Sixteen graduates awarded two-year scholarships
from John N. and Connie Taylor
DAYTON – Sixteen students from Life Skills Center of Dayton not only received their high school diplomas June 15, they also were awarded two-year scholarships to Sinclair Community College.
All Life Skills graduates have met the Ohio requirements for graduation and all graduates earned a high school diploma. Life Skills Center of Dayton graduated 94 students for the 2011-2012 school year. Life Skills offers an alternative high school education to students between the ages of 16-21. Class hours and curriculum are designed to be flexible enough to fit each individual’s needs. In addition to computer-based learning and highly qualified teachers available for one-on-one attention, Life Skills assists students outside of the classroom with job placement and counseling for higher education.
John N. and Connie Taylor, local philanthropists, established the Taylor Endowment Scholarship at Sinclair Community College to benefit the graduates of Fast Forward Center partner high schools. The Taylor Scholarships allow outstanding graduates of Mound Street Academies, ISUS, Miami Valley Career Technology Center Youth Connections and Life Skills Center of Dayton to continue their education at Sinclair, according to Sinclair Community College. The scholarships provide $2,000 per recipient, or $3,000 in combined federal, state and other scholarship funds each academic year to assist a student in earning an associate’s degree or a certificate from any of Sinclair’s disciplines.
The students from Life Skills of Dayton each received a two-year scholarship and an additional $500 per semester for books, fees, etc. A Sinclair Enrollment Services counselor also is assigned to work with scholarship recipients to guide them through the transition from high school to college.
According to Patrick Gill, enrollment counselor at Sinclair Community College, the Taylors established a scholarship program in January 2007 and have continued to award scholarships from this endowment. The 2012-13 school year will mark the sixth year of this program, he said.
To date, 41 Life Skills of Dayton students have received the scholarships.
“Each student earns a potential of $3,000 a year for up to two years, as the award factors in each student’s total financial aid package,” Gill said. “Most students attend Sinclair Community College virtually cost free. The college matches the Taylor Scholarship contribution, and the total awarded to students amounts to over $200,000.”
Life Skills offers high school students a nontraditional option for obtaining a high school diploma. Life Skills fits the needs of a variety of students with different backgrounds and lifestyles, including: students returning to high school, accelerated students, pregnant students, students who need high school credit recovery, teen mothers, students working while going to school, and families with special circumstances.
“These scholarships transform lives,” said Teresa Fife, coordinator of school improvement at Life Skills Center of Dayton. “These are students who may not have been able to afford to go to college. The Taylors do this because they believe in education and want students who might have dropped out if it weren't for Life Skills to go on to college.”
The following students received the Taylor Scholarship to Sinclair Community College: Ashely Nashea Aniton, Destiny Bellfo, Kyran Devon Bishop, Ileea Lee Mae Bradham, Tanzania Brielle Brown, De’Naya Shonell Craft, Cordell Avery Cutts, Darrel Eugene Garrison II, Michael Eugene Griffith II, Di’Yoncea Emond Jones, Alexandria Jouvanna Lark, Deron Anthony Martin, Alexis Mays, Abigail Siah Nyumah, Ta’Nesha Lashaia Payne and Trevonte Devon Williams.
“I am so appreciative of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor’s commitment to helping out-of-school youth continue their education beyond their high school diploma,” said Fife. “Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have touched so many of our students who now see the value of higher education.”
Fife said once students become seniors, they receive applications for the scholarship. Included in the application is a personal statement about their school experience, why they want to go to college, who influenced them and what they want to do in the future. Those statements are reviewed by representatives at Sinclair Community College and the Taylors. The number of scholarships awarded per graduating class varies depending on the number of applicants.
“During my time at LifeSkills, I learned that I was willing to take the extra mile in accomplishing something,” scholarship recipient Di’Yoncea Emond Jones wrote in her essay. “I decided that if I persevere and put forth as much effort as possible, that I can reach my goal.”
Scholarship recipient Ashely Nashea Aniton wrote, “I learned that when I put my mind to do something I can do something. I’ve realized that I’m strong-willed and I can beat the odds.”
For more information about Life Skills Center of Dayton, visit www.wediducan.com/dayton-lifeskills. For additional information regarding Sinclair Community College, visit www.sinclair.edu.
If you’re interested in learning more about Life Skills Center of Dayton and would like to interview Teresa Fife, call 937-274-2841 or email her at teresa.fife@wediducan.com.
About Life Skills
Life Skills operates centers in Ohio, Arizona and Colorado and offers an alternative high school education to students between the ages of 16-21. Class hours and curriculum are designed to be flexible enough to fit each individual’s needs. For more information, visit http://lifeskillscenters.com.
Life Skills Center of Dayton Contact
Teresa Fife
Coordinator of School Improvement
Life Skills Center of Dayton
1721 N. Main St.
Dayton, OH 45405
937-274-2841
937-274-2873 (fax)
teresa.fife@wediducan.com
About White Hat Management
White Hat Management contracts and assists nonprofit corporations that hold charters or see a need for a charter school in their community. White Hat Management operates 33 schools in three states under the auspices of two separate educational ventures. The Academies are tuition-free and are open to students in grades K-8 throughout the state of Ohio. Life Skills Centers are alternative education charter schools serving students between the ages of 16 and 21 in Ohio, Colorado and Arizona.
121 S. Main St.
Suite 200
Akron, OH 44308
800-493-8680