Originally Published November 2022
A Note From the President
SSHS Foundation President
As I reflect on the flurry of activity that has been happening at South Side High School, I can’t help but be reminded of the promise and hope found in new beginnings. This past year we concluded our centennial celebration which also marked the beginning of a new century of Archer impact. Fall sports are in full swing, and the new principal at SSHS, our very own Zach Harl (’97), welcomed 1,500 students to the start the new school year. Thanks to you, another dozen graduates from the class of ’22 are starting their secondary education with scholarships in hand, adding to these already impressive numbers:
- Over 300 scholarships since 1992
- Annual awards have grown from $3K to $45K
This year, we’re asking for your help in raising $50,000 so that we can continue to generously provide financial assistance to the class of ’23 and beyond. Together, the Fort Wayne Community Foundation, (which offers a 20% grant match on any donation up to $10,000), the SSHS Alumni Foundation, and you, can continue to create even more stories for our Archer graduates just like the one below.
Spotlight Story
LaDavie’a Shears knew college would be a stretch for her and her mother. Her mother told her that it must be “scholarships or no college.” LaDavie’a decided to enter the FWCS lottery for a slot in South Side’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program. LaDavie’a states, “IB taught me to manage my time and to know my limits.” These qualities earned her scholarships that made college a reality, including the 2017 Golden Scholarship from the South Side Alumni Association.
With her math teachers Mr. Croft and Mrs. Sutherland’s encouragement, LaDavie’a majored in math at Manchester University. After graduation she had numerous job opportunities but the call of the hallowed halls of South Side was strong. Today LaDavie’a is teaching geometry at South Side. “I love everything about South Side!” LaDavie’a told the Foundation. Like so many other scholarship recipients who have come before her, LaDavie’a is using the investment you made in her to continue to pay it forward.