The Next Step

SCHOLARSHIP CELEBRATION

Story and photos by Jon Gitchoff

More than four hundred guests and students gathered at the Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel St. Louis in Maryland Heights for The Next Step’s annual scholarship celebration dinner. As guests sat down around tables, students and alumni shared their stories of recovery from addiction and how education changed their lives. The

Gina May Weise scholarship was awarded to four students to provide additional funding for their academic endeavors. In 2022, 64 students recovering from alcohol and drug addiction earned $180,000 in scholarships. This year’s celebration raised $350,000 to provide funding to over 100 students in 2023. Since 2005, The Next Step has awarded more than $1.7 million in scholarships to metro area students.

Visit LADUENEWS.COM to see more fabulous photos from this event! ln ln We at The Next Step support all educational endeavors and believe that education is one of thebest ways to rise above addiction and [initiate] sustainable, longterm recovery. Tonight, the community came together to celebrate our students and support their journeys.

Ana Arciles, Marcus Woodson Madison Sanders, Michael Danis, Natalie Garrett

Ken Sturges, Leigh Hanna, Shelby and Bill Meister

Karen and Andy Johnson Kristin Inkley, Nikki Lanxon, Madison Beirne