Meet Aniya, a kindergartner at St. Athanasius, who loves to ride her bike and loves her mother’s cooking! She is looking forward to meeting new friends this year. Aniya’s mother, a tuition-based school alumna, praises the benefits of private school for her daughter.

Aniya
Q: What do you like to do for fun?
A: Play with my best friend Madison, ride my bike, and go to Chuck E. Cheese’s.

Q: What is your favorite subject at school? Why?
A: Religion, I like to hear about God and read.

Q: Who is your role model? Why?
A: My mommy. She can cook and she works hard.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: A teacher.

Q: What are you looking forward to this school year?
A: To meet new friends.

Tenisha, Aniya’s mother
Q: What are your hopes for your child?
A: That she succeeds in whatever she decides to do. Aniya is a bright child with a bright future. As a single parent who was adopted, I want her to have the same opportunities I had and more.

Q: What makes your child’s school the best fit for her/him?
A: St. Athanasius has been nothing more than an amazing place for my daughter. She is in kindergarten, and to see how advanced and how knowledgeable she has become in the first 100 days of school has made me proud to send her to such a great school. The classes are the appropriate size and her teacher works very hard to provide them with one-on-one learning and makes sure to send home personalized notes to update me on how she is doing.

Q: Why do you think it is important for your child to attend a tuition-based school? Are there changes you have noticed?
A: As a product of a tuition-based school, I believe that attending a tuition-based school gives my daughter an opportunity to have a greater learning experience than her peers in public school. There is more attention paid to the children and the teachers and principal work very hard for the children. I also believe they are more advanced than other children, and I am an example of that.

Q: What were your thoughts when you won the CSFP lottery?
A: I was excited and blessed that God would give this to me! I know that I would do whatever it takes to make sure my daughter has the best education possible.

Q: In what ways does this scholarship affect your family?
A: It helps to take the stress off of trying to find ways to afford a private education for my daughter. I am forever grateful.

Q: What would you tell others who are looking to apply for a scholarship?
A: Apply, pray and be grateful if you receive it . It is an opportunity of a lifetime and there are people who are not so lucky to receive it.