Crossroads Foundation

In the final session of Professional Mentoring on May 5, students and mentors alike participated in a Brick Club LEGO Build facilitated by Adam Zahren. 🧱
The session also included a leadership discussion component where scholars engaged in small-group conversations on leadership and mentorship. Students had to defend polarizing topics, brainstorm ideas, and present their arguments as a group, strengthening communication and critical thinking skills.
Following this discussion, participants worked in teams to assemble LEGO sets. Taking on and trying out different roles, the teams worked together and communicated effectively in order to create successful builds.
The Professional Mentoring program connects students with mentors who support their academic, personal, and leadership development throughout the school year.
This interactive session provided a fun and engaging way to strengthen collaboration, communication, and leadership skills while celebrating the conclusion of the program year.

On May 12, Crossroads scholars wrapped up the year in our Peer Mentoring program with a collaborative session facilitated by DrumNexus ! 🥁
Freshmen mentees and upperclassmen LEAD Scholars came together for a hands-on, interactive experience focused on connection, teamwork, and community-building. With more than 40 students participating, the session created a shared space for collaboration, creativity, and celebration of the year’s mentoring relationships.
Our students worked together to create beautiful music in a drum circle. They were able to use drums, maracas, and other playful percussion instruments to energize the atmosphere. The music in the air could really be felt, creating a powerful sense of community and shared experience.
The Peer to Peer Mentoring program pairs freshmen scholars with upperclassmen LEAD Scholars to foster encouragement, support, and leadership development throughout the high school experience.
Thank you to DrumNexus for partnering with us to make this final session such a meaningful experience for our scholars! 💙

Our final senior transition workshop this week focused on networking, providing seniors with opportunities to connect with and hear from Crossroads alumni currently in college about their own networking and college experiences. A BIG thank you to Brianna Battles, Edrea Burgwin, Gordon Missouri, Emma Rethage, and Isabella Siegel for sharing your wisdom!

On May 6, 2026, we gathered at the Wintergarden at PPG Place in downtown Pittsburgh for the Senior Recognition Dinner, celebrating the Class of 2026.

The evening honored the growth and accomplishments of our scholars, including Larry, Yasair, Najai, and Rekiya, who shared reflections from their experiences throughout the program. Families and scholars also offered meaningful words during the program, contributing to a night centered on gratitude, community, and achievement.

Two meaningful moments of the evening were the Scholar Pledge, led by Joshua, marking a powerful commitment as the senior class looks ahead to what comes next, and the presentation of duffel bags to scholars as a symbolic gift, a longstanding tradition recognizing their transition to college and beyond.

From the welcome reception through the closing prayer led by Isaac, the evening reflected the strength, perseverance, and promise of the Class of 2026.

🌿✨ Crossroads Seniors Reflect & Give Back ✨🌿
📍 Senior Retreat — April 10, 2026

On April 10, Crossroads Foundation’s senior class stepped away from their daily routines for a day of reflection, service, and community during the annual Senior Retreat.

The day began with breakfast and time to connect before heading out to a service site near the South Side Marina along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Students partnered with Friends of the Riverfront to support Pittsburgh’s riverfront trails through hands-on environmental stewardship, including:

🗑️ Litter removal
🌱 Vegetation clearing
🎨 Graffiti cleanup

After a meaningful morning of service, seniors returned for lunch and an afternoon of reflection and celebration. Activities included:

🎲 Crossroads trivia
🗣️ Small-group reflection sessions
🎨 Mosaic art project using crushed glass to create student-designed pieces representing their journey

Each mosaic reflected connection, creativity, and the shared experience of the Crossroads journey.

The retreat concluded with closing reflections, offering seniors a moment to look back on their experiences and look ahead to what comes next.

💙 A day of service, creativity, and connection—continuing a valued Crossroads tradition.

🚍✨ Our Junior Scholars are exploring the next step in their college journey!
Over three days, they visited amazing colleges and universities in Eastern Pennsylvania, including:
(Cheyney University of Pennsylvania),
(Drexel University),
(La Salle University),
University,
(Temple University),
(University of Pennsylvania),
(Villanova University), and
(West Chester University).

Students gained firsthand experience of campus life, learned about academic and student opportunities, and imagined their futures! We’re so proud of their curiosity, dedication, and excitement. 🌟

Thank you to all the campuses and partners that made this experience possible! 🙌

📸 HighSchoolJourney StudentExperience CollegeBound EducationMatters ScholarsInAction

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🚍✨ Our Junior Scholars are exploring the next step in their college journey!

Over three days, they visited colleges and universities in Eastern Pennsylvania, including:

📍 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania — https://www.facebook.com/cheyneyuniversitypa/

📍 Drexel University — https://www.facebook.com/drexeluniv/

📍 La Salle University — https://www.facebook.com/lasalleuniversity/

📍 Temple University — https://www.facebook.com/templeu/

📍 University of Pennsylvania — https://www.facebook.com/UnivPennsylvania/

📍 Villanova University — https://www.facebook.com/VillanovaU/

📍 West Chester University of PA — https://www.facebook.com/WCUofPA/

📍 Lincoln University of Pennsylvania

Students gained firsthand experience of campus life, learned about academic and student opportunities, and imagined their futures. We are so proud of their curiosity, dedication, and excitement! 🌟

Thank you to all the campuses and partners that made this experience possible. 🙌

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🎓 Crossroads Scholarship Achievement Awards

Crossroads celebrated the incredible achievements of our scholars at the annual Scholarship Achievement Awards on March 4, 2026! This event honors the hard work, dedication, and success of the students we serve, highlighting their commitment to academics, leadership, and community involvement.

✨ Click through the images to see the energy, pride, and unforgettable moments from this special celebration.

💙 Congratulations to all our scholars — your determination inspires us every day!

A special thank you to LaSalle for hosting this wonderful event!

We're excited that Destiny (Crossroads Class of 2027) will represent Pittsburgh as a Global Travel Scholar with the World Affairs Council. Congratulations!

Happy holidays from the Crossroads staff! Our office will be closed Wednesday, December 24 - Thursday, January 1. See you in the new year!