Dec. 9, 2021

What:   
Ceremony to honor Young Women’s Leadership Academy’s National Blue Ribbon distinction by U.S. Department of Education

Who:               
Laura Saldivar Luna, Chief People Officer for National Teach for America – keynote speaker 

State and local dignitaries: 
San Antonio City Councilwoman Ana Sandoval
State Senator José Menéndez
State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer
Suzanne Wade, Young Women’s Leadership Academy Foundation chair, Teach for America advisory board chair
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar
Representatives from Kirksey Architects
Representatives from Girls, Inc. 
Representatives from Girl Scouts

YWLA Primary Blue Jay Senators (student ambassadors)

When:           
Friday, Dec. 10, 9 a.m.

Where:         
Young Women’s Leadership Academy auditorium, 2123 W. Huisache, 78201

For the second time, the Young Women’s Leadership Academy has received a National Blue Ribbon distinction by the U.S. Department of Education for its consistently high academic achievements from 2016 to 2021. YWLA received its last National Blue Ribbon distinction in 2015. In honor of this most recent announcement and the acceptance of the award by school leaders in Washington, D.C., in November, YWLA staff, students, and community members will celebrate with a ceremony and field day.

Delia McLerran, head of schools for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy network in San Antonio, says she is proud of the YWLA faculty, staff, and students, and is especially grateful to the YWLA board members and foundation board members who have supported their public/private partnership with advocacy and philanthropy.

“We understand the need to adapt to the current challenges facing us today. Our mission is to prepare our students to be college-ready – not just academically, but personally,” McLerran said. “We each have a responsibility to continue the work that faculty and students started before us so that our legacy continues to have a high return on investment of our time and efforts.”

McLerran added that the young women of YWLA become change makers in their communities after college in areas of cybersecurity, engineering, medicine, and computer science, among many other careers.

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About Young Women’s Leadership Academy
The mission of the Young Women's Leadership Academy is to support young women who seek a college preparatory public education that will provide them the academic skills to achieve success in college and life by thinking critically, leading purposefully, and living healthy and responsible lives. While receiving a well-rounded college preparatory education, YWLA students experience lessons that integrate math, science, and technology across the curriculum. The Young Women’s Leadership Academy is part of the Young Women's Preparatory Network, a nonprofit organization that partners with public school districts to operate the largest network of all-girls’, public, college-preparatory schools in the nation. All YWPN schools feature a STEM-focused curriculum, and a majority of their students are economically disadvantaged.