Gates Fund Creates Plan for College Completion
“The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plans to spend several hundred million dollars over the next five years to double the number of low-income young people who complete a college degree or certificate program by age 26…. The foundation hopes to hit its goal by 2025. If successful, the new postsecondary program would help an additional 250,000 people per year earn some type of higher-education credential.”
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Why Community Colleges Must Reach Lower
“Community colleges are the most democratic institutions in this country. From our classrooms you can go anywhere and be anything. But you first have to get there.”
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Two-Year Colleges Overwhelmed?
“57% of the 2,500 high-school seniors surveyed this fall by a scholarship-search group called MeritAid said they were considering less expensive, less selective colleges. The survey…found that 14% of the students had shifted their attention from four-year to two-year colleges…. Midyear budget cuts are forcing many of the institutions to lay off faculty members, cut class sections, and freeze enrollment…. As a result, when laid-off workers turn to community colleges to brush up on skills or switch careers, they often find that the classes they need are full.”
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Community College Students Need Better Financial Advising, Survey Finds
“All the tutoring in the world cannot save students who run short of the money they need to pay for college. This year's Community College Survey of Student Engagement affirms as much.”
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Higher Education: Special Interest or National Asset?
“The nation is at an unprecedented moment, one that higher education can seize as an opportunity to become a more crucial determinant of the direction taken by the United States.”
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Quick Facts
• The United States is the only country among the 30 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in which the current generation is less educated than the previous one, according to a recent report from the National Commission on Adult Literacy.
• American high-school-graduation rates peaked in the late 1960s, at about 80 percent. And today? Each year almost one-third of all public-high-school students — and nearly half of all black, Hispanic, and American Indian students — fail to graduate from public high schools with their classes, according to "The Silent Epidemic," a report from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
• A recent study from the Pew Center on the States notes with alarm that for the first time in this nation's history, more than one in 100 American adults is behind bars.
“The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plans to spend several hundred million dollars over the next five years to double the number of low-income young people who complete a college degree or certificate program by age 26…. The foundation hopes to hit its goal by 2025. If successful, the new postsecondary program would help an additional 250,000 people per year earn some type of higher-education credential.”
Read More …
Why Community Colleges Must Reach Lower
“Community colleges are the most democratic institutions in this country. From our classrooms you can go anywhere and be anything. But you first have to get there.”
Read More ...
Two-Year Colleges Overwhelmed?
“57% of the 2,500 high-school seniors surveyed this fall by a scholarship-search group called MeritAid said they were considering less expensive, less selective colleges. The survey…found that 14% of the students had shifted their attention from four-year to two-year colleges…. Midyear budget cuts are forcing many of the institutions to lay off faculty members, cut class sections, and freeze enrollment…. As a result, when laid-off workers turn to community colleges to brush up on skills or switch careers, they often find that the classes they need are full.”
Read More ...
Community College Students Need Better Financial Advising, Survey Finds
“All the tutoring in the world cannot save students who run short of the money they need to pay for college. This year's Community College Survey of Student Engagement affirms as much.”
Read More ...
Higher Education: Special Interest or National Asset?
“The nation is at an unprecedented moment, one that higher education can seize as an opportunity to become a more crucial determinant of the direction taken by the United States.”
Read More ...
Quick Facts
• The United States is the only country among the 30 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in which the current generation is less educated than the previous one, according to a recent report from the National Commission on Adult Literacy.
• American high-school-graduation rates peaked in the late 1960s, at about 80 percent. And today? Each year almost one-third of all public-high-school students — and nearly half of all black, Hispanic, and American Indian students — fail to graduate from public high schools with their classes, according to "The Silent Epidemic," a report from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
• A recent study from the Pew Center on the States notes with alarm that for the first time in this nation's history, more than one in 100 American adults is behind bars.
05/11: A Magnet For Success
Last May, during a visit to California, Scholarship America President Cliff Stanley and California Dollars for Scholars Executive Director Ann Worley paid a visit to Downtown Magnets High School in Los Angeles. The school is one of our most dedicated Dollars for Scholars chapters; as Worley writes: "this is a magnet school on the edge of Downtown L.A., in an older office building that the district owned, that looks anything like your ideal high school. But this is a school that is doing it right with the very kids who need the most help."
