February 2025 News

A digital publication of Mindful Awareness Academy for Children

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MAAC Shining Stars

MAAC Scholar Channels Energy to Make Dreams Come True

Fifteen years ago, Kennedy Morgan’s kindergarten teacher saw her potential, calling her student “extremely enthusiastic” and explaining in a report card, “She has an energy about her that we are working together to use in a positive way.”

Fast-forward to 2025, Kennedy is a junior at American University in Washington, D.C., carrying a dual major in political science and journalism, and her professor has continued the mission of finding ways to allow Kennedy to leverage her energy and enthusiasm on a broader scale. Last month, the ambitious MAAC scholar and virtual tutor was invited to work with ABC at the presidential inauguration. She shares her experience here.

Lydia Jacob, MAAC scholar alumni and college sophomore at Guilford College.

What was your role with ABC?

I spent a week as a runner for the Lafayette Park press pool, which is the staff responsible for covering the ceremonies on the day of the inauguration. Our pool consisted of ABC, NBC, CNN, and FOX. On the day of the inauguration, I got there at 4:30 am to get the morning shots of the transition between Biden and Trump. My role included assisting the tech staff and engineers with both ABC and Game Creek Video and our head pool producer with running errands between the press pool and the National Press Club. I stayed until 5 pm and enjoyed every minute. I hope to work with ABC again in the future. It was an incredible experience.

How did this opportunity come about?

ABC News contacted one of my broadcast professors, Jill Olmstead, and asked her to recommend students for the job. She called me during winter break to ask if this was something I was interested in.

What was the best thing about this experience?

The best thing about this experience was getting to work in a production truck on Pennsylvania Ave. It has been a long dream of mine to cover the White House.

What surprised you about this experience?

Honestly, nothing surprised me, because I did not know what to expect. I went in knowing it would be a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment, and I was ready to acclimate.

Were there any challenges?

The day before the inauguration, we received news that President Trump was moving the entire ceremony indoors. This essentially flipped our entire schedule upside down, and we had to change our entire production. While challenging, I enjoyed that experience.

The over-arching challenge was dealing with breaking news as it was coming in.

What advice would you give to another student in the same position?

Listen as much as possible, and ask a question as soon as you think of one. Also, don't be afraid to point out a mistake that nobody else has seen yet. Take lots of pictures, and enjoy the experience while you're there.

Kennedy is one of two MAAC scholar alumni covering national politics in Washington, D.C. Kennedy's best friend Logan Richberg has been featured in MAAC Mindful for her work covering national events for The Hilltop at Howard University.

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Click HERE to support MAAC's programs for promising scholars like Kennedy!

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Community Engagement

Scholars Discover Technology at Their Fingertips

In today’s high schools, students have access to comprehensive software that tracks everything from their classes, assignments, and grades to their activities and achievements. Problem is, most students aren't aware of most of the features available to them. So this month, retired counselor Jose Mercado provided high school scholars at Turning Point and Harmony House shelters with a deep dive into the many useful capabilities of this technology.

In this interactive, hands-on session, Jose taught the scholars the many ways they can utilize school-issued software such as SchooLinks for tracking their accomplishments, building a resume and portfolio, and logging volunteer hours. The scholars also used the software to complete a career interest inventory, followed up with a discussion on the results and the resources available in their area of interest.

“School counselors don’t have time to teach students all the features of this software, so having a dedicated time and space to intentionally explore it allowed these scholars to discover the many ways they can use this technology to help them succeed," said Andrea Smith-Morgan, executive director of MAAC.

Jose Mercado, who previously worked at Science Park High School in Newark, was named 2023 Counselor of the Year for Essex County. He now shares his expertise with scholars through programs like MAAC’s after-school program, Summer Boot Camp, and outreach events across Northern New Jersey.

This after-school program is made possible through a partnership with Essex Regional Educational Services Commission. If your school or organization would like to learn more about MAAC's program offerings, please email andrea@themaac.org.

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A Message from Andrea Nicole

Taking the Leap, Trusting the Net

Andrea, second from right, enjoying a selfie moment with an extraordinary group of scholars at MAAC's 2024 Summer Boot Camp.

For me, January 31, 2025 marked the third anniversary of my decision to take early retirement and run MAAC full-time. These past three years have been the most transformative of my life—filled with triumphs, fears, and everything in between. Making the decision to leave my steady-paying teaching job to follow my heart was not easy; however, this journey has been nothing short of amazing.

From my early days, inviting high schoolers to stay after school and work with me so they could get into AP courses, to now—securing our largest-ever contract with Essex Regional Educational Services Commission to working in shelters, partnering with mothers caring for children in foster care, onboarding accountability partners, and connecting our scholars with success coaches at local universities—the impact has been profound. We have created opportunities for free yoga for college students residing in shelters, connected with retired police sergeants, detectives, and storytellers eager to contribute, and welcomed new organizations like STEM and Story and GP Mentoring to support our scholars. The list goes on, and each month, MAAC makes new connections and reaches new scholars.

The best part of all of this is being able to watch the growth before my eyes. Seeing scholars bond over lunch at Summer Boot Camp. Witnessing an exchange between an incredulous scholar and a college rep at their dream school. Sharing in group texts as scholars boast of their college acceptances. Receiving messages from grateful parents about their child whose outlook was transformed by a MAAC program. And getting updates and photos from scholars at college who want to share their incredible achievements. It's so much more than I ever envisioned when I took that leap.

My message to all of you: Dare greatly. Live in a world without boundaries or ceilings. Great things can come from daring moves. MAAC thrives because of the incredible "behind-the-scenes" friends who share my vision and dedicate their time and energy to its success. One of them is my dear friend Debbie Humes, a senior writer/producer at ABC, whose email signature always includes a quote that resonates:

"Leap, and the net will appear."

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MAAC Board Members

Eleanor Gil-Kashiwabara | Tanya Isler-Home | Nadine Verna | Tamara Williams

Mindful Awareness Academy for Children (MAAC), PO BOX 338, Montclair, NJ 07042, United States