Stephen M. Ross, founder and chair of the Related Companies and owner of the Miami Dolphins, spoke to 275 middle and high school students during a celebratory event Thursday, June 26 hosted in collaboration with the Foundation for Palm Beach State College at Palm Beach Lakes High School.
The event marked the students’ completion of the Stephen M. Ross Emerging Scholars Program Early College Summer Academy. Those in attendance included students from Bear Lakes, Roosevelt and Lake Worth middle schools, as well as Palm Beach Lakes and Lake Worth high schools.
The Early College Summer Academy is three weeks of intensive instruction to prepare students for the Accuplacer placement test. It is part of the Emerging Scholars Program, which was created by the Related Companies and provides students in grades 7 through 12 full financial coverage for college readiness instruction, books, fees, testing and transportation, as well as academic support, tutoring and more. Upon successful completion of the program, students who pass the Accuplacer are invited to participate in dual enrollment and are eligible to receive a full scholarship to Palm Beach State College.
Since the program began last year at Palm Beach Lakes, 33 students have accepted the Stephen M. Ross Foundation Scholarship and are enrolled at PBSC. According to PBSC Dean of Student Development and Success Dr. Karline Prophete, these numbers are expected to increase each year as students continue to succeed and spread the word.
During the event, PBSC President Ava L. Parker sat down with Ross for a question-and-answer segment where Ross shared why he wanted to invest in education in West Palm Beach, and particularly the Emerging Scholars Program.
“When I look at West Palm Beach and see the opportunities here, I believe they are better than anywhere in the country,” said Ross, who also met one-on-one at the event with some current Emerging Scholars participants. “You won’t find another place that is growing this much. The companies who are coming here are from almost every area, so if students will work hard and earn an education, they will have an abundance of choices to be successful.”
Ross also told students that in addition to education, the key to becoming successful is to find their passion.
“If you have passion and you’re working, you’re not working,” he said. “If you find something you really love, you will be that much more successful. If you don’t know what you want to do, experiment and you’ll eventually find it.”
Ross is excited that the Emerging Scholars Program is helping do just that, exposing students to college early so they can explore different careers, better understand themselves and set goals.
Students are saying the program has transformed their outlook on their future.
“I didn’t think that I could pass the Accuplacer test, but now I know that I can, and I’m looking forward to studying dermatology because I know I will do well,” Hannah Laurence said.
Another student, Xazha Belizaroff, added, “This program helped me with my confidence and improved my math and reading skills. I also wasn’t sure what I needed to do to prepare for college. This program guided me through those steps and supported me along the way.”
During the celebration, students also received certificates of completion, heard from a panel of eight students on their academy experience, and watched several performances, including one from the Palm Beach Lakes Ram Regiment Band. Others who spoke included Prophete, Bear Lakes Middle School Principal Dr. Kirk Howell and Emerging Scholars Program Coordinator Jeneka Admore.
The vision is for every program participant to graduate with both a high school diploma and a degree from Palm Beach State College.
