Student and Parent Voices

“The Bridge Program has been a wonderful experience for me. It has taught me valuable life skills that I will continue to use throughout my life.”               
– SaMya Walker, Lutheran North High School

“My experience as a student participant in the Saturday Academy has been engaging and beneficial in all aspects of preparation for college. From scholarship searches to college essay writing, we learned every aspect of being successful in our higher education journey.”  
– Nadya Majeed-Ali, Ritenour High School

“The UMSL Bridge program was very helpful to me. The program has helped me come out of my shell as well as be more confident. The writing class helped me broaden my knowledge in a way that would have taken a while to do in school. In the end, it has helped me be more outgoing and sharpen my skills.” 
– Lyric Scott, Grand Center Arts Academy

“The experience was interesting and allowed me to get a better understanding of the campus, gave me time to work on my college essay, and understand what colleges are looking for in an applicant.”
– Tommy Nguyen, Mehlville High School 

“I’ve had a lot of fun in this program because not only did I learn new things but I also met new people and made new connections.”
– Milan Randle, McKinley Classical Leadership Academy 

 “This program has helped me in the best ways possible. The teachers go in-depth with whatever topic we learn and are always open to answering my questions. It taught me a lot about college and the ACT. I have had a good time since I started the Saturday Academy, it truly is an awesome program and opportunity.”            
– Gabrielle Hanson, St. Charles High School

“My experience here at UMSL has been nothing but amazing. I’ve met some really sweet and compassionate people and made an amazing friend along the way. My teachers were all very helpful and understanding, and it helped me grow in different areas in class, especially in English. It helped me fall deeper in love with my passion for travel nursing and further my love of writing.”
– Amauriah Ennis, Kirkwood High School

 “The experience has been great. It really helped my daughter and I to stay on task with the entire process. Getting up early on Saturday mornings allowed us an opportunity to really talk about her college ideas and how she was feeling about the next chapter of her life.”
– Pier Finn, Parent of Davonne Newell, Incarnate Word Academy

“I appreciate the consistent communication from the UMSL staff. The Parent Academy sessions were applicable to real life. I felt like I could take information home and apply it to this current time in my family’s life. I also appreciate how the program addresses both the aspects of college prep and the social/emotional interactions with our children. I was not expecting this dual approach, but in hindsight, it’s absolutely necessary. I appreciate the multiple opportunities to talk to different parents. This was pretty amazing because many of us didn't know each other but we identified that we have many similarities. We’re experiencing similar situations with our children/families and allowed ourselves to be vulnerable with strangers. I’ve never experienced anything like this! This is truly an amazing program not only for parents but our students as well.”
- Joi Richardson, Parent of Naomi Richardson, Hazelwood East High School

“I truly appreciate the hard work that the speakers put in to educate the parents. I certainly learned a lot as it relates to college life. It has been an honor to attend every session. Thank you for everything!”
– Stacey White, Parent of Anthony Minor, Marquette High School

“The Bridge Program has been a wonderful experience for the past two years. It really helped my son prepare for his college experience., It helped me be a more thoughtful parent. I would highly recommend this experience!”
– Michelle Ohlsen, Parent of Alexander Ohlsen, Logos School

“Nothing but good reports! Having gone through the program with four kids and three of them graduating from UMSL, I appreciate the organizers, the teachers, and the companies supporting the program. I started the program with my first kids not knowing anything about colleges in the United States, but going through the program my husband and I learned a lot and were able to guide our kids through. Thank you very much.”
– Anthonia Bada, Parent of Jolaade Bada, Hazelwood Central High School