Author Archives: Shepherds

Planning for Our 20th Anniversary Gala is Well Underway!

| June 27, 2018

The planning committee, including Shepherds’ Board of Directors (BOD), met recently to continue planning for this year’s 20th anniversary celebration scheduled for Thursday, October 11th at The Inn at Longshore in Westport. The planning committee met following a BOD meeting at Woodway Country Club in Darien Connecticut. Stay tuned for all of the exciting details including guest speakers, awards, and of course the celebration of the more than 200 students and mentors who have helped to make this program such an enduring success. We need 20 new mentors for the coming year – what about you? Visit www.shepherdsmentors.org for details or to donate to a student’s college prep education in Connecticut.

Pictured are:
Front Row: Shepherds’ PR Committee, Jean Lepore; Shepherds’ Cofounder, Barnet Phillips; Gala Committee Chair, Sharon Phillips; BOD Member, Tammy Taylor; Shepherds’ Director of Programming, Amy Chickles; BOD Member, Fred McMullen
Middle Row: Carrie Sindelar, Shepherds’ Executive Director, Daniel McAuliffe
Back Row:Shepherds’ Treasurer, Lou Taylor; BOD Members Tom Wynne & Dave Moran; Shepherds’ Chairman, Tim Stuart; Shepherds’ Secretary, Mark Milano

Congratulations to our Kolbe Cathedral Graduates!

| June 24, 2018

Kolbe Cathedral’s 2018 Commencement Exercises in Bridgeport, Conn., on Thursday, June 7, 2018. To see the slide show provided in the CT Post, click on the link. Photo: Christian Abraham, Hearst Connecticut Media.
https://www.ctpost.com/graduations/slideshow/Kolbe-Cathedral-High-School-graduation-2018-182132/photo-15687987.php

Congratulations to the Notre Dame West Haven Class of ’18!

| May 31, 2018

One hundred and forty seven young men made up the Notre Dame West Haven Class of 2018. Family, friends, teachers and mentors cheered them on at a celebration in the school gym on Sunday, May 27th. Ernie Santiago was one of seven Shepherds students graduating this year. He was interviewed by the New Haven Register and spoke about the significance of his time at NDWH. ‘“If I can take away one thing from this, it is definitely the brotherhood. Ever since the first day when I walked in I felt welcome, not only by staff and teachers, but by my classmates. We didn’t know each other but we are acting like we were friends from 10 years ago,” said Ernie Santiago, who will study nursing at Quinnipiac University.” We are so proud of each of these students and wish them all the best as they move on to college.’

Rear, Left to Right: Chris Elias ★ DJ Pantry ★ Reuben Clarke ★ Isaiah Kane ★ Front, Left to Right: Ernie Santiago ★ Ryan Haas ★ Alex Rodriguez

Honors Bestowed on Graduating NDWH Shepherds Students

| May 25, 2018

Shepherds students from Notre Dame of West Haven will graduate this Sunday. In advance of the ceremony, an Honors Convocation was held in the Collins Auditorium on Thursday 5/17/18. Several of the graduating Shepherds seniors received honors at the event.

•Reuben Clarke received The Robert T. Scheithe ’95 Award as well as recognition by the National Honor Society. Reuben’s mentors are Celia Pinzi and Mark Healey.
•Ryan Haas received The President’s (Trump) Award for Educational Achievement. Ryan’s mentors are Lucy and Mike Abbott.
•Ernie Santiago was recognized by the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and the TriM Music Honor Society. Ernie’s mentor is Ruby Melton.

Congratulations to these young men for all of their accomplishments. We wish you all the best as you transition to college.

Eleven Shepherds Students Honored at Kolbe Brunch

| May 14, 2018

Shepherds, in conjunction with Kolbe Cathedral High School, held its annual brunch at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield on Saturday, May 12. The event brings together current Shepherds students enrolled at the school, their mentors, family and staff from both organizations.

The accomplishments of graduating seniors are celebrated. Graduates and their mentors are given the chance to speak publicly about their time at Kolbe and how the Shepherds program impacted their high school experience.

Kolbe alumna and current mentor Carolyn Vermont ’78, was the keynote speaker. A recipient of both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Fairfield University, Ms. Vermont is the proud mother of two, a motivational speaker, education and leadership consultant and a tireless community advocate. She volunteers for ten civic organizations including Shepherds and was invited as a Changemaker to the 2016 White House United States of Women Summit in 2016. She has received numerous awards for her service and is currently running for State Senator in the 23rd Senatorial District covering parts of Bridgeport and Stratford.

