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Highlights

Advanced Culinary Arts Program Teens Learn from National Pie Champion, Bake 200 Pies for First Annual “Pie-Town” Event
Monday, November 19, 2012

 

More than 30 teens from After School Matters Advanced Culinary Arts program had the opportunity to meet National Pie Champion John Sunvold and learn some of his award-winning pie-baking secrets during a MasterClass on November 10.

Chef Gale Gand—a nationally acclaimed pastry chef, cookbook author, television personality and founding partner of Chicago’s Tru restaurant—also met with After School Matters teens and other attendees and demonstrated how to make her apple pie pops. 

Together, the teens baked and sold more than 200 pies—cherry, strawberry, apple, apple crumble, banana cream and coconut cream pies, as well as apple and mixed-berry galettes, at the first annual “Pie-Town” event, hosted by Loyola University on November 11. Proceeds from the sales benefitted After School Matters. 

Click here to see photos of the teens with John Sunvold, Gale Gand and their pies. 

Opera Star Nathan Gunn Hosts Reception for HHW Vocal Arts Ensemble, Chicago Opera Theater for Teens Program Participants
Thursday, November 15, 2012

On November 7, some teens from the After School Matters HHW Vocal Arts Ensemble and Chicago Opera Theater for Teens programs were invited to attend a reception hosted by world-renowned opera star Nathan Gunn and his wife Julie, both on faculty members at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s (UIUC) School of Music.

The reception included UIUC School of Music faculty members, alumni and students performing and discussing educational and career opportunities in music with our teens.

After School Matters Teens Plan for their Future at Third Annual College Fair
Tuesday, November 13, 2012

After School Matters is pleased to announce the success of this year’s Third Annual After School Matters College Fair! Over 700 After School Matters teens attended the college fair held at the Cultural Center on November 1. College representatives from 62 colleges attended the fair to talk with teens about their futures— Barnard, University of Illinois, Marquette, Iowa, City Colleges of Chicago, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, just to name a few. A financial aid speaker also gave several presentations to teens to help them prepare for the college application process and map out the best strategy for completing scholarship submissions and the FAFSA. 

Additionally, through the generosity of United, the official airline of After School Matters, fifteen of the teens in attendance will be able to visit a college of their choice along with a parent of guardian. To view photos of the college fair, click here.

Up-and-Coming After School Matters Teen Comedians Showcase Improv Talent at the Playground Theater
Monday, November 5, 2012

 

Teens from the After School Matters gallery37 Improvisational Theater program at Gill Park and the Longform Improv program at Sullivan High School, both taught by by professional comedians Jack Farrell and Katie Thomas , came together to present a dynamic showcase of improvisational comedy at the Playground Theater on Tuesday, October 30.

For many of the teens, it was their first time performing in front of an audience and on a professional stage. During they performance, they presented a series of small and large group skits, demonstrating the basics of improvisational comedy and their ability to adapt quickly to new scenarios. Both programs came together at the end of the performance to perform as a combined group. Click here to view photos of the performance.

Teens from these programs will perform again on December 12 at Second City. 


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After School Matters is an Equal Opportunity Employer.