Six year ago, Christina Cross, a Milwaukee native and recent Emory University graduate, knew she wanted to go college but wasn’t quite sure if it was financially feasible. Her time spent participating in Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee’s Stein Scholars College Access Program gave Cross confidence she could attend and afford higher education. As a result, Cross obtained several scholarships and fellowships – paying no tuition while a college student. She credits the lessons learned from Stein Scholars and the ongoing mentoring she received from its staff as keys to her success as a college graduate.

On Sunday, June 2, Cross and other recent college graduates will cheer on the next group of cohorts of Stein Scholars College Access Program during a Kente Celebration at Marquette University’s Alumni Union Hall, located at 1442 W. Wisconsin Ave.  This is will be the program’s sixth group to pursue higher education.

The late businessman and philanthropist Martin “Marty” Stein was a longtime member and a former chair of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee’s Board of Trustees. He strongly believed in the Clubs’ mission and that each person has the capacity to be “making a difference” in the lives of others. Upon his passing in 2006, Stein left a directive to his family and Boys & Girls Clubs to help young people in need to earn a two- or four-year degree. His endowment to the Clubs created the Stein Scholars College Access Program.

Currently, Stein Scholars has 81 high school students enrolled, 40 of which are part of the Class of 2013. As of spring 2013, Stein Scholars has 111 of its student enrolled in either a two-year or four-year college degree program. As of June 2013, its total number of college graduates is 22 with several students now pursuing graduate studies. Stein Scholars college retention rate of 85 percent is better than the national average of 65.2 percent for similar programs (source: http://www.act.org/research/). Since 2006, Stein Scholars has distributed approximately $676,000 in scholarships and an additional $70,000 in educational assistance to its students.