MOSTe May 2023 Newsletter
Dear MOSTe Family,
The Lanterns Awards were a great success! The weather was balmy, our honorees Hydee Feldstein Soto and Ariel Fan were inspiring, our Youth Ambassadors (pictured here with staff and mentor Alma) gave an engaging and impressive presentation, and alumna Sally Jaramillo hosted the event with authenticity and grace. It was a lovely night.
We haven’t slowed down since. This weekend we will hold our Mentor-Mentee Appreciation event, supported by the Los Angeles Women’s Giving Circle, with the help of our Board member Loreal Harper.
Later this month we’ll hit the road again, heading to Pepperdine for an Annual Retreat that will combine a dorming experience with marine education. Huge thanks to the California State Coastal Conservancy for making this weekend possible!
Please consider joining us at USC on Saturday, June 10 to celebrate our 8th, 12th, and college graduates at our Culmination Ceremony. Click on the image to RSVP.
Onward,
Amy Ludwig
Executive Director
MOSTe in Action
New and Returning Scholar Applications
MOSTe Scholars are invited to complete the Returning Scholar Application for the 2023-2024 School Year! Please note that there is space to recommend a friend to join MOSTe for a chance to win a prize. Complete the Returning Scholar Application here.
We are also opening our first-year scholar applications soon! If you know anyone interested in joining (Grades 6th-11th only), please provide their contact information so we can share our application with them.
High School Highlights
College Acceptances
Congratulations to our outstanding Class of 2023 on their college acceptances! We are always happy when our students have a good range of schools and financial aid packages to consider. Kudos to Briseida and Naima for meeting individually with scholars to weigh their options and make their best choice.
Join us for Culmination June 10 to cheer them on their way!
College and Alumnae News
Congratulations to Lupe Antonio Lopez! The 2023 Mount Holyoke College graduate was featured in a recent story on the college’s website.
As soon as she got used to the New England campus, COVID-19 forced Lupe home to LA for sophomore year. Yet she missed the College and chose to return. She cites their highly supportive faculty for helping her select her double majors and apply for graduate school.
MOSTe is proud that we were able to connect Lupe with the college she loves, and set her on the path to her Ph.D. programs in biostatistics at Columbia University.
Mentor Moment
“I brought my mentee to my work’s Take Our Kids to Work Event on April 27. We visited the LA Metro Rail Maintenance Facility.” –Mentor Kim C.
“Adriana and I went to the Lanterns Awards. Hailey and I went to the park where we played Around The World. She taught me some basketball terms and player positions while I struggled to shoot just one three pointer. She, on the other hand, was easily making all kinds of shots.” –Mentor Stacy C.
“We went to a craft store andI taught Jenna how to crochet, then we went to lunch!” – Mentor Natalie Z.
“Maggie has been struggling in math but we have been doing a lot of practice and watching videos and she is starting to get a good grasp on the material! She’s brought up her grade!” –Mentor Katherine B.
“We all went out for pasta night at a local spot by the girls’ old middle school.” –Mentor Monica B.
“I took Bianca out for our first activity out of the house ! I have only gone to her house in the past, but I think her parents now know me better and trust me enough to take her out of the house, which is really exciting! We went out to dinner in DTLA and it was really fun.” –Mentor Tara R.
“Brianna turned 15 and it gave me the opportunity to attend my first ever Quincenera. It was a celebration to behold! Impeccable setting with tasty food, beautiful music and dance, and the display of a loved TRADITION.” –Mentor Daphne Y.
“Sherlyn is looking forward to her senior year activities and responsibilities. Camila, Frances, and Evelyn can’t wait to attend the Annual Retreat at Pepperdine University. A fun anecdote: the scholars and I learned at the Mayan Exhibit the different meanings for a dot (.) and a bar (-). Interestingly, to the Mayan people, a dot represents the number 1 and a bar represents the number 5. For example, five dots over a bar equals 25. Also, Camila shared about her college tour adventure in Oregon. She now has a different perspective for her higher education and is considering going to an out of state university.” –Mentor Elba S.