 |
| GSCS Board President Neel Lane (left) and GSCS CEO Jill Oettinger (far right) met with The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Shori at GSCS on April 25, 2009. |
|
|
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church visited Good Samaritan Community Services in the afternoon of Saturday April 25, with her husband, Dr. Richard Schori and Bishop Gary Liilibridge. “It was a particular honor for us to have been included in the Presiding Bishop’s agenda” said GSCS CEO Jill Oettinger. “We appreciated the opportunity to share with her the excellent community services being provided here.” Upon arrival, the Presiding Bishop was greeted by Board Members, Neel Lane, Pamela Matthews, Kirk McDonald, and Al Silva, 12 members of the Beginning Strings collaboration with Youth Orchestra of San Antonio and GSCS, and their families.
After a recital by the young musicians, Tania Hernandez, Gates Millennium Scholar for 2010, was introduced. The Gates Millennium Scholarship provides seamless support from undergraduate through doctoral programs, for students selected as Scholars entering target disciplines. Tania, who is class valedictorian at Lanier High School, first came to Good Samaritan 7 years ago to participate in the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio Beginning Strings program and has participated in GSCS’ MODELO college preparation program since 2005. Tania spoke no English as a child when she and her family immigrated from Mexico. Today, in addition to being a MODELO mentor, Tania sports a 3.87 GPA while serving as National Honor Society President, Academic Decathlon® competitor, and member of the National Technology Honor Society. She plans to study Architecture, and is currently deciding between schools, including MIT, UT Austin and Texas A&M. The Presiding Bishop was presented by Tania with card she had made to express her thanks for the visit to GSCS.
A tour of the GSCS facilities, which included dribbling a basketball with youth there for a Saturday game, was lead by Board members and Jill Oettinger, San Antonio Programs Director Gary Chambers, GED Instructor Clytie Phelps, and Child Development Manager Robin Voight. The Presiding Bishop then sat down for an hour’s conversation with GSCS Board members to learn more about the scope of GSCS’ work in impoverished South and Central Texas communities.
|
|
