Newburgh, NY – San Miguel Academy of Newburgh is pleased to announce that Lauren and Bob Steers donated $500,000 to the newly launched Grandview Fund for post-secondary opportunities. These funds will help students in the San Miguel Program finish their education and enter the workforce, including filling any gaps in tuition, room and board, internship costs, transportation, and other expenses associated with college or other post-secondary education opportunities. Lauren and Bob Steers shared, “We believe that every SMA graduate is well deserving of the shot at success—however that is defined. We hope the establishment of the Grandview Fund at San Miguel Academy will help a great number of young adults fulfill their potential and become productive citizens.”

Alexis Mendoza, the first recipient, announced the scholarship at San Miguel Program’s annual Defying the Odds Scholarship Dinner in November. Alexis, a 2020 graduate of San Miguel Academy and 2024 graduate of The Mount Academy, started at SUNY Maritime in January, pursuing a degree in international transportation and trade.

The mission of San Miguel Academy is to break the cycle of poverty through education. San Miguel’s year-round, STEM-based middle school serves low-income families in Newburgh, NY, a city of 27,249 that struggles with poverty and violence. 1 in 4 residents lives below the poverty line, a rate 72% higher than the national average. All San Miguel Academy (SMA) students are eligible for free meals under the federal Child Nutrition Program. SMA makes a 12-year commitment to students and their families, partnering with them through high school, college, and into the workforce. SMA students enjoy a 98% graduation rate from high school and a 90% placement rate to colleges, trade schools, and the military. This 12-year commitment to each student and their family is integral to breaking the cycle of poverty and changing the trajectory of its students’ lives.