Access Academies Welcomes New Leadership

ST. LOUIS, MO. July 18, 2016Access Academies is pleased to announce the new appointments of Marian “Bo” V. Mehan as the Chair of the Board of Directors and Thomas M. Mackowiak as Vice Chair. Their appointments are effective immediately.

 

Marian “Bo” V. Mehan has served on Access Academies Board of Directors as the Vice Chair since the organization’s inception in 2005. She is preceded by John Vatterott, founder, who will assume the new leadership role of Emeritus Chair. Mehan is the Co-Chair of Lewis Rice’s Estate Planning & Probate Department, and a longtime member of the Firm’s Management Committee. Other charitable works include serving as the Board Secretary for the Edward Mallinckrodt Foundation and as a member of the Board of Governors for the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Foundation.

 

 

Thomas M. Mackowiak joined Access Academies Board of Directors in 2013, and has been actively engaged with the organization’s strategic long-range plan, including fundraising, organizational growth, and school-based programs.  For more than 28 years, Mackowiak has worked for Enterprise Holdings, Inc. in a variety of management positions including, Vice-President of Finance, St. Louis subsidiary; and Assistant Vice-President-Business Management at the Corporate Headquarters supporting various subsidiaries. He currently serves as the Assistant Vice President – Truck Rental Division.

Access Academies (Academies Creating Challenging Education for St. Louis Students) ensures that socially-and/or economically-disadvantaged students in the St. Louis area have Access to top-quality, values-based education, regardless of race, ethnicity or religious affiliation. Beginning in middle school, Access makes a seven-year commitment to each student, and extends the school day and school year to support a robust academic curriculum, homework assistance, service projects and enrichment. Access also provides a school-based Graduate Support Director, who works directly with each student, and their family, from middle school, through high school, and into college.

During the 2015-16 school year, 87% of Access students qualify for federal poverty programs; however, because of the hard work of each student, dedicated parental involvement, strong partnerships, and Access’s support and services:

  • 98% of Access students are admitted to private, college-prep high schools
  • 99% of Access students graduate on-time
  • 94% of Access students are accepted to college or other post-secondary institutions

For more information regarding this release, please contact Julie Linder, Public Relations for Access Academies, by calling (573) 268-0639 or emailing Julie.Linder@Accessacademies.org.

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