13 Years of STRIVE: The Legacy Lives On

Since day one, STRIVE has been the heart of STS Enterprise—and 13 years later, it’s still doing exactly what it was designed to do: helping young people find their path, own their purpose, and take that first real step into the future.

From college campuses to career panels, career workshops to real-world job shadowing, STRIVE has become more than a program—it’s a movement. It’s a place where students don’t just dream about what’s next—they experience it.

The 2024–2025 STRIVE squad brought that energy. This year was all about Career Exposure and Experiential Learning—getting students out of their comfort zones and into rooms where decisions, deals, and dreams are made. We explored career tracks, connected with mentors, and created spaces where students could imagine what’s possible.

When it came time to wrap it all up, we did it the STRIVE way—with gratitude, celebration, and community.

At our End-of-Year Banquet, we honored the wins, the growth, and the people who made this year unforgettable:

• Kamaria Bobo Parent of the Year: Ms. Irene Ford Simpson
  Created in 2024, this award honors the life and legacy of Ms. Kamaria Bobo, one of our most engaged, vocal, and supportive parents—whose tragic passing due to gun violence in Memphis, alongside her daughter (one of our students), deeply impacted our STS family.

  This award is more than a title—it’s a tribute. It represents unwavering presence, powerful advocacy, and a fierce belief in the future of our children..

• Ashton Cryer Mentee of the Year: Kaitlyn Simpson
  This award, named in honor of our late co-founder’s twin sister, Ashton Cryer, carries deep meaning within the STS family. Ashton played an integral role in the early days of STS Enterprise, helping shape the heart of our mission before her passing.

• Rookie of the Year: Jalen Perry
  This award honors a first-year student who didn’t just attend sessions—they fully committed to the STS process. From the start, they embraced the mindset of making excellence the norm, showing a genuine willingness to learn, grow, and be coached.

Coach Appreciation
To our STRIVE Coaches—you showed up big. Whether it was helping students find clarity, navigate challenges, or just feel seen—you made the difference. Thank you for your time, your wisdom, and your heart.

Thirteen years of impact, and we’re still just getting started.
STRIVE continues to be a launching pad for the next generation—helping students walk in confidence, tap into their potential, and step boldly into what’s next.

Here’s to the Class of 2025. Here’s to every coach, parent, and partner who made this year powerful. And here’s to the next chapter in this legacy we’re building together.