College Newsletter

Know a 7th Grader? Have them save their spot.

We are currently opening our application process for interested 7th-grade families to participate in our Access 2 High School (A2HS) program, held on the campus of Saint Louis University. 7th graders and their families apply this year to become part of our program starting with their 8th-grade year.

Hello, Access Academies Scholars! The purpose of this survey is to check in with you and to ensure you are being offered the services and assistance that you may want and need/want in a timely manner.

We are required to ask some of these answers to continue receiving grant funding that supports our programming, such as care packages, gift cards, college scholarships, etc. Your responses help us continue what we do and more.

***To thank you for your time, we will award a $50 gift card to 6 randomly selected students who complete this survey by the deadline!

Best of luck with midterms and preparing for finals!

As a reminder, it is your responsibility to make sure to complete your check-in this semester, this indicates that you are interested in getting your spring scholarship. Please make sure to get this check-in completed as soon as possible.

If you’ve taken a break from college, stepped away from school, or are still figuring out what comes next, you’re not alone—and we’re here to help!

💡 Remember: This is your journey. We can provide guidance, resources, and support, but the process must be student-led. You will need to take the initiative to communicate with your college, complete required forms, meet deadlines, and follow through with your next steps.

Not sure where to start? Reach out to us! We can help you identify your options and create a plan for moving forward.

The 2027–28 FAFSA opens October 1, 2026! If you plan to use federal or state financial aid to help pay for college, completing the FAFSA is an important step.

Need help? We’re here for you! Access will offer one-on-one FAFSA assistance for students and families who need support completing the form. You must reach out to the Access Team to request help.

Don’t wait—complete your FAFSA early and stay on top of your financial aid!

If you have already completed your FAFSA, please upload your summary here.

DLaurea J Trice: Wrote and published her first book! Is the New is now available on Amazon. Purchase yours NOW!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1YY66H4

Eric Byas Jr: This year, I did research on formulating Gold Nanoparticles using Green Chemistry. I will also be applying to grad school and planning to take the GRE.

Gariana Whitfield - This year, I have been very involved on campus through both academics and student leadership opportunities. I currently work as a student worker for the Family and Child Studies Department, where I have gained hands-on professional experience while balancing my coursework. I also serve as the secretary of the Black Student Union (BSU), helping plan events and encourage student involvement on campus. One thing I am especially proud of is maintaining strong grades while staying active in organizations and building relationships with my professors through office hours and class participation. As a Hospitality Management major with a minor in Child Development, I have also enjoyed learning more about leadership, customer service, and creating positive experiences for others through my classes and campus involvement.

Cindi Frazier: Spring Quarter I had the opportunity to work as a freelance reporter and get my articles published with Rough Draft Atlanta as a part of my Professional Freelance writing class.

If you would like to be highlighted, you can email me at vgarcia@accessacademies.org

1. Go to https://www.nass.org/can-I-vote to check to see if and where you are registered to vote, and complete the online registration if needed. Take a picture or screenshot. If you are ineligible to vote based on citizenship or other factors, you do not need to complete this step.

2. Complete the rest of the form and you will receive a $25 Amazon or Target gift card!

Hey! We created a chat just for Access Scholars & family where we’ll share important resources, scholarships, internships, events, college opportunities, and more! 🎓✨

Make sure you join so you don’t miss out on opportunities throughout the school year!

👉 Join the chat here. Please make sure to put your first and last name: https://groupme.com/join_group/116346649/ARxzYSy4

Are you a college student looking for a Work-Study opportunity? We’re looking for reliable and motivated college students to tutor our 8th-grade through high school scholars!

Requirements:

• Must be currently enrolled in college
• Must be passing your classes and in good academic standing
• Must enjoy working with middle and high school students
• Must be dependable and committed to supporting our scholars

This is a great paid opportunity to gain mentoring and tutoring experience while giving back to younger students in our program.

We love celebrating our Access scholars and alumni! Did you graduate, land a new job, join a club, earn a scholarship, make honor roll, get married, welcome a child, receive an award, or have another exciting update? We'd love to hear from you. Your stories help inspire current students and show supporters the long-term impact of Access Academies.

Current Students, parents, and alumni are encouraged to share <3

Questions? Connect with Dave Baldwin at dave.baldwin@accessacademies.org

Families are invited to join this parent-led committee and get more involved with the Access Academies community!

The committee offers opportunities to:

• 🎉 Help plan and support events
• 🙌 Volunteer with Access Academies
• 🤝 Connect with other Access families
• 💡 Share ideas and help strengthen our programs

Interested in getting involved? We’d love to have you join us!

👉 Join the committee here: https://groupme.com/join_group/113105488/aWkuz0Ej

LinkedIn is a professional social network where users may share, connect, and learn. It is the most prominent business networking site where you can market your abilities and connect with professionals. LinkedIn may help you find the perfect internship or job and connect with prospective clients. Feel free to add us in your network.

Hey alumni, we created a group so we can start connecting. Feel free to join and invite other alumni to the group. Our hope is to get as many alumni to join so we can plan other events. If you have any ideas we would love to hear them. Let us know!

Know an undergraduate interested in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research?
Applications are open for our 2027 INSPIRE Summer Undergraduate Research Program at IU School of Medicine’s Stark Neurosciences Research Institute. INSPIRE offers early-career undergraduate students hands-on research experience, mentorship, and professional development alongside experts in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
https://lnkd.in/gGWm9ns4

Want to grow your communications skills while making a little magic along the way? The Walt Disney World Communications & Public Affairs team is looking for an intern interested in writing, content creation, media relations and storytelling. Sound like you? Apply here 👉 https://bit.ly/3U1zDPq

We're excited to announce that applications for the Summer 2027 Internship Program will open on Monday, November 9.

