March 08, 2007

On Thursday, March 8th, the “Buzz about Barat” Academy – the new Catholic, private, independent high school in St. Charles County – had reached an all time high. When word was received earlier in the week about an anonymous donation from a local business owner, Barat and Kolbeco staff were anxious to get the word out.

The gift is a monetary donation to cover the cost of tuition for the entire founding freshman class for their freshman year at Barat Academy. The gift is unprecedented, was HUGE news for the community, and warranted a press conference ASAP.

The morning of the press conference, major local and national media outlets gathered with the community, Barat staff, board members, and government officials to hear the news. Several students already enrolled at Barat were also on hand to witness the announcement. Once Barat Academy President, Debby Watson uttered the words “This gift will be used to pay for the first year of tuition for every member of this class,” the room erupted at once with cheers, applause, and even several tears of joy.

The story quickly began spreading, and even more interviews with the client continued to take place throughout the day. As of this writing, coverage has included USA Today, KSDK Channel 5, KMOV Channel 4, KMOX Radio, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The St. Louis Business Journal, The Belleville News Democrat, The Columbia Daily Tribune, The Kansas City Star, and the Charlotte Business Journal. Additional stories and interviews are still in the works.

Barat will hold two application sessions next week where students and their families can learn more about the school and pick up applications for enrollment. Several spaces are still available, and all students are encouraged to apply. These sessions will be held on Thursday, March 15 from 5PM – 8PM and Saturday March 17 from 9AM – 12PM at the Hilton Garden Inn at Winghaven.

For more information, please visit www.baratacademy.org and www.baratbuzz.com.

Kolbeco is a full-service Marketing and Communications firm focusing on small and medium-sized businesses in a variety of industries, including construction, manufacturing, health care, and professional services. In 2006, Kolbeco was named one of the top PR firms in St. Louis by the St. Louis Business Journal. Kolbeco provides strategic planning, advertising, graphic design, direct mail, web design, special events, and a full range of public relations services. For more information, please call Lauren Kolbe at 636-379-3895 or visit Kolbeco online at www.kolbeco.net.

UPDATE! March 16, 2007
Three additional application sessions have been scheduled for students wishing to take advantage of the free tuition gift from a local donor. Upcoming sessions will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn at Winghaven on Tuesday March 27 from 5-7 PM, Saturday March 31 from 9AM – 12PM, and Tuesday April 17 from 5-7 PM. Call Therese Hagemeister at 636-561-9373 or visit www.baratacademy.org for more information.