About Us
A Message From Our Founders
I would like to thank you for your interest in the Stellar Diverse Student Achievement Center (Stellar). Stellar was established to expand the level of support for diverse students from pre-kindergarten to graduate school and to enhance their personal and career development. Although Stellar supports all diverse students, we are particularly interested in the issues that impact African American students. We embrace the challenge of educating these students and equipping them with 21st-century competencies and skills. I am proud to work with a team of dynamic individuals who are passionately committed to Stellar’s mission which is to synthesize the best in educational research and practice in order to empower African-American and other diverse students to achieve academic and professional success and to inspire in them a commitment to productive, democratic citizenship. Our team is guided by a commitment to excellence in scholarship and service and we draw upon relationships with parents, teachers, and organization leaders to build support networks for students.
Stellar employs a three-pronged approach to achieve its goals:
RESEARCH
DIRECT PROGRAMS & SERVICES
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Each of these pillars of our approach enables Stellar staff members and associates to leverage knowledge, skills, and resources in order to provide the most effective programs for our students. I am often asked, “What makes Stellar different from other organizations?” My answer is simple and direct. We are not a tutoring service. We are not a mentoring group. Stellar is different because we work with students in all aspects of their lives and on a day-to-day basis. We are with our students from day one, and we stay with them until they have built successful careers and have established healthy lives.
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Founders Mark and Tashana Howse
Changing the Learning Trajectory one Target at a time!
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Changing the Learning Trajectory one Target at a time! 〰️
Our Vision +
The vision of the Stellar Achievement Center is to become a leading force in transforming our nation into one in which diverse students draw equally upon the power of education to lead successful lives and to access the full rights and privileges of American citizenship.
Our Mission +
The mission of the Stellar Achievement Center is to synthesize the best in educational research and practice in order to empower African-American and other diverse students to achieve academic and professional success, and to inspire in them a commitment to productive, democratic citizenship.
Our Purpose +
Our purpose is to equip African-American and other diverse students with the tools that are necessary for them to succeed academically and professionally. Furthermore, we are dedicated to helping diverse students build the life-skills that contribute to leading prosperous and healthy lives.
Our Philosophy +
The prosperity of each American is prerequisite to prosperity for all Americans. To ensure a solid future for this nation, all students must receive a high-quality education. A quality education is an education that fosters a sense of pride and empowerment for all students, affirming the richness in diversity among Americans. Such affirmations give power to equality and justice, promoting prosperity and breeding life, liberty, and happiness for all. Access to a quality educational experience for African-Americans and other culturally diverse students is not only a right, but a necessary component in maintaining a healthy democratic citizenry. Our fundamental beliefs are that:
- Education is a function of a student’s entire environment and should emancipate and empower;
- Academic achievements must connect to students’ success as entrepreneurs and professionals; and
- Given the appropriate support, all students can and will achieve.
Our Goals +
The Stellar Achievement Center seeks: To expand the body academic knowledge and research literature related to the K-20 education for African American and other culturally diverse students; To establish and support enrichment programs and services that promote K20 educational successes for AfricanAmerican and other culturally diverse students; To promote collaboration between family, community, business, governmental, and educational institutions for the advancement of African American and other culturally students; To promote democratic values and civic responsibility in the K-20 education of African American and other culturally diverse students; and To promote professional success and entrepreneurship among African American and other culturally diverse students.