less per year than high school graduates. The estimated lifetime economic impact of one high school graduate is $498,528. This data indicates that the 20,000 lifetime graduates of Simon Youth Academies will have an estimated economic impact of nearly $10 billion.
SYF will also award a $20,000 grant to Simon Youth Academy at Opry Mills in celebration of the Academy being home to the 20,000th Simon Youth Academy graduate. Grant funds will be used to make improvements to the Academy and allow teachers to continue to provide a positive learning environment for local students.
SYF currently operates 37 Simon Youth Academies in 15 states in partnership with 24 local public school districts, including three Academies in Nashville in partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools.
For more information, please visit syf.org.
About Simon Youth Foundation
Simon Youth Foundation (SYF) is a national nonprofit committed to helping students reach graduation day. SYF works toward this mission by partnering with local public school districts to launch Simon Youth Academies, alternative classroom settings located primarily in Simon Malls, and by providing Simon Youth Scholarships to Academy graduates and students who live near Simon Malls. Since its inception, SYF has maintained a 90 percent graduation rate at its 37 Simon Youth Academies in 15 states, helping more than 20,000 students earn their high school diplomas, and has awarded over $18 million in scholarships. Visit syf.org to learn more.
