Retreat Sets Scholars Up for Successful School Year

August 31, 2026

Author: Christa Rooks

In preparation for the upcoming school year, over 20 of our Mercy Home scholars attended Community Care’s annual Scholar Retreat, a time for inspiration, learning, and building community. Mercy Home scholars are former and transitioning residents who receive educational support from the Home, such as scholarships to attend high school, college, or post-graduate programs.

In past years, the Scholar Retreat was held over two days at the LaSalle Manor in Plano, Ill. Last year, the gathering switched to a one-day format, something that continued this year. This year’s retreat was held at Mercy Home’s West Loop Campus, followed by a dinner at Ranalli’s.

“I always look forward to the scholar retreat so we can check in with scholars who will be continuing on with their studies through the scholarship and welcome new scholars who are just starting out with us,” Katie Keller Smith, the director of ongoing programs and supports, said. “It’s great to have a day when all of our scholars can come together to connect with staff and one another, share hopes and expectations for the year, and create a fun and supportive community for the year ahead.”

Smith said the purpose of the retreat is multifaceted. New scholars are introduced to one another and returning scholars, which allows them to build a community of support among both their peers and the scholar team at Mercy Home. It’s also the perfect opportunity for Community Care and Education Resources teams to meet with the scholars in person to review program expectations and guidelines, as well as present information on key topics like executive functioning skills, time management, prioritization, healthy relationships, and problem solving.

Mercy Home scholars include residents who will be transitioning out of our care or former residents who have been involved with a care manager for at least six months. Applications are submitted in January, and scholars hear back about the results in April. The students take out federal loans, but Mercy Home pays the remaining college tuition and sometimes even housing, as long as all requirements are met. As a bonus, scholars who earn B’s or better have their unsubsidized loans paid off at the end of the term.  

The retreat began with breakfast, a welcome, and introductions, followed by a number of sessions that highlighted expectations for scholars, how to navigate difficult situations that come up in school, how to plan for jobs after school, and a preview of the high school group. A Jeopardy-style trivia game helped scholars think about what to do if they fall behind in school, how to maintain satisfactory academic progress, how to handle stress, access tutoring, and more. Jessica, an alum of the program, also joined the group for lunch to talk about how she navigated her time as a scholar.  

The scholars also participated in team-building activities that allowed them to find things they had in common. They were split into four teams and played games that allowed them to earn points, introducing an element of friendly competition into the day. Dinner at the end of the retreat helped solidify the relationships that the scholars have been building.

“The Scholar Retreat is always a great way to kick off the school year,” Susan Hackney, the clinical director of Community Care, said. “This year we were intentional about creating games and challenges for our scholars to work together in teams and as a chance to get to know each other. It’s fun having members who range from freshman in high school through masters level students and seeing how they engage and support one another.”    

The Scholar Retreat is not the only event Community Care holds for our scholars. Our high school group will begin meeting regularly in September and all our scholars will come together in January for a dinner to prepare for their spring semester of school. There will also be an end-of-the-school-year celebration in early summer next year.