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Students shine light to community through Beacon of Hope

Liberty University work-study mentors work with high school students.

A group of Liberty University students are working to better the community as they help city high schoolers pursue their dreams through the local nonprofit Lynchburg Beacon of Hope (BOH).

Beacon of Hope provides resources to all students in Lynchburg City Schools, helping them prepare to attend a four-year college, community college, trade school, or enter the military. The nonprofit intentionally targets at-risk youths. To do this, Beacon of Hope has Future Centers planted in two public high schools, E.C. Glass High School and Heritage High School. The program focuses on building relationships through mentorship and removing barriers that prevent students from pursuing post-high school education.

Nine Liberty students are serving in work-study positions through Beacon of Hope. Four students (Minerva Perez, Diamond Sciequan, George Knoth, and Joshua Turner) are working at the Heritage High School Future Center, another four (Beth Joseph, Isaac Olson, Conner Richardson, and Olivia Steele) at E.C. Glass’ Future Center. Another student, Loralei Whittaker, works with Beacon of Hope’s executive administration team.

Liberty University work study students placed at E.C. Glass High School (from left): Olivia Steele, Beth Joseph, BOH Program Director Laura Hamilton, BOH Development Director Joan Foster, BOH Future Center Director (E. C. Glass) Heidi Vande Hoef, BOH Future Center Director (Heritage High School) Leidra Hickson, Isaac Olson, and Conner Richardson.

Joan Foster, an at-large member of Lynchburg City Council and the development director for Beacon of Hope, said the Liberty students have played a vital role in bettering the community.

“(Liberty’s students) are serving as peer mentors — we call them ‘near peers’ because they are close in age — a more effective way of reaching youth,” Foster said. “Our Liberty students are very committed, very reliable, and very much invested in what they are doing to help our public school system. … They are giving back and paying it forward in our community.”

“They are the best. They have stepped right into their roles with encouraging and positive attitudes,” added Heidi Vande Hoef (’03), Beacon of Hope’s Future Center director for E.C. Glass. “They really reach out to our students and give them hope for their future by helping them to make post-graduation plans and better understand the variety of choices they have for college and career fields.”

Throughout the semester, Liberty volunteers have assisted with study skills classes, aided students with filling out FASFA and Financial Aid applications, and helped with ACT and SAT registration and preparation. They also participated in College Application Week events, where schools across the commonwealth waive application fees for all applicants.

Sciequan, who is pursuing a master’s degree in Human Services Counseling, is a graduate of Heritage, making her work with Beacon of Hope especially meaningful.

“The most rewarding aspect of this job is seeing students get accepted into college and receiving scholarships,” Sciequan said. “It is a new beginning for them with endless possibilities.”

When Sciequan was about to graduate high school, she remembers how daunting it was to apply for college and complete the FASFA. Her parents did not attend college, so she can relate to high school seniors who are hoping to be first generation college students.

“It is great to know high school seniors now have BOH in their school to help them with the process.”

Liberty University work study students placed at Heritage High School (from left): George Knoth, Minerva Perez, Diamond Sciequan, BOH Future Center Director (Heritage) Leidra Hickson, and Joshua Turner.

One thing that Sciequan appreciates about BOH is that it does not push students in a particular direction; it supports them as they pursue the path that works best. Beacon of Hope assists students in connecting with military recruiters, in the college admissions process, or even in seeking employment.

For Sciequan, Beacon of Hope is a way to give back to a community that means so much to her. She plans to use her education and experience to work with disadvantaged and at-risk adolescents full-time.

“It is important to invest in youth because they are the ones that will be our future doctors, police officers, teachers, city officials, etc. What is invested into our students will help make our community stronger.”

Joseph, a first semester seminary student, said that working to better the community reflects Liberty’s mission to make an impact — whether globally or in its own back yard.

“We want to do all we can in our time here to leave Lynchburg a better place,” she said. “Liberty exists to train Champions for Christ. And what can a champion do better than blessing the community that they are a part of? BOH is passionate about students being able to obtain post-secondary education and then improve the community. I, along with my fellow LU BOH workers, am getting the privilege to invest in the future leaders of Lynchburg.”

Since its formation in 2011 and the launch of the two Future Centers in Fall 2012, Beacon of Hope has seen more high school graduates pursue their dreams. The combined 2014 graduating class of E.C. Glass and Heritage high schools had 90 percent of their students submit at least one college application, a 30 percent increase in just two years.

Over the past year, Beacon of Hope saw an average increase of more than 200 points on SAT scores. Thanks largely to Liberty’s work-study students, this was the first year that BOH was able to offer ACT and SAT preparation to nearly 300 students.

“Our work studies, I have to say, have been the greatest asset that we have had this year,” said Laura Hamilton, BOH program director. “They are so passionate about these kids and about mentoring them.”

In one year, BOH also saw a 9 percent increase in community college enrollment and a spike in military enlistments, which have doubled.

“It is not up to us to tell a student where they should go and where they shouldn’t go,” Hamilton said. “As a student, you have a right to dream. (At Beacon of Hope) we try to take your end dream and GPS you to get
there.”

Liberty University has committed to matching Beacon of Hope scholarships for any Lynchburg City School graduates who choose to attend Liberty.

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