A St. Louis-born mentoring and scholarship initiative that has quietly transformed the lives of hundreds of college students over the past 16 years is now receiving major recognition.
The Backpack to Briefcase Scholarship and Mentoring Program, co-founded by Larry Blue and Kendra Neely-Gage, was recently honored with the Next Generation Trailblazer Award from the NAACP St. Louis Branch — a distinction celebrating organizations that create lasting educational and economic impact for young professionals.
“This award comes with accountability and responsibility that I don’t take lightly,” said Neely-Gage, executive director of the program. “To be recognized by the NAACP, knowing the organization’s history and the leaders they’ve celebrated, took my breath away. A torch has been passed to us, and I’m proud to carry it forward as part of a legacy of leadership our community needs.”
For Neely-Gage, a native of Walnut Park, and Blue, who grew up in Hazelwood, the honor is deeply personal. Both are first-generation college graduates who built successful careers in the biopharma and healthcare industries, earning accolades as award-winning sales professionals before turning their attention to mentorship.
“You have a walk example in both of us,” Neely-Gage said. “We figured it out the hard way, and now we’re sharing those lessons.”
Founded in 2009, Backpack to Briefcase began as a small effort to support students transitioning from campus to career. Today, it has served over 600 participants, distributed more than $250,000 in scholarships and expanded its reach across Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas.
The program’s tagline — “Closing the gap and jump-starting careers” — encapsulates its mission: providing mentorship, career readiness and soft-skill development to college students of all backgrounds.
“What we teach works across all ethnic groups, socioeconomic backgrounds, and genders,” Neely-Gage explained. “We don’t care about your GPA, your major, or your race. If you’re enrolled in a university and ready to learn, you’re welcome.”
Blue, who serves as board chair, said the program’s holistic approach is what makes it stand out.
“These are transferable skill sets you can take anywhere,” he said. “From negotiating your salary to mastering LinkedIn or leveraging AI — our students walk away with real world experience.”
Backpack to Briefcase combines practical workshops with one-on-one mentorship. Students learn to craft resumes, dress professionally, tell their personal stories and navigate complex professional dynamics — skills many colleges overlook.
“This isn’t theoretical,” Blue said. “It’s practical experience. We bring in senior-level executives and working professionals so students can learn directly from the decision-makers.”
That real-world exposure often leads to real opportunities. “Not only do students get mentorship and scholarships,” Blue added, “but many land their first jobs through connections made in the program.”
The results speak for themselves. Alumni of Backpack to Briefcase have gone on to careers in industries ranging from media to business ownership. One graduate now runs six Little Caesars franchises in St. Louis; another works in television production at MTV and even launched their own show.
While the scholarship checks are meaningful, Neely-Gage emphasizes that the heart of the program lies elsewhere. “It’s not about the money,” she said. “It’s about the soft skills and the mentorship we hone in on. We teach students how to command a room, tell their story, and be comfortable with their most authentic selves.”
That emotional intelligence component, she said, is what transforms students from hesitant participants into confident professionals.
Blue and Neely-Gage divide responsibilities within the program: Neely-Gage manages the “backpack” — designing curriculum, building educational partnerships and connecting with universities — while Blue oversees the “briefcase,” cultivating corporate sponsorships, networking opportunities, and guest speakers.
For Blue, receiving the NAACP award was both humbling and poetic. “It’s a full-circle moment,” he said.
“When I was a college student, I was a bit of a knucklehead. The current NAACP president, Adolphus M. Pruitt, then president of the St. Louis Kappas, used to lecture us Kappas, and I never imagined that 30 years later, I’d be recognized by him.”
Backpack to Briefcase continues to grow, offering what Blue calls a “one-stop shop” for professional development — from networking and salary negotiation to personal branding and leadership training.
“The secret sauce,” Blue said, “is not just the skills, but the lifelong relationships. Mentorship doesn’t end when the program does.”
For Neely-Gage, the recognition is both a validation and a challenge. “The best will rise in the right environment,” she said. “And our mission is to make sure that environment exists — right here in St. Louis and beyond.”
Thanks for bringing ing this much needed resources to our region.