Hats Off to the Graduates of 2008!

The BHGH Family recently gathered together to celebrate the graduation of six special scholars. Girls Hope-Upland hosted a open house filled with good food, friends, and fun on Saturday, June 7th. The graduates are Ashley (college), Greg, Mallory and Niesha (high school), and Brandon and Sam (grade school).

Ashley graduated from Saint Louis University with a B.A in Sociology and a certificate in African American Studies. She is working in the BHGH office this summer as the Community Outreach Assistant. Ashley is spending time with her family and friends this summer and saving up money for her move to Washington D.C. in August. Read more about Ashley and her life at Girls Hope in the next story.

Greg graduated from St. Xavier High School and is attending the University of Louisville on a full football scholarship. Greg is spending his whole summer participating in football training camp.

Mallory and Niesha both graduated from St. Ursula Academy. Mallory plans to attend Charleston University. She is currently job-hunting for summer employment. In her spare time, Mallory enjoys spending time with her friends and preparing for her first year of college. Additionally, Mallory attended the Scope program at the College of Mt. St. Joseph in June.

Niesha will attend Northern Kentucky University in the fall to pursue a degree in Nursing. Niesha also attended the Scope program at the College of Mt. St. Joseph. She is extremely excited about exploring this new chapter in her life.

Our 8th grade graduates, Sam and Brandon, are spending most of their summer preparing for highschool. Both Brandon and Sam will miss St.Vivian School, but are both ready for the challenges high school offers.

They both will participate in Northern Kentucky University's basketball camp this summer. In Sam's free time he enjoys playing outside. Brandon enjoys going to the YMCA and playing outside as well.

We wish all of our graduates success in all of their future endeavors in high school, college, and beyond.

From Scholar to Alumnus: Ashley Shares Her Journey

Hello Parents!
My name is Ashley Keller and I am an alumnus of the Girls Hope-Cincinnati (GH) program. I entered GH in 1998 and remained in the program until my college graduation from Saint Louis University in May 2008. I graduated with my Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and a certificate in African American Studies. I am currently working at the Cincinnati BHGH office as a Community Outreach Assistant for the summer. In August, I plan to move to Washington D.C. to work for the National AIDS Fund through the AmeriCorps program. I eventually plan to obtain my masters in Public Health and work to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic around the world.

While living at Upland, I had a lot more structure than most of my friends outside the program. When my friends were hanging out on the weekends, I was doing homework and scheduled activities. When the majority of my peers had cell phones, I was restricted from purchasing one. Everything about my life was structured: bedtime, chores, study time, my room was spotless at all times, dinner time, laundry days, regulated television viewing, the list goes on.

Ironically, it is the very structure that I despised while living in the house that I am grateful for today. When I went to college I knew how to take care of myself and manage my time. Recently, I experienced an event that made me realize on a greater level the influence that BHGH had on my life. During my spring break trip this past year, I visited with some of my childhood friends. The majority of them have one to three children. Many of them did not graduate from high school or go on to college, most are living below the poverty level, and several have drug and alcohol addictions.

Don't get me wrong; living in the house was very challenging. There were times I wanted to leave the program because of the structure and a poor relationship I had with a house parent, but I now know that would have been the greatest disservice I ever gave myself. Through talking to various BHGH alumni I have learned that my story is not unique. Everyone that I have spoken with shares the same crazy tales of living in the houses, yet they all share the same gratitude for all that the program has given them. It is this gratitude that has brought me back to Cincinnati to serve the program that I will forever be indebted.

During my time in the program I have grown emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, and professionally. The program has truly taught me to be a person for others everyday. I believe that we all have a purpose in life and that through that purpose we must find a way to serve the greater good. It is easy to look for all of the "negative" aspects of the program and dwell on them. However, it is essential to look at Boys Hope Girls Hope with an open mind and heart and be grateful for all of the opportunities it affords the scholars, parents, and staff. I believe that if you allow it, the program will change you for the better and bless one with an education, relationships, independence, and faith that will serve you for the rest of your life.

I look forward to getting to know all the scholars, parents, and staff this summer and in the future to come.

Best wishes,
Ashley