March 2008

Getting Organized

On March 1st, Sister Rose Ann Fleming spoke to the Boys Hope Girls Hope Scholars about the transition to college. Sr. Fleming is an Academic Advisor for the Xavier University Athletic Department. Her commitment over the past 20 years has contributed to the academic success of Xavier's athletes, including Brian Grant of the Miami Heat. In 1998, the NCAA reported that Xavier's 100% graduation rate for Division I schools was the best in the nation. Sr. Fleming earned the Most Valuable Player award twice from the men's basketball team for her dedication and guidance. Furthermore, ABC, ESPN, and the Family Channel aired specials on Sr. Fleming's achievements.

Sr. Fleming shared her expertise with our Scholars, speaking about the importance of time-management skills, organization, and student-teacher communication. Sr. Fleming encouraged our Scholars to fill out daily, weekly, and monthly calendars to organize and prioritize both their studies and extracurricular activities.

Boys Hope Girls Hope Scholars, like Xavier athletes, have mandatory study time, monitored study sessions, and enrichment workshops. In addition, staff, parents, and administration at Boys Hope Girls Hope communicate with one another about the Scholars’ progress, similar to the Xavier coaches, faculty, and academic advisors. Sr. Fleming works one-on-one with every student-athlete and coach to ensure his/her academic success.

Sr. Fleming provided each scholar with a copy of Xavier University's Dr. William Anyonge and Dr. Mumbi Thairu's book, A Survival Guide for the College Freshman: Achieving Academic Excellence. This short read gives scholars tips on how to transition to college successfully. In addition, Sr. Fleming passed out the Choice Map, which explains the paths people take when making positive or negative choices. It is a great tool for our Scholars, helping them to deal with peer-pressure situations interfering with academic goals.

Our Scholars feel motivated now that Sr. Fleming has emphasized the importance of education and Boys Hope Girls Hope. We appreciate her support of our mission, thank her for her time and look forward to her visit next year!