For many SYF students, reaching graduation day seems unattainable – throw in a global pandemic, and those feelings are only exaggerated. Knowing many of their students are working long hours as essential employees to support their families, Simon Youth Academy teachers have gone above and beyond to ensure students’ needs are being met – both academically as well as emotionally.
SYF teachers have scheduled evening office hours to assist and tutor students through credit requirements. They have rearranged their schedules to be available when it is conducive to individual students – no matter the time or place. And now that students have persevered and completed their graduation requirements, SYF teachers continue to support these students, and have designed innovative and thoughtful ways to ensure graduates feel celebrated for reaching graduation day (yes, even with social distancing!).
Simon Youth Academy at Independence Center (Independence, MO) held their graduation celebration virtually via Google Meet and had SYF participate live to deliver congratulatory remarks to their graduates and surprise three graduates with post-secondary scholarships, including the Best of the Best Scholarship recipient! The student that received the Best of the Best Award had the highest score of any applicant in the country! Adding to the surprise, scholarships arrived in a special box the following day.
The Simon Youth Academies in Nashville, Tennessee, made sure their graduates felt celebrated for all they have accomplished by hosting drive through graduation celebrations. Students were greeted by Academy staff in caps and gowns, received their diplomas, and several students were surprised to also receive SYF scholarships both at graduation and then with special deliveries at home!
Simon Youth Academy at McKinley Alternative School (Kokomo, IN) acknowledged their graduates virtually via a Zoom celebration complete with teachers presenting awards to students and sharing personal anecdotes to accentuate all that students have overcome to earn their diplomas. SYF joined in the celebration to award two students with post-secondary scholarships and the teachers delivered graduation gifts to students after the virtual ceremony.
And SYF is only halfway through graduation season…
SYF is so proud of Simon Youth Academy leaders who have worked individually with each and every one of their students to ensure they have completed their graduation requirements and are able to participate in graduation.
Knowing how life-changing it is for their students to earn their high school diploma, SYF teachers have displayed incredible dedication and commitment to ensuring their 2020 graduates feel celebrated, despite the circumstances.
Help SYF honor these incredible educators and students by making a donation in their honor: donate.syf.org/2020Graduate
Follow us on social media for more photos of Simon Youth Academy graduation celebrations, and special shout outs from SYF staff members.
