A New Path to a Better Future On summer evenings when they were in middle school and their friends were out having fun, Atesha Gifford ’12 and Carissa Shannon ’12 were at home studying. On Saturday mornings when others were sleeping in, they were in class. And on school days when regular classes ended, they traveled to another school to take additional classes. Why were they working so hard at such a young age? Atesha and Carissa were among the first group of scholars to participate in the new Steppingstone Academy Hartford, a demanding 14-month academic enrichment program designed to prepare highly motivated seventh and eighth grade students from Hartford for the rigors of applying to and attending Connecticut’s leading independent schools. As Steppingstone Scholars, they attended two six-week summer sessions at Trinity College, a three-day-a-week after-school program and a Saturday-school program. While their friends were relaxing, they were preparing for the SSAT, strengthening their study skills and taking enrichment classes in English, history and math. They also were meeting regularly with a mentor and learning about life at independent schools. All of their hard work paid off. After applying to a number of independent schools last year, they were offered admission by their first choice — Westminster School.
Steppingstone Academy Hartford The Steppingstone Academy Hartford is the primary initiative of the Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation (HYSF), which was created in 2005 to strengthen the City of Hartford by developing and implementing academic programs that increase college access for Hartford schoolchildren. It is part of a major school reform initiative of Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez to
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“open the doors of economic opportunity for Hartford residents by increasing the number of Hartford youth obtaining bachelor’s degrees.” Atesha and Carissa were selected for the academy in seventh grade based upon their impressive academic performance, their strong motivation and their financial circumstances. Atesha Gifford ’12 Atesha Gifford was attending Rawson School in Hartford when all five of her teachers recommended her for the Steppingstone Academy Hartford. She had moved around quite a bit in her life, including Florida and New York City, and had been attending school in Hartford for two years. She didn’t know much about private schools, but she had a strong desire to attend college. “I always had a goal to attend college,” she said. “My mom instilled it in me at a very young age. The academy presented me with a more difficult way to get to college, but it would pay off in the long run.” She soon found herself working unbelievably hard as a scholar in the new academy. “There were plenty of times I wanted to give up, but my mom wouldn’t let it happen,” said Atesha. “She wouldn’t let me sell myself short.” Atesha says one of the most difficult parts about the program was having homework in the summer when the rest of her friends did not. “It took some adjusting to,” she said. “There was a lot of work, so I had to manage my time well.” When it came time to apply to an independent school, Atesha submitted applications to eight schools. She visited them all but especially liked her interview with Dana Chapin in the Westminster