As we move more deeply into the liturgical celebration of Christmas and look towards the new year I am  reminded of the extraordinary year we have had Chez Nous. The past year has been filled with innumerable highlights and countless stories of achievement, growth and success for our students, faculty and alumnae. This edition of Chez News  is captures some of the stories that represent the continued vitality of our school and our mission to educate girls as the Jesuits educate boys. 

I am ever grateful for your generous support as we move into 2017. I hope that you enjoy the stories below that made 2016 such a wonderful year  Chez Nous . Please know the girls and I pray with gratitude for each of you, our friends and supporters. May 2017 bring us and our entire world comfort, joy, hope and peace. 

 

Five years ago, Mya Powell was walking through the halls of her middle school when she noticed a bright and colorful poster advertising Notre Dame's annual Open House. Intrigued, Mya made the 50 minute subway ride from East Flatbush to see what Notre Dame had to offer. During her visit Mya was blown away by "how advanced, innovative and beautiful the school building was." and "how welcoming and warm the students were." Her experience at Open House led her to apply and enroll. Since that day Mya has embraced the Chez Nous spirit and has made the most of her time at Notre Dame. Her daily schedule is packed with AP Calculus, AP English, AP Environmental Science, AP Government, Honors Spanish and Honors Latin. Additionally, Mya serves as the President of the Multi-Cultural Club and is a member of Anne's Leaders, National Honors Society, Yearbook and the newly formed ND M.D., a group of students interested in the field of medicine. 

During her Junior year, with a near perfect GPA and an impressive résumé, Mya began looking at colleges and thinking about life after Chez Nous.  When searching for schools, Mya knew that any scholarships she could earn would make a significant difference to her and her mother who works full-time as a TSA agent at John F. Kennedy Airport. Last January, at the annual Alumnae College Panel Mya heard Shantal Taveras '14, a student at Haverford, mention a program that she was a part of called Questbridge. The program partners with some of the finest schools in the nation to provide scholarships to bright and deserving students who would otherwise be unable to attend due to financial limitations. Mya began to research the various programs offered by Questbridge and eventually, with the help of her counselor Ms. Maisto, submitted her application along with nearly 15,000 other high school seniors across the country.  

In October, after a long application process Mya was named a Questbridge Finalist, one of only 5,000 in the entire country. She was then asked to rank her top "Questbridge Schools", a list that includes Bowdoin, Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Princenton, Vassar and Yale. Mya submitted her list and waited patiently. Each school on her list would review her application and then decide if they would offer her a partnership, an award granted to only 13% of the 5,000 finalists. Earlier this month, while in a meeting of ND M.D., a club for those interested in the field of medicine, Mya looked down at her phone and saw the message she had been waiting for. She had been matched! Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York offered Mya a Questbridge Partnership which translates to an award of over $70,000 per year covering her tuition, room and board, books and travel expenses. Mya will study Biology on the Pre-Med track, a decision she made while volunteering at Wyckoff Heights Medical in the Pediatric Emergency Room. 

There are just a few days left to make your fully-tax deductible gift to The Notre Dame Annual Fund before the end of the calendar year. Your gift provides each Notre Dame student with access to financial aid, scholarships and opportunities that prepare them for lives of leadership and service.

Click here to make your gift today!

Thank you to those who have already supported ND this year!

For more information please contact Anthony Burke, Director of Development, at [email protected]