Embrace & Educate

SUN VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL 4TH GRADE FIELD TRIP TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

PROUD TO BE A DREAMER

Actress Stephanie Andujar shares her story

BY MIKE MCKENNA PHOTOS COURTESY OF I HAVE A DREAM FOUNDATION

“Stephanie Andujar is a shining example of what it means when we give kids an opportunity to find their path to success.”

That’s what Laura Rose-Lewis, the Executive Director of I Have A Dream (IHDF) Idaho, said as she introduced Stephanie to a crowd at The Community Library in Ketchum.

Stephanie first got involved with IHDF when she was a young girl growing up on the tough streets of New York City. Now 35, she is a successful actress, including playing big roles in the Academy-Award winning film Precious, and popular TV shows like Blue Bloods, Law & Order and Orange is the New Black. Stephanie attributes her success to the two pillars of support she’s had in her life: her mom, Carmen, and the I Have A Dream Foundation.

“I’m standing here today thanks to I Have A Dream,” Stephanie said, as she fought back tears. “If it wasn’t for them this little Puerto Rican girl wouldn’t be here.”

IHDF was officially founded in 1986, but was actually born several years earlier. When successful businessman Eugene Lang was asked to speak to sixth graders at his old East Harlem elementary school, he planned on telling them that hard work was the key to success. But when he found out that only about 25% of them were likely to graduate from high school, he changed his speech. Instead he promised to help pay the college tuition of any kids who would go on to graduate. Eugene made 61 new friends that day, and nearly all of them went on to graduate from high school.

There are now over 200 IHDF programs across the world. The nonprofit foundation helps assure that all children, especially those from under-resourced backgrounds, have the opportunity to pursue higher education, fulfill their potential, and achieve their dreams. IHDF provides academic, social and emotional support from elementary school through college, along with post-secondary tuition assistance.

SENIOR DREAM SCHOLARS AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR, PAMELA DONOSO, (SECOND FROM RIGHT) WORKING TOGETHER ON VISION BOARDS.

Stephanie started with IHDF in third grade and stayed with the foundation all the way through Talent Unlimited High School and then Pace University, even when she had to take a break from her studies for acting roles.

“They didn’t say, 'No,' to my dreams. They were always there for me,” Stephanie said. “What makes Dreamers so strong is the foundation they grow up in. It’s more like a family; there’s sense of community. I feel so proud to be a Dreamer.”

Stephanie still stays in touch with other Dreamers. “We’re everywhere,” she said.

“Some folks think that minorities aren’t capable of learning. But we’re all human beings. We’re just all different,” she said. “I Have a Dream doesn’t make you feel like have to prove anything. It reminds you that you are enough.”

When asked about the keys to overcoming challenges in life, Stephanie leaned back on her IHDF background.

“There’s no excuse for not doing what you want to in life. You’ve just got to do it, that’s how you get ahead in life,” she said. “We have it in us to not give up.” To find out more, go to IHDFIdaho.org.

BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOLS EMBRACE & EDUCATE

Community means something around here and our education system is committed to building foundations that create exceptional humans. When the world seems to be moving away from unique forms of education, our school district is embracing all the different ways students learn. Our teachers, in both public and private schools, are combining real-world experiences with academics to build confident and passionate humans who will have a lifelong passion for learning.

BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOL RESOURCES

PUBLIC EDUCATION Ernest Hemingway STEAM School

111 Eighth St. W. Ketchum, ID 83340 (208) 578-5050 hemingwayschool.org

Wood River High School

1250 Fox Acres Rd. Hailey, ID 83333 (208) 578-5020 woodriverhigh.org

Silver Creek High School

1060 Fox Acres Rd. Hailey, ID 83333 (208) 578-5060 silvercreekhigh.org

Carey School

20 Panther Ln. Carey, ID 83320 (208) 578-5040 careyk12.org

Wood River Middle School

900 Second Ave. N. Hailey, ID 83333 (208) 578-5030 woodrivermiddle.org

Hailey Elementary School

520 First Ave. S. Hailey, ID 83333 (208) 578-5070 haileyelementary.org

Alturas Elementary School

1111 Alturas Elementary Ln. Hailey, ID 83333 (208) 578-5090 alturaselementary.org

Bellevue Elementary School

305 Fifth St. N. Bellevue, ID 83313 (208) 578-5080 bellevueelementary.org

PRIVATE EDUCATION Sun Valley Community School (see images)

1 Community School Dr. Sun Valley, ID 83353 (208) 622-3955 communityschool.org

The Sage School 1451 Aviation Dr. Hailey, ID 83333 (208) 788-0120 thesageschool.org

Trinity School

100 Mustang Ln. Bellevue, ID 83313 (208) 720-8784 themountainschool.info

Pioneer Montessori School

211 Second Ave. S. Ketchum, ID 83340 (208) 726-9060 pioneermontessorischool.org

Syringa Mountain School

4021 Glenbrook Dr. Hailey, ID 83333 (208) 806-2880 syringamountainschool.org

SECONDARY College of Southern Idaho

1050 Fox Acres Rd. Hailey, ID 83333 (208) 788-2033 offcampus.csi.edu