Mark Morris Youth Fund

We are so grateful for the donations that continue to support the Mark Morris Fund and are excited about some of the new programs it has been able to fund.

In March of 2019, the Youth Frontiers Courage Retreat came to the Lewiston-Altura schools for the fourth year.  The class of 2024 participated in the retreat, along with several mentors from the graduating class of 2019.  This retreat continues to provide invaluable confidence building and cooperative skills for the 7th graders participating.  We continue to look ahead, particularly to the 2021 retreat, when the first class of participants will get to return as mentors.

The Latino Club continues to thrive, with the assistance of local college students and the fund’s provisions.  Students meet weekly for conversation, homework help, and cultural or community-oriented experiences.  The Drawing Club (new to 2019) and the Inspiring Students Club also provided opportunities outside of class and after school for students to experience enrichment activities and camaraderie with classmates.

In the summer of 2019, the librarian for Lewiston-Altura schools started an incredible summer reading program for local students.  Please view our post on that event for more information!

Finally, we’ve continued to provide scholarships to seniors (for post-secondary programs) and middle schoolers (for enrichment opportunities).  The 2019 recipients are listed under Fund Allocation History.

Below is an excerpt from an email from the school’s guidance counselor, regarding one of the recipients:

“A quick email to let you know that [student 1]  is beaming this morning.  I overheard him in the hallway telling [his teacher] that he was the winner of the Mark Morris scholarship and how grateful he is.  He went on to share that with a fellow classmate as well.  I called him into my room to ask him about it and the smile on his face was simply priceless. He told me how he plans to take classes this summer, maybe golf lessons and hopefully a robotics/STEAM camp or class.  I encouraged [him] to look at opportunities that will challenge him and spark his critical thinking skills.”

We love hearing these stories, and sharing them with you; these moments are what remind us of the importance – and the joy – of providing  students with the funds to challenge and develop themselves.

It’s been a busy year for the Mark Morris Fund, and 2020 promises to deliver more experiences for the students at Lewiston-Altura schools.  Thank you for your continued support and interest in the program, and for continuing Mark’s legacy.

The March 2018 Courage Retreat was another success, allowing seventh grade students to spend time outside of the classroom connecting with one another and learning skills to improve their peer relationships and their school communities. While inclement weather prevented the students from meeting off-campus as is typical, the engaging workshop kept students enthusiastic and participatory, creating a safe space for growth and connection.

For the first time in Fund history, the Mark Morris Fund was able to provide four graduating seniors with scholarship funds to assist with attending post-secondary education. These students could apply funds toward the college program of their choice or an approved trade or associate’s degree program. The flexibility of this particular award provided these students with the choice to pursue an education in an area that would most benefit their particular skill set and need.

Students are pictured with Roz Laraway, who attended the Senior Honors and Awards program at Lewiston-Altura Schools to present the awards.

From left to right, Caitlyn Kjos, Mackenzie Jackson, Montanna Lehnertz, and Joshua Rasmussen.

Photo credit Heather Buege, Lewiston Journal.

Year 2: Enrichment Clubs

The 2018-2019 school year saw the return of the Latino Culture and Study Skills Clubs. Students returned to school in the fall and requested their clubs return; each club has 10-15 students and 2 advisers, assisting with weekly meetings. The clubs also provide students with computer use time, snacks, and a comfortable space to spend their afternoons.

The newly created Mark Morris After School Enrichment Clubs kicked off this winter with great success.  Three clubs were organized by counselors and faculty at the school: a study skills group, a Latino cultural awareness group, and a motivational group for students who want to become more involved in their school community.  These groups are led by teachers, former teachers, and graduate students at nearby Winona State University.  

Our school liaison reported that the Study Skills Club started off with eight students, but two additional students asked to join after the first day.  The Latino Student Group is ten students strong, and the Inspiring Students Group grew from four to seven students after the first day.  

“Students were talkative and very excited about the groups…I am thrilled it all came together.” -Lewiston-Altura faculty member

We are proud of the support the Mark Morris Fund can provide these students beyond the classroom, grateful to the teachers, counselors, and administrators who facilitate these meetings, and of course, indebted to our donors who continue to provide and allow the fund to grow.  Thank you! 

We are excited to announce that the Mark Morris Youth Fund is able to provide support for several new programs in the 2017-2018 school year.

1.  Scholarship opportunities for deserving students continuing on to post-secondary education.  These scholarships will range from $500-$1500 and will provide assistance to students attending two or four year colleges as well as technical programs.  School staff will assist in selecting the recipients.
2. After school support programs for at-risk students, including study skills, cultural awareness, and motivational tools.
3. Funds to provide the children experiencing homelessness with after school supervision, homework support, and food.

Please continue to visit the site as we are able to provide more information regarding these programs.  Thank you for your continued support to continue Mark Morris’s legacy in providing enrichment and assistance to at-risk students!

Thank you to all of our 2016 Donors.  Because of your generosity, we raised over $7,000 for the Mark Morris Youth Fund this year.  As we look to restructure the fund, continuing to provide enrichment activities to at-risk youth, your donations go towards expanding our goals to reach a larger population of students in the Lewiston-Altura School District, in Mark’s memory.  While we plan to continue the Youth Frontiers Courage Retreat for years to come, we also hope to re-instate our individual scholarship awards to deserving students in the middle school classes.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

On March 7, 2017, eighth grade students at Lewiston Middle School attended the Youth Frontiers Courage Retreat. The Courage Retreat believes in “inspiring students to follow their hearts,” and teaches these middle schoolers skills and motivation to trust their instincts and support each other, rather than succumb to many of the peer pressure pitfalls that frequently ensnare adolescents.

Though the experience is personal and confidential, students shared with teachers and principal that it affected them deeply, and pushed them to think more openly about their classmates.

Courage Retreat®