March 3, 2025
Channon Peoples welcomed a crowd of high school students, family, and friends to the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center for the conclusion of the Bridge Program’s Saturday Academy. The program, which provides year-round precollegiate support to St. Louis high school students, celebrated its 39th year, with 470 students participating this year. The program focuses on math, science, communication, personal development, and college planning, preparing students for postsecondary education. At the ceremony, 66 seniors were recognized, with many receiving scholarships totaling over $5 million, and a 100% graduation rate with all students progressing to further education.
The keynote address by Emmanuel Morgan, a Bridge Program alum, emphasized the benefits of the extra effort the students had put in. Morgan, now completing a mechanical engineering degree in the UMSL/Washington University program, credited the Bridge Program for giving him the tools to succeed. Student speaker Kauthar Hammad also celebrated the group’s achievements, highlighting their perseverance and teamwork. The evening concluded with seniors receiving graduation cords and two students, Hammad and Marlo Shivers, being awarded the Dr. Donald Suggs Scholarship. Peoples, with over two decades of service, reaffirmed her commitment to the program’s mission, celebrating its impact on students' futures.
