b'XIII expanded supportof wentcher scholarsT hroughout its first 25 years, the Wentcher Foundation has steadfastly adhered to its mission of providing college scholarships to Chicago area high school seniors based on their high character, academic excellence and financial need.Ernies goal was to lend a helping hand which included funding $7,500 per year for four years, requiring a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 and continued good citizenship. Ernie viewed his scholarships as an investment in young people who might not have gone to college, and he expected them to work hard and get high grades in return. He had a tough love approach to his scholars with high academic expectations. If a student fell below a 3.0 cumulative GPA, the scholarship was suspended until grades improved. Recognizing the deterrents many of its scholars face in order to achieve graduation, however, the Wentcher Foundation carefully considered and responded to the needs of its scholars to support their success. The formal mission statement of the Wentcher Foundation expanded to include:Tutoring and Academic CounselingExperience with more students helped the foundation realize that first generation, low income and diverse students often need additional support to level the playing field. Beginning in 2012, a second phase was based on the recognition that Wentcher Scholars not only lacked funding, but also often lacked parental advice, access to counseling and tutoring and support for mental health issues. The importance of graduating from college became the emphasis. The goal line was moved from to school to through school when Wentcher staff became more directly involved with student support by providing check-ins and encouraging Wentcher'