Arete Scholars

This summer, so many of our Arete Scholars had the opportunity to experience summer camp, and we can’t wait to share what they learned, experienced, and took away from each adventure!

First up: Camp Westminster in Conyers, GA! Five Arete Scholars enjoyed a traditional overnight camp experience filled with outdoor recreation, teamwork, faith development, leadership, and personal growth.

From new challenges to new friendships, Camp Westminster gave our scholars plenty of opportunities to learn, grow, unplug, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Stay tuned as we highlight more of our scholars’ summer camp adventures!

At Arete, our Advisory Board plays a vital role in helping us expand educational opportunities for families across Louisiana and Georgia. Their leadership, expertise, and unwavering belief in our mission help make the work we do possible.

Today, we're excited to spotlight Tim Bentsen, a Georgia Advisory Board Member. After a distinguished 37-year career with KPMG and decades of service on nonprofit and corporate boards, Tim continues to use his leadership and experience to make a lasting impact in our communities.

Tim believes Arete's approach to serving families aligns with the true purpose of scholarship programs and is inspired by our commitment to supporting students for long-term success. His passion for opening doors to opportunity, combined with a lifetime of community service, makes him an invaluable member of the Arete family.

Outside of his volunteer work, Tim enjoys wildlife and bird photography, having photographed nearly 700 bird species—including 70 different hummingbirds—during his travels.

Thank you, Tim, for your dedication to helping more students and families access life-changing educational opportunities.

Five years. 6,549 students served.

Since joining Arete Scholars in 2021, Andrew has been the heart of our Louisiana development work. He has organized golf tournaments, led school tour road trips across the state, started the Louisiana Advisory Board, and built relationships that have changed the trajectory of thousands of families.

As Arete President, Arthur Dupré shared: "You make Arete better because you're here.” Andrew, congratulations on five incredible years. The best is still ahead.

Congratulations again to our 2026 Graduate of the Year, MaKensie!

Last week, we had the privilege of presenting MaKensie with her $1,000 Graduate of the Year scholarship - a small celebration of the incredible determination, resilience and hard work that brought her to this moment.

MaKensie, we are so proud of everything you've accomplished and can't wait to see where this next chapter takes you. Keep chasing your dreams, embracing every opportunity and believing in yourself. Your future is bright, and we know you're just getting started.

Arete Scholars was proud to be an exhibitor at the 2026 Summer Education Conference in Gulf Shores, Alabama, where Andrew Martin, Arete’s Louisiana Development Director, represented the organization and connected with CPAs from across the Gulf Coast.

Andrew shared how individuals and businesses can leverage their state tax liability to create scholarships for underserved children in Louisiana, Georgia, and Alabama to attend private K-12 schools.

A few highlights from the week included connecting with Ron Gitz, Executive Director and CEO of the Society of Louisiana CPAs and an Arete Louisiana Advisory Board member, and Jeannine Birmingham, President and CEO of the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants. We also had a raffle winner! Congratulations to Jerald Kerby from Alabama!

Thank you to the Louisiana Society of CPAs and Alabama Society of CPAs for another incredible conference!

Happy National Parents' Day! Today we celebrate the parents, guardians, and caregivers who pour everything into their children's futures. The sacrifices you make and the belief you carry for your children inspire our mission every single day.

We are honored to walk alongside you.

What a morning worth celebrating! 🎉

Ashley and Jonathan were on the ground for City School Atlanta's ribbon cutting ceremony as the school opens a beautiful new elementary space and adds grades K–2 this year. City School is ranked as the safest private school in the state, and this expansion means even more children will have access to an environment where they can flourish.

We were proud to celebrate alongside community partners including Gas South, Chick-fil-A, Perimeter Church, Buckhead Church, One Hundred Shares, and others who share a belief in the power of quality education.

And a special note: 33 Arete Scholars will call City School home in 2026–27. These are families who had the opportunity to choose what was best for their child. That is what school choice looks like in action.

Congratulations to the entire City School community on this exciting milestone!

Meet Chantze, an Arete scholar, broadcast journalist in the making, and living proof of what becomes possible when a student is given the opportunity.

Since enrolling at St. Augustine High School through an Arete scholarship, Chantze has discovered a passion for broadcast journalism, founded his own youth media nonprofit, and already interviewed the likes of Former VP Al Gore, Patti LaBelle, and Kirk Franklin, all before graduating high school.

An Arete scholarship has provided Chantze with far more than access to a great education. It has opened the door to experiences that are shaping his future every single day.

Read his full story here: aretescholars.org/news/finding-his-voice

The Arete team just wrapped up our annual staff retreat in Big Canoe, GA, and what a time it was!

We came together to plan, dream, and think big about how we can continue to grow and provide life-changing scholarships for K–12 students across Georgia, Louisiana, and Alabama.

A few highlights from the week:
🎉 Celebrated Andrew and Arthur on 5 years with Arete
🎉 A huge celebration for Marilyn on 16 years of service — an inspiration to our entire team
🎓 Our 2026 Graduate of the Year, MaKensie Scott, joined us via Zoom to share how her Arete scholarship changed the course of her life
📋 Thoughtful planning sessions focused on the year ahead
🎾 And plenty of fun...games, tennis, and everything in between

We are grateful for this team and the mission that brings us together. Here is to another year of opening doors to opportunity.