To kick off our first week of applications, we’re excited to host a virtual event that will give students an exclusive peek at the Summer Program and hiring process. We will be offering two sessions of our Your Summer, Your Story event, which will take place on November 10th & 11th at 7PM EST/4PM PST, featuring application tips, current intern Q&As, and the scoop on what makes our Summer Program one-of-a-kind. https://lnkd.in/eV5ErZTq

Gain hands-on experience in public-policy research, develop professional skills and meet people working on policy in Washington.

• Location: Washington, DC, in person
• Dates: late January–late April 2027
• Pay: US$17.50 an hour; academic credit may also be available
• Eligibility: applicants must be authorized to work in the US. International applicants are encouraged; limited J-1 sponsorship may be available, but is not guaranteed.
• Deadline: 25 October 2026, 11:59 p.m. US Eastern Time

Full requirements and application:
https://lnkd.in/dQi-jRJZ

Sign up for free to our monthly opportunities newsletter, the Freedom Brief:
https://lnkd.in/ej5Fs8ix

This program is designed for undergraduate students interested in exploring the physician-scientist career path and learning more about MD-PhD training. Participants gain hands-on research experience with faculty mentors, shadow physicians in clinical settings, and are paired with current Indiana MSTP students who provide mentorship and advice throughout the summer.

🔗 https://lnkd.in/g2ybpdiN

📅 Application deadline: January 18, 2027

We look forward to meeting the next generation of physician-scientists.

Data Scientist internship applications are now OPEN!

Plot twist I’m your designated recruiter! After 5.5 years at Duolingo (yes, my streak is that long 🔥) running our internship program, I have the opportunity to have a hand in recruiting.

🔗 Apply below & join me next summer as a Data Scientist Intern
Undergrad & Masters degrees: https://lnkd.in/gnRe46BS
PhD degree: https://lnkd.in/gv2b7mPK

Our EmpowerED Internship program offers students with meaningful hands-on experience working directly within various departments. Positions available are:

📌 Accounting (Spring AND Summer 2027 -- O’Fallon, MO)
📌 Human Resources (Spring AND Summer 2027 – O’Fallon or Columbia, MO)
📌 IT Security (Spring 2027 – O’Fallon or Columbia, MO)

Our internships are on-site, PAID, ~15 hours a week. Candidates must reside in Missouri, within 1 hour of O'Fallon, MO or Columbia, MO and be able to work on-site throughout the duration of the internship. Enrollment in an accredited Missouri college or university in an undergraduate program is required.

💻 Apply here today: https://lnkd.in/gwEXv-3N

Looking for a meaningful practicum experience where you can build professional skills while helping strengthen families and support children in our community?

The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery is seeking three practicum students to join our team this fall:

• Family Empowerment Programs (St. Louis & St. Charles)
• Therapy Team
• Counseling or Art Therapy students will work alongside regional therapists supporting children through individual and group sessions.
• Bachelor's or Master's Level Students
• Social Work, Counseling, Art Therapy, or related fields are encouraged to apply.
• At the Crisis Nursery, you'll gain valuable experience while helping strengthen families and support children in our community.

https://www.stlcitysc.com/employment-opportunities/

🔗 Resource: BigFuture Pay for College | Career Exploration

• Attend a career fair.

• Update your résumé.

• Connect with a professor or campus professional.

• Search for internships.

• Create or update your LinkedIn profile.

• Talk with someone working in a career you are considering.

🔗 Resource: Study Strategies

Start by identifying your non-negotiables: classes, work, sleep, meals, and important responsibilities. Then schedule study time and social activities around them. A realistic schedule is better than a perfect schedule you cannot maintain.

🔗 Resource: BigFuture College Search

Explore UIUC graduate programs and research opportunities. If you are considering graduate school, start learning about prerequisites, application timelines, recommendations, and funding.

🔗 Resource: BLS Career Profile | UIC Business | Purdue Business | Indiana Kelley

Project managers organize people, timelines, budgets, and resources to help projects reach their goals. Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and leadership skills are important.

Join us for our Next Job Fair Event! Friday November 13th from 1:00-3:00pm at the Spencer Library. (427 Spencer Rd, St. Peter's MO 63376).

Affinia Healthcare and the St. Louis Area Foodbank are expanding the monthly Food Access Resource Market for the first-ever Food Access Resource Market Community Resource Fair.

Join us on Friday, November 6, at 9 a.m. at our Biddle Health Center located at 1717 Biddle Street to receive resources and assistance beyond medical and food services. We realize community members are in need of assistance and we're happy to work with other organizations to get this information to our community.

For more information, please contact Affinia Healthcare WIC Manager/Nutrition Coordinator, Meagan Scalfano at mjobin@affiniahealthcare.org.

Take two minutes to check your voter registration status or register to vote at vote.org.

In Missouri, the deadline to register for the November 3 General Election is October 7.

Learn more about Mi Gente Vota at stlhlg.org/migentevota

#MiGenteVotaMO #NationalVoterRegistrationDay

Learn about science happening in our community! Discover a different in-depth topic each month from local scientists in St. Louis. Learn more and sign up: https://buff.ly/5OyhR5K

Presented with Academy of Science - St. Louis

Registration is Required

Start Here provides general information, street addresses, phone numbers, and websites for dozens of agencies, shelters, employment resources, food pantries, and other organizations throughout the St. Louis area.

Website: https://www.startherestl.org/

OFS MetroMarket is rolling across the St. Louis bi-state area, bringing affordable produce, frozen meats, and healthy grocery options closer to the communities we serve.

Swipe to see where we'll be the rest of the week.

View the full schedule: ofsmetromarket.org/schedule

Networking means building professional relationships that can create opportunities.

Keep up with program events, highlights and all things ACCESS.