Winter Break Gives Scholars Chance to Connect

January 23, 2026

To nurture the continued success of former Mercy Home residents and those transitioning out of our full-time care, we offer them the space to connect, both with staff and with one another. For those currently in school and receiving financial and scholarship support from us, the winter break is an opportune time to gather and to check in. 

It was in that spirit that our Mercy Home scholars met for their bi-annual dinner in January. 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.

Held at the end of each semester, these gatherings allow the scholars to meet with their Mercy Home care managers and cultivate a sense of community with other current students who lived or still live at the Home. 

“It’s helpful for us to see them [in order] to know how things are going,” Katie Keller Smith said. “We like to do it over Christmas Break while our college or community college students have some time off class. We like to pull them together as a group just to connect before they head back to school and start their second semester.”

In addition to dinner, scholars took headshots that they could use for their LinkedIn profiles and other professional needs. 

“It was good food, good camaraderie, and a chance to connect,” Keller Smith said.   

The Mercy Home for Boys & Girls Community Care Scholarship Program provides an opportunity for holistic support for transitioning residential youth and active Community Care members committed to pursuing their education. Mercy Home and our scholars engage in partnerships through financial assistance, support, enrichment opportunities, and membership into the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls Scholar Alumni Association.   

“It’s an opportunity for us to continue to invest in the education of our young people even beyond the time that they’re with us at Mercy Home,” Keller Smith said.   

Scholars take out federal loans, with Mercy Home covering the remaining tuition and, in some cases, housing costs if requirements are met. As an added incentive, unsubsidized loans are paid off at the end of the term for scholars who earn Bs or better.

To be considered for the scholarship, a student must demonstrate a strong commitment to their education and actively engage in a supportive partnership with Community Care. This includes weekly communication with their care manager, participation in the scholar community and mandatory events, including the summer scholar retreat, and tutoring.

One of the scholars, Tiera, applied to the program because she wanted to remain connected with Mercy Home after she transitions out of residence in mid-January. She will be studying technology at Shepherd’s College in Wisconsin.

“They helped me talk to the school, took me up to visit and a shadow day,” Tiera said.

Tiera said that the dinner felt like a reunion because she was able to connect with a lot of her peers who left Mercy Home before her. Even more importantly, it enabled her to build a supportive network that will help her as she takes the next steps in her education. 

“I asked the other scholars a couple questions about their experience with the program,” Tiera said. “I will definitely rely on them for support. It was funny because a lot of them came to Mercy Home after me and relied on me when they got there.”

The scholar program begins in the fall where the group meets for a retreat filled with learning and community building. It offers new scholars the chance to connect with returning scholars, helping to create a strong, supportive community alongside the Home’s care team. In the summer, the scholars meet to celebrate the graduates and the completion of another school year. 

Mercy Home is so grateful for the scholar support team for helping this program continue to grow. It’s just another way that our donors help us companion with our young people at many stages of their lives, helping to make sure that they have the resources and information they need to succeed long term.