Mary Helen - Ten Years, and Thousands of Lives Impacted

Please join us in congratulating Mary Helen for celebrating ten remarkable years at Arete Scholars. Her ten-year journey with Arete Scholars has been a remarkable testament to Mary Helen’s passion, dedication, and commitment to transforming lives through education. As the Scholarship Program Director, she has not only overseen all 7,500 scholarship awards since the launch of Arete Scholars Louisiana in 2014, but she has also forged deep, impactful relationships with families during some of their most challenging moments.

"It has been a joy working with Mary Helen for the past ten years,” says Marilyn Hicks, Vice President of Operations. “She is passionate about serving families and students and does everything with excellence. We are blessed to have her on our team.”

Recently, Mary Helen was presented with an award for Ten Years of Exceptional Service, acknowledging her impact on the lives of children and their families. This award is a well-deserved recognition of her profound influence over the past decade.

"This work is just what I do and who I am," says Mary Helen. "I didn't think of ten years as a milestone, I just thought this is the life I'm living and the life I've been given. This is an opportunity for me to live my purpose and fulfill my heart."

Mary Helen's path to Arete was deeply personal. "I was at a place in my life when I had very specific prayers about what I wanted," says Mary Helen. "I was looking for a career in education, helping people grow, helping people get to that next level. "Arete entered my life, and the opportunity fulfilled exactly what I was looking for."

Before joining Arete, Mary Helen spent years teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing children, a career path sparked by her love for sign language, which she began learning in seventh grade. "I seemed to have a natural ability to learn it," says Mary Helen. "So, when I entered graduate school, I started thinking about what I wanted to do in education, and I ended up getting my master's in education with an emphasis on Deaf and Hard of Hearing."

She continues, "When I was a teacher, every month on my calendar, I would write "Leave a Legacy." That's my heart. So, when I think about my role at Arete, I think about the John Gardner quote that inspired the founders of Arete Scholars:

'Great gifts unused, even unsuspected, are hardly a rarity. No doubt there have always been a great many men and women of extraordinary talent who have died with all their music in them.'

That quote aligns with my heart, and in this opportunity with Arete, I can impact more families by providing them with the opportunity to find and live out their God-given gifts."

When asked about a story she holds particularly close, Mary Helen noted it’s many stories–not one story. “It’s a collage which makes one beautiful picture,” she says. “It’s working with applicants with cancer diagnoses and treatments, incarcerations, childhood illnesses and even with parents preparing for their own death while still ensuring their child is provided every opportunity possible. It’s also the families who simply need a little help to get ahead. These stories, in addition to many more, make the Arete mission so much more than a scholarship opportunity. These are lives being changed and possible tragic trajectories being redirected.”

As Mary Helen takes on her new responsibilities of managing scholarships for both Louisiana and Georgia, she is eager for the challenge. "I'm actually really excited about it! It's going to be a lot, but I'm ready for it," she said with enthusiasm. This transition speaks to her ability to grow within the organization while always maintaining her personal commitment to Arete's mission of providing students with the opportunity to access life-changing education.

From her early days as a teacher to her current role helping thousands of students, Mary Helen continues to leave a lasting legacy, ensuring that children have the opportunity to discover their gifts and pursue their dreams. As she steps into the next chapter of her journey, the families and communities she serves will continue to benefit from her unwavering dedication and passion.

"Mary Helen has been with us from the very beginning in Louisiana, and her influence cannot be overstated." Says Arthur Dupré, President of Arete Scholars. "Her heart, dedication, and expertise have touched thousands of lives."

Please join us in congratulating Mary Helen on ten years of service at Arete Scholars and on her new expanded role. It’s because of the dedication of employees like Mary Helen that we can fulfill our mission, ensuring that students are empowered to reach their highest potential through educational opportunity.