Special thanks.

The Ace Scholarship wouldn't be possible without the support and dedication of the St. Paul Public Schools and their passionate staff. Since day one, they have been 100% supportive of the idea behind the gift and have done an outstanding job finding very gifted students. Special thanks to Beverly who has been there since day one. My dad Ace loved the city public schools and what they stood for: the chance for every child to use education to reach their dreams. I know first hand. I am a graduate of Highland Park and my time there is something I will always cherish.

Yemi, taking on the world.

Olayemi Fadahunsi, Ace winner in 2014, has been very busy studying and traveling. Below, her latest update. Inspiring, for sure. Go, Yemi!

"It felt like yesterday when I received my letter of acceptance and then the opportunity for my mother and I to meet you and Mrs. Alexander. Since that day so many amazing things have happened in my life. Starting with the completion of my first year of college. I had an amazing first year here at College of Saint Benedict and Saint Johns University. I began my first year studying Elementary Education; I was also involved in the Black Student Association and also played intramural badminton. 

The summer of 2015 I worked an internship in Dallas, Texas through AmeriCorps. The program was called Project Transformation.  Over the summer I worked as a summer camp counselor for kids in grades 1-5. The core subjects I taught was literacy, art, bible study, and movement/fitness. I had an amazing time in Dallas. I lived in a fraternity house on the Southern Methodist University Campus along with 113 other interns. 

After working this internship and reflecting my first year of college I made the decision to change my major. I started the beginning of this year in my new job as a Residential Assistant, where I live, assist and foster relationships with the sophomore area residents at my University. I began my new major and minor also this fall. I am now studying Sociology and Political Science. It was a very difficult decision for me to change my major, but I knew it was the right on even though I am not majoring in the field of education, I do plan on doing some sort of teaching in the future. 

December of 2015 I had the amazing opportunity to go on a 10-day research trip to Paris, France to attend the UNFCCC, which is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The UNFCCC is a yearly worldwide climate policy conference that is hosted through the United Nations. About 14 delegates from my university including myself went to Paris to conduct research on various topics. My research was to take a sociological approach to study marginalized people who are affected by Climate Change. I was able to interview, observe, and listen in on panels that were in relation to my topic. I also was able to meet heads of State, mayors, activist, and I even have a video of when I saw the President of France visit the conference site.  The trip to Paris was a life changing experience I am so grateful to have had. 

Now I am back at school for the spring semester of my sophomore year. I have settled into my new major and minor and I am loving the courses I am taking. I  recently have been accepted to study abroad in London in Spring 2017. For this summer I am in the process of looking for research internships in my field of study. It has been an amazing two years of college so far and I am so excited to know what my future hold."

Yemi at the Climate conference in Paris.

With the President of Kiribati, a small island nation.

With fellow students at the Paris conference.