For three St. Louis-area high school seniors, years of balancing academics, leadership development and career preparation have paid off with a significant boost toward their college goals.
Bruce Green Jr. of Hazelwood West High School, Jahki Grice of Hazelwood Central High School and Vinay Konduro of Francis Howell High School have each received a $40,000 Best Buy Scholarship through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis’ Pathways program. The students also participated in the St. Louis Internship Program, where they gained workplace experience while still in high school.
The scholarships can be used for college and career training expenses, helping reduce financial barriers to higher education.
For Green, the scholarship represents more than financial assistance.
“Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me and my family,” said Green, a graduate of Hazelwood West High School. “It lifts a lot of financial stress, so I can focus on academics. It feels like my hard work is being recognized.”
Green plans to study political science and pursue a legal career, with the goal of one day serving as a Supreme Court justice. Through the Pathways program, he said serving as a production manager for a public service announcement project helped him develop leadership and teamwork skills.
“It taught me about leadership and working together as a team,” Green said. “It also helped build the discipline that will help me be successful in college and beyond.”
For Grice, a Hazelwood Central High School graduate, the first call after learning he had received the scholarship was to his mother.
“I was excited. Calling my mom and sharing the news made me very happy,” Grice said.
The scholarship will help him pursue his goal of becoming a pediatric oncologist.
“It makes higher education more accessible and allows me to focus on my studies instead of worrying about money,” he said.
Grice said participating in Pathways helped prepare him for college through group discussions focused on social issues, teamwork and collaboration.
“Those are skills I know I’ll use in college and throughout my career,” he said.
He also offered advice for younger students.
“Don’t be afraid and keep striving,” Grice said. “There are many opportunities out there.”
Shanise Johnson, executive director of the St. Louis Internship Program, said workplace experiences help students connect classroom learning with future careers.
“This experience allows students to talk about their goals with peers and mentors,” Johnson said. “They begin to see how their academic work connects to future career opportunities and gain confidence in pursuing those goals.”
Johnson said the program also helps students build professional networks and workplace skills that can be difficult for some young people to access.
Through eight-week paid internships, professional development workshops and mentorship opportunities, students work alongside professionals at companies across the St. Louis region. The program also offers year-round support, including ACT preparation, college readiness programming and career exploration.
For Francis Howell High School graduate Vinay Konduro, the scholarship is a reminder that others believe in his potential.
“It means someone believes in me,” Konduro said. “There’s a community behind me, and I’m grateful for that.”
Konduro plans to major in finance. He said one of the most valuable experiences through the program came from working on a video project with fellow students.
“I learned video editing, film editing and a lot about my own skill set,” he said. “It helped me learn more about what I’m capable of.”
His path also required difficult choices. A highly competitive tennis player who was ranked fourth in Missouri, Konduro decided to step away from the sport to focus on academic and career opportunities.
“It was a very difficult decision because I wanted to play in college,” he said. “But I realized I had other priorities and wanted to invest in my future.”
Brandon Williams, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, said the scholarships reflect the students’ commitment and perseverance.
“This remarkable achievement reflects the hard work, determination and dedication these students have demonstrated throughout their academic journeys,” Williams said.
Alonzo Lee, program manager for the Pathways program, said the recipients distinguished themselves through their ability to balance academics, extracurricular activities and other responsibilities while pursuing their goals.
“These students showed tremendous initiative while managing school, extracurricular activities, sports and other commitments,” Lee said. “They demonstrated resilience and had a clear vision for their college and career goals.”
Lee said students completed extensive application materials, including essays, while actively participating in the program.
For Konduro, the lesson he hopes younger students take away is simple.
“That hunger means nothing if you don’t have discipline,” he said.