News & Events

Jane Donahue (left), College Summit-St. Louis Board member and nominating sponsor, joins Sonja Little (right) at the Salute to Excellence in Education Banquet

Ms. Sonja Little Receives Salute to Excellence’s Excellence in Education Award at The St. Louis American Foundation’s 20th annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Banquet

Ms. Sonja Little, SLPS counselor, was named one of this year's Salute to Excellence’s Excellence in Education Award recipients. Ms. Little has been working in the St. Louis Public Schools for over twenty years. She has been at Beaumont High School since 2002. In her short time at Beaumont, she has worked closely with staff to significantly raise the number of graduating seniors who go on to college. Since 2002, she has helped to raise the college enrollment rate from 22% of the graduating class (2002) to 37% (2006). She is the cheerleader, bull dog, task master, coach, and dreamer. “My kids are hungry for opportunity and we have to give them what we can. Too many people have closed doors to them,” she told me.

The St. Louis American Foundation’s 20th annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Banquet was held on September 14, 2007 at the America’s Center in Downtown St. Louis.