Ms. Vermont encouraged the students to continue the legacy of community service that they have begun during their time at Kolbe. She reflected on the way her Kolbe Catholic education as well as her Jesuit education at Fairfield University, instilled a lifelong passion for giving back to the community. Her infectious smile, enthusiasm and her pride in mentee Trinity Bravo, warmed the room on that grey Saturday.

Graduates include: Dudjanceslyta Anty, Nina-Simone Barrow, Trinity Bravo, Zavar Graham, Alexander Cole Grant, Cherish Johnson, Shalymar Morales, Ugonna Onyekachiuzoamaka, Alejandro Serrano, Tatiana Thompson and Mayra Vargas. For more pictures, check out our album on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ShepherdsMentors/

Getting Ready to Celebrate 20 Years of Changing Lives!

| May 4, 2018

In preparation for our 20th Anniversary celebration in October, Shepherds is working with Westport ad agency wsaa and Greenwich videographer Gus Cantavero to videotape interviews with mentors, students and alumni. The team was on site at both Kolbe Cathedral and Notre Dame this week speaking to a number of people whose lives have been changed through their involvement with Shepherds. Can’t wait to see the finished product at the 20th Anniversary Dinner on October 11th at Longshore in Westport!

Notre Dame Alumni Host Marc T. Little, ND ’83, USC ’87, USC Law ’94

| April 26, 2018

Notre Dame Alumnus Marc T. Little returned to campus last night as a special guest at the school’s annual alumni reception and Shepherds End-of-Year Dinner. A 1983 graduate, Mr. Little was raised in Connecticut by his mother, Antoinette Hart. His father, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Floyd Little, lived out west. Following his graduation, Mr. Little attended USC to study broadcast journalism and get to know his father better – goals he happily achieved.

A near-fatal brush with violence at 22 shaped his future in unexpected ways. He was robbed at gunpoint by an 18 year old gang member, shot and left bleeding on an LA street. He lost his leg as a result and developed complications related to profound blood loss. Following his recovery, he attended USC’s Gould School of Law and received his Juris Doctorate in 1994.

Mr. Little has spent his professional career practicing entertainment law in LA and has continued studying his Christian faith at Fuller Seminary. Since that summer day in 1987 when he nearly lost his life, he has embraced life and become a community builder, church administrator, pastor, blogger and author. He teaches others how to say “yes” to life. He works on various boards and commissions focusing on family preservation and poverty and is a founding board member for Crown Preparatory Academy, a Los Angeles inner city-based charter middle school.

His book, The Prodigal Republican, “chronicles the historic relationship between blacks, Democrats, and Republicans. It is based on three topics: voting your values, family leadership, and Christian faith, all geared toward strengthening the American family”. The book is available on Amazon.

To learn more about Marc. T Little, please visit http://theprodigalrepublican.com/MarcTLittle/About_Marc.html.

Shepherds Needs Your Support March 1st!

| February 28, 2018

Bridgeport, CT

Since 1998, non-profit Shepherds has provided tuition support and mentors to more than 219 young men & women entering college-preparatory high schools in the greater Bridgeport and New Haven areas. Shepherds’ graduation rate is 100%; most students move on to 2 and 4-year college programs. Today, 37 young men and 24 young women are working towards their high school diplomas at Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport and Notre Dame High School in West Haven. We need mentors and financial support for 20 new students in fall 2018.

1 Go to FCGives.org
2 Donate $20 (or more) to celebrate 20 years to Shepherds
3 Spread the word! Post, tweet, share!
#FairfieldCountyGives
Your donation can help us win over $20,000 in prizes!

https://patch.com/connecticut/westport/shepherds-needs-your-support-march-1st

Bravo, Trinity!

| February 13, 2018

Congratulations to the amazing Trinity Bravo, Kolbe Cathedral ’18. Trinity, who received a full scholarship to Bryant University, is News 12’s Scholar-Athlete of the week. Trinity is mentored by the equally amazing Carolyn Vermont. Click on the link below to see News 12 coverage of Trinity’s accomplishments on and off the court.

Trinity Bravo KC ’18 is News 12 Scholar Athlete