Two Breakthrough Saint Paul eighth grade students have won the prestigious national Young Scholars award from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. PaChia Thao and TreVon Alred were two of 75 recipients selected from a highly competitive national pool of over 1,000 applicants, six of whom are from the Breakthrough Saint Paul program.

Since the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation was founded in 2000, only three Minnesota students have been selected as Young Scholars, and all three have been from Breakthrough Saint Paul. In 2006, Tho Bui earned the award.

Each Young Scholar is awarded approximately $250,000, providing one of the most generous, personalized scholarship experiences in the nation. An educational advisor will work closely with TreVon, PaChia, and their families to create an individualized academic learning plan that will even cover summer programs, distance learning, and instruction in the arts. Most Young Scholars continue to receive foundation support through college and into graduate study - ten or more years of educational pursuits.

PaChia and TreVon learned of the award through Breakthrough Saint Paul. Staff members Jeff Ochs and Tara Steele, as well as a number of volunteers, helped guide both students and their families through the 30-page application.

This past year, one third of our 75 middle school students completed an application for a contest or scholarship during the Breakthrough school program. This coming year, staff and volunteers will help each one of our students do so.