In early 2007, Renaissance E.M.S. (Education, Music and Sports) initiated an enhanced academic enrichment program in our South Bronx center consisting of one-on-one high school math tutoring and math SAT prep. While math and other tutoring services are routinely available in more affluent areas of the city and suburbs, and a year or more of SAT prep is almost universal, these aids to academic enrichment which lead to college admission are rare, if not non-existent, in the South Bronx. We wondered, would there be interest? Would the young musicians and athletes in our program commit the time and effort required? Could we make a difference?
One of the students who immediately stepped up and committed himself to this new program was our basketball team captain. Andre had previously taken the SAT but needed to improve his score by a considerable amount in order to achieve his dream to get a basketball scholarship from a four-year college. The college coaches loved him, he was an outstanding player, good kid, bright and ambitious. However, NCAA rules require certain scores to get the scholarship Andre needed to attend a four-year program. After just six weeks of intense, hard work in our SAT prep program, which included a trip to Chappaqua with others in the program to take a practice exam in a realistic setting with other kids their age, and an additional visit on his own for even more focused tutoring, Andre increased his score by 150 points, a very significant achievement! However, it was, unfortunately, not enough to qualify for the scholarship at the schools he was shooting for.
While our volunteer instructors were disappointed for him, Andre and his Mom were elated by the huge improvement in his test score, which was also accompanied by improvements in his GPA. They were also overjoyed by the recognition of what Andre could achieve with hard work and were very appreciative of the effort expended on Andre’s behalf. Andre is now attending a junior college where he is playing basketball and working hard to be able to get a scholarship at the end of the two-year program. A happy ending, and a good beginning, for Andre.
Andre was truly a leader and set an example for others in our program. The result of the example he set? This fall, we have 15 dedicated, committed participants in the math SAT prep program (including the new basketball team captain) all working hard to achieve their own dreams. The instructors report that this fall’s class is fully engaged, the kids are taking responsibility for their learning and the class is infused with energy and enthusiasm. We are all very excited and proud of the effort being made.
Sincere thanks to the talented and dedicated professionals, a former honors math high school teacher and a full-time math SAT Prep tutor, who run our math tutoring and SAT prep programs. Both volunteer their precious time for several hours each Saturday to this very rewarding effort.
Kudos to our Executive Directors, Bervine Harris and Darren Quinlan, for their ability to identify and attract determined and ambitious young boys and girls who appreciate the opportunities provided by all of our programs.
Thanks as well to all of you for your continued interest and support for our programs and the young boys and girls that we serve in the South Bronx. Your continued support is essential to enable us to open doors and provide opportunities for these ambitious, hard working and very appreciative kids and to give this Bronx tale many happy endings.
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