2021 PCHAS Graduates

This year, we are thankful for the opportunity to celebrate our high-school graduates with a traditional ceremony and plenty of hugs. It's time to celebrate their hard work and dreams and PCHAS is proud to shine the spotlight on our 2021 grads! 

Four youth in our Missouri residential program graduated high school this spring. Nationally, only 58% of youth aging out of foster care will finish high school. PCHAS gives these young adults the stability to earn their diploma while they become independent.

Selena recently found a job at a health food store and continues to volunteer with an animal rescue agency. She will participate in the LifeSet program to further build her independent living skills. She hopes to move into a foster home or a “scattered sites” program (apartments with moderate supervision). After attending community college for general requirements, Selena would like to study at a university.

Ariee has excellent grades and plans to attend Ozark Technical College. Last summer she worked two jobs with the goal of buying a car this summer. Ariee plans to move into a “scattered sites” apartment. She enjoys spending time with friends and dreams of traveling to Europe.

Day is currently enrolled at Ozarks Technical College, working on general requirements. They plan to earn a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and work with horses. An artist, Day has volunteered at Wonders of Wildlife. This year they will be furthering their independence through the LifeSet program.

In Columbia, Mak (for Makayla) has held down a job for over a year, plans to work full-time after graduation and hopes to move into her own apartment. Passionate about becoming a tattoo artist, she is already learning skills from an award-winning artist.

PCHAS is equally proud of three young women who earned their high school diplomas in Texas this year while living at the Itasca Foster Care Village. Bella, Linda and Kyleigha all arrived at PCHAS in 2018. These girls are beating the odds. Each plans to attend college and keep in touch with PCHAS as they venture into a new world of independence and self-sufficiency. 

Bella is an honor-roll student. She plans to earn her cosmetology certificate and attend college to study business.

Linda adores the elderly and will attend Navarro College to earn a degree in nursing. Of all her beloved PCHAS family, she says she’ll miss her tutor the most.

Kyleigha was accepted into college and plans to study forensic science. Her friends know her for her brains and determination.

Mariah - Single Parent Family

Mariah and her mother were members of the PCHAS Single Parent Family Program. They look forward to traveling this summer and Mariah will attend Dallas College in the fall. She says, “I plan to live life to the fullest.”

Asia - Therapeutic Mentoring in St. Louis

Looking back, Asia describes herself in middle school as “rude, disrespectful, argumentative, and not the best version of myself. I was a deeply angry and depressed person. I started self-harming and that’s when I knew something had to change.”

She thought no one would understand, but Simone Zachary did. As a Therapeutic Mentor, Simone helped Asia with the great anxiety and self-doubt that she always carried. Now ready to graduate, Asia wants to help others the same way and show those who feel hopeless how to find meaning in life. She is applying for scholarships and considering which college is the best fit. Her plan is to major in psychology and social work, with a minor in criminal justice. She hopes that she can “change someone's life the way this program did mine.”