To Parents, Teachers, Alumni and Friends:
My family moved to Affton in 1971. At that time, the Affton School District was known as one of the best school districts in the region, and my parents chose Affton specifically for the schools. I was fortunate to attend Reavis and Gotsch Elementary Schools, Mackenzie Junior High School, and Gaunt and Affton High Schools, where I made many lifelong friends and had the privilege of learning from some legendary Affton teachers. It's remarkable that today, 50 years later, the same "Affton Tradition" is going strong. The quality education provided by the Affton School District continues to attract young families to Affton, and their children are enjoying the many benefits of growing up in Affton.
The "Affton Tradition" continues through all of you as members of our special community and your support of the students, teachers, and families in Affton. The Affton Education Foundation has become an important part of the tradition by staying true to our mission to enhance educational resources with teacher grants and to inspire students to attend college by awarding college scholarships. I'm happy to report that this year, AEF awarded 21 teacher grants and is currently paying out on 30 college scholarships. In an effort to support a broader range of students, we awarded our first scholarships in a new category focused on community college and trade school attendance. This new initiative was made possible through a generous grant from The Thompson Family Foundation. Additionally, the AEF-funded college visits have resumed as day trips. This fall, Affton juniors and seniors toured Westminster College, Truman State University, State Technical College, and Missouri University of Science and Technology, and more college tours are planned for the Spring of 2022.
One of the highlights of the past year happened at our Hall of Fame Gala in June when we heard the personal and moving story of Jason Au, parent of two AEF scholarship recipients. His story of immigrating from Vietnam in 1980, settling in Affton, and raising his family with a commitment to education is truly inspiring. While his story is compelling, there are many others in our community with stories of hardship, perseverance and a path to success through education, which is why I am asking for your support. There is much need in our community, and the AEF scholarships make a real difference in the lives of many students. Please remember AEF in your charitable giving, and if you missed this year's Gala, you can view Jason Au's inspiring presentation on our website.
Help us keep the "Affton Tradition" alive and please join us for our most important event of the year as we honor new Hall of Fame inductees and enjoy an evening of Affton fellowship while supporting the students and teachers of Affton at the:
Affton Education Foundation Gala & Auction
“Supporting Our Community - The Tradition Continues”
Saturday, March 5, 2022
Greenbriar Hills Country Club
(Invitations, reservation info and more details coming soon)
It promises to be an evening you won’t want to miss!
Hope to see you there!
Thanks for your continued support!
Best Regards,
Angela Sykora (‘81)
President, Affton Education Foundation