2008 Woodie Awards
Micah Program broadens scope of service
Online exclusive
Mallory Schwarz
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: News
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Saint Louis University's Micah House is seeing the beginning of many changes this school year, the least of which is its name change to Micah Program.
"Since our students typically live together in Marguerite Hall for their freshman and perhaps their sophomore years, it seemed better to adopt a more general title," said Micah program director Donald Stump.
Said freshman and new Micah program participant Amy Skupien, "I heard about the program and really like the idea that it was a living community that emphasized service and also put a large focus on religion."
The expansion of the Micah Program involves an increasing number of students, as well as opportunities for the students to take part in a number of new community organizations.
"Students who apply to Micah are such a unique wonderful bunch that it is hard to turn any away," Debra Wilson, Micah program coordinator for nearly six years, said.
Historically, Micah has accepted 25-30 incoming freshman into its program each year, but over the next five years they hope to increase that number to 60 so that by 2012 the program will have doubled in size to 230 students.
"We were receiving many more applications than we could accept, and it seemed a shame to turn them away," said Stump. "We decided to develop a second track to accommodate the students growing interest."
The new track focuses on Hispanic immigrants to St. Louis and works closely with St. Cecilia Parish, the Latin Languages Perish for the archdiocese of St. Louis. Students can help teach in Sunday school classes and confirmation programs for children and help young adults in the parish with limited language skills to adjust to American life.
Originally, the Micah program worked only with their "adopted neighborhood," the historic Shaw neighborhood that is located just south of Saint Louis University's Medical Campus. Freshmen in the Micah program will still work primarily in this area.
Kottmeyer High School is a new work site next to the original Shaw neighborhood. The school takes in at-risk students or those struggling academically. It creates curriculum focused on each student's specific goals.
"Since our students typically live together in Marguerite Hall for their freshman and perhaps their sophomore years, it seemed better to adopt a more general title," said Micah program director Donald Stump.
Said freshman and new Micah program participant Amy Skupien, "I heard about the program and really like the idea that it was a living community that emphasized service and also put a large focus on religion."
The expansion of the Micah Program involves an increasing number of students, as well as opportunities for the students to take part in a number of new community organizations.
"Students who apply to Micah are such a unique wonderful bunch that it is hard to turn any away," Debra Wilson, Micah program coordinator for nearly six years, said.
Historically, Micah has accepted 25-30 incoming freshman into its program each year, but over the next five years they hope to increase that number to 60 so that by 2012 the program will have doubled in size to 230 students.
"We were receiving many more applications than we could accept, and it seemed a shame to turn them away," said Stump. "We decided to develop a second track to accommodate the students growing interest."
The new track focuses on Hispanic immigrants to St. Louis and works closely with St. Cecilia Parish, the Latin Languages Perish for the archdiocese of St. Louis. Students can help teach in Sunday school classes and confirmation programs for children and help young adults in the parish with limited language skills to adjust to American life.
Originally, the Micah program worked only with their "adopted neighborhood," the historic Shaw neighborhood that is located just south of Saint Louis University's Medical Campus. Freshmen in the Micah program will still work primarily in this area.
Kottmeyer High School is a new work site next to the original Shaw neighborhood. The school takes in at-risk students or those struggling academically. It creates curriculum focused on each student's specific goals.
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