SOAR

Art and Design SOAR Pathway students learn about different art-related careers while, at the same time, stretching their ability to focus and create unique and interesting artworks. Art and Design students benefit from field experiences and guest speakers. Students enjoy seeing how art is being used in a variety of professional ways and it helps them to see where their interests might help them fit into the world as professionals. Businesses that this pathway have partnered with are Sanctioned SC and The Lou, Spot Content Studio, Advertiser's Printing, Trent Colquitt of ColtreKicks, Angad Arts Hotel, and The Normal Brand. Christian N. (12th grade) earned an internship at Affiliate Merchandise Group through a class trip to visit the screen printing and embroidery business. Christian said, “I found all the different types of machinery there is for the different materials. The knowledge I took away from this was very important and key to building my brand and my business.” Students will begin their Art Standards and come up with an independent project that will be exhibited. Alicia Brand, the pathway advisor, would like to visit a wider variety of businesses like one for Music Production, Video / Film Production, Barber or Cosmetology, etc.; specifically, she is looking for businesses to partner with our senior SOAR students in Photography and film/video or theater.

Computer Science SOAR Pathway is for students interested in coding, app design, network operation, and cyber security. Alex Edge, the Computer Science pathway advisor, said, “My Pathway is unique in that there is an intensive curriculum that goes with it. This curriculum exposes them to coding basics and network basics their junior year, and senior year is a dual credit course in Python language through SEMO, as well as a cyber security course offered by NetSkope, who is our most involved community partner for this pathway.” Computer Science SOAR students have partnered with ThrottleNet, Stifel Financial, NetSkope, Millipore Sigma, and SEMO in the past, and are looking to find even more partners. “My dream is to double the number of companies we partner with for field trips and site visits. I’d really like to bring in expert guest speakers from businesses such as MicroCenter.” said Edge when talking about the future of his program. This aspiration reflects the core principle of SOAR: the more exposure LFLA students can get outside of the classroom, the more success they will have in their future careers.

Culinary SOAR Pathway is for students who are interested in pursuing a career in culinary arts and the restaurant industry. With a fully equipped kitchen at Lift For Life, students are able to learn much more than the simple basics of cooking. Denitta Pumphrey, the pathway advisor, partners with local chefs to guest-cook with students, teaching them about culinary skills as well as sharing healthy cooking recipes. Ms. Pumphrey also has her own bakery business, so she has expertise to share with students about creating and managing their own culinary business.

Fashion SOAR Pathway is for students who want to learn entrepreneurship within the Fashion Industry. Fashion SOAR students want to partner with fashion and clothing brands in the St. Louis area to learn more about the industry. Alston wants to work towards diversifying the type of partners her program has, since many of her students don't desire to be fashion designers per se. “I want them to see there’s so much more than just designing clothes as an option for their career path in the fashion world.”

Health Science and Biotechnology SOAR Pathway students want to learn about healthcare and medical professions. Students experience what it is really like to work in the medical field through our unique opportunity to shadow medical professionals at Mercy Hospital. In addition to the robust partnership with Mercy Hospital, students have also worked with Goldfarb School of Nursing. SOAR 1 students shadow at Mercy Hospital every other week. Liz Llufrio, the pathway advisor, said, “This shadowing experience is coupled with work on ‘real world’ problems in the classroom. For example, students will be asked to diagnose hypothetical patients based on medical test results and practice how to deliver the results to their patients using empathy.” In addition, students complete hands-on lab activities, such as learning how to do blood typing, DNA analysis, and common medical testing like measuring blood pressure, using a heart rate monitor, and drawing blood. SOAR 2 students will complete internships at Mercy Hospital, which include completing Patient Care Associate (PCA) certification training and working with medical professionals that match each student's area of interest.

Social Justice and Social Service SOAR Pathway is for students who want to make social change and take action to improve our social systems. Students in this pathway aspire to become therapists, teachers, lawyers, criminal justice workers, law enforcement officers, and more. Sara Redel, the pathway advisor, said, “My students are difference-makers and disruptors. They want to use their knowledge to improve the lives of others.”  This year, the class has had guest speakers such as forensic psychologist Dr. Rod Hoevet, former homicide detective Matt Hanewinkel from St. Louis City, and Jamez Knighten, an LFLA alumni that works as a Ferguson police officer. In addition, the Social Justice and Service Pathway has partnered with the Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) for a pilot program designed to get more students into the mental health field. The program aims to nurture students’ education and help them gain the qualifications necessary to work in the mental health field after graduation. Guest speakers and providers who work under DMH will partner with LFLA students as mentors for internships to provide routine field experience. 

“Students in my pathway are gaining empowerment. They are being taken seriously and given the tools, catered to each individual student, to get hands-on experience that benefits their future,” said Redel. Redel said her students are gaining not only confidence, but also the intrinsic initiative they need to understand how to develop a career path. “They are learning ‘Oh, I actually can do this, and these are the steps’ as opposed to learning in the hypothetical,.” Redel said. Kobie P. (11th grade) said she is already seeing the benefits of SOAR. “SOAR is actually helping me to build a career to become an elementary SPED teacher. We are learning more than just what a teacher is, but how to actually accomplish the goal.” Another student, John Y. (11th grade) learned how to make difficult decisions, “I had to choose between football and SOAR, but at some point in the future, I would have had to make that choice anyway. SOAR helped me choose what would open the most doors for me.” John wants to become a therapist and is already working with Dr. Noble and Ms. Redel to get a mentor and an internship. “This wouldn't happen without SOAR showing me the steps and the support.” 

Trade SOAR Pathway is for students interested in learning a trade such as construction, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC. This pathway has partnered with Concrete Strategies to build out our shop classroom, and students are learning to master such power tools as drills and saws. Milwaukee Tool also donated tools, volunteers, and financial support to help launch this pathway into success. TerRance Wadley, the pathway advisor, works with students as young as 5th grade in the shop class, and hopefully, entice some of those young students to pursue this career path through SOAR once they reach high school.