A picture may be worth a thousand words, but that's not to say words aren't powerful. In a society that Snapchats, Instagrams, and "selfies," pictures have become ubiquitous and maybe even preferred. At PEAK, we want to teach our students that what they have to say is important, and we want to make sure their voices are heard. That's why we sent out a short questionnaire to PEAK students, asking them to describe the PEAK programs and themselves. It was an opportunity for the students to think about their identity, and to assess our students' perception of the PEAK program. We encouraged thoughtful reflection and honesty, and this is what we got: PEAK students described themselves as: eager,

...And we have liftoff! Over the past few days, several PEAK students have become world travelers, jet-setting to India, Peru (RLT Peru group pictured above), Ecuador, Galapagos, Panama, and Paraguay. These students will be doing volunteer work, improving their foreign language skills, making new friends, and immersing themselves in a different culture. How exciting for these students and the local communities they will be serving! These ambitious PEAK students have taken advantage of the summer programs at The Road Less Traveled and AFS USA, and received support both from grants and generous donations. We spotted one of our PEAK students on RLT's Instagram with the rest of her group--check

We are excited to announce that PEAK scholar Oscar reached his fundraising goal of $3,000 this weekend! The rising Holy Trinity senior will travel to Peru this summer for a three-week long service trip where he will care for the local community and experience a different culture. Oscar was awarded a grant to embark on this life-changing journey, and needed to raise $3,000 to offset the remaining travel costs. Boy, did our friends come through for this young man! PEAK would like to thank Oscar's wonderful mentor, Chris Parente (pictured below with Oscar), and the generous donors whose contributions made this incredible opportunity possible. What a blessing it is to be given the opportunity to

Looking back with PEAK senior Esme Flores and her mentor, Olga Rouditchenko Tell us about your favorite experience with each other. Esme: I had several amazing and unforgettable experiences with my mentor but my favorite one was when we ran our first 5k race together (The Color Run). At that time, she was training for the Chicago Marathon so it was a piece of cake for her while I was struggling to keep up. Despite the hot weather and my tiredness, it was a fun experience. Olga: I loved seeing Esme's eyes light up from the various flavors as she tried sushi for the very first time. How has Olga impacted your life over the past four years? Esme: Over the past four years, my mentor has affected

Congratulations to the class of 2016! Your hard work and persistence throughout your four years at Holy Trinity have paid off, and the PEAK family is so proud. Students, please remember to take a moment to thank your family, friends, mentors, sponsors, and extended network of support for their role in your high school journey. Gratitude is always appropriate and appreciated!