And doing it right they are: the school's college counselor, Lynda McGee, will be appearing at the Los Angeles Walk for Education in a couple of weeks with a busload of student volunteers, and, thanks in large part to the focus on college preparation that Dollars for Scholars has introduced, McGee has some other great news:
"[W]e are now the number one school in test scores and attendance in district 4 (LAUSD has 6 mini-districts, since it's so big). If you disregard the tiny charter schools that handpick their kids, we're in the top ten of high schools in all of L.A. We're moving on up, and still with low income first generation kids."
Congratulations to Downtown Magnets, for their continued work in going above and beyond to help the students who need it most.
And doing it right they are: the school's college counselor, Lynda McGee, will be appearing at the Los Angeles Walk for Education in a couple of weeks with a busload of student volunteers, and, thanks in large part to the focus on college preparation that Dollars for Scholars has introduced, McGee has some other great news:
"[W]e are now the number one school in test scores and attendance in district 4 (LAUSD has 6 mini-districts, since it's so big). If you disregard the tiny charter schools that handpick their kids, we're in the top ten of high schools in all of L.A. We're moving on up, and still with low income first generation kids."
Congratulations to Downtown Magnets, for their continued work in going above and beyond to help the students who need it most.
In 1984, Scholarship America's Dollars for Scholars program welcomed its fourth chapter in the state of Iowa, in the community of Parkersburg. Iowa Dollars for Scholars is now a region of more than 100 chapters, and the Parkersburg chapter (now named for the consolidated Aplington-Parkersburg school district) has helped lead the way in this expansion.
In May of 2008, Parkersburg was struck by a devastating F-5 tornado, which virtually destroyed Aplington-Parkersburg High School. Nonprofits throughout the state, including Iowa Dollars for Scholars, have worked to help the school get back on its feet—and now you can help, too, just by taking a moment to cast a vote for the school in the Henkel Helps Schools Contest.
Henkel, one of the nation's largest household-product manufacturers, has nominated ten finalists for a $25,000 prize, and Aplington-Parkersburg is one of them. The district hopes to use the prize to help with the school rebuilding efforts and to get the high school's students—many of whom have spent long hours helping with cleanup efforts despite losing homes and family members to the storm—into a new building. (This year, all high school classes are being held in the Aplington Middle School.)
This dedicated home of Dollars for Scholars was selected as one of ten finalists from over 1,500 entries; to help the school over the top, please visit HenkelHelps.com from now through October 19. All you need is a valid e-mail address to cast a vote, and you can vote once per day.
On behalf of Aplington-Parkersburg Dollars for Scholars, Iowa Dollars for Scholars and Scholarship America, thank you.
In May of 2008, Parkersburg was struck by a devastating F-5 tornado, which virtually destroyed Aplington-Parkersburg High School. Nonprofits throughout the state, including Iowa Dollars for Scholars, have worked to help the school get back on its feet—and now you can help, too, just by taking a moment to cast a vote for the school in the Henkel Helps Schools Contest.
Henkel, one of the nation's largest household-product manufacturers, has nominated ten finalists for a $25,000 prize, and Aplington-Parkersburg is one of them. The district hopes to use the prize to help with the school rebuilding efforts and to get the high school's students—many of whom have spent long hours helping with cleanup efforts despite losing homes and family members to the storm—into a new building. (This year, all high school classes are being held in the Aplington Middle School.)
This dedicated home of Dollars for Scholars was selected as one of ten finalists from over 1,500 entries; to help the school over the top, please visit HenkelHelps.com from now through October 19. All you need is a valid e-mail address to cast a vote, and you can vote once per day.
On behalf of Aplington-Parkersburg Dollars for Scholars, Iowa Dollars for Scholars and Scholarship America, thank you.
A while back, we posted about Leroy Werkhoven, who's riding his bicycle cross-country in support of Toppenish/Wapato Dollars for Scholars in Washington, his hometown chapter. You'll be happy to learn that Leroy's on the road and doing great, having just crossed into Texas and, last Saturday, ridden 84 miles in celebration of his 42nd wedding anniversary (after which he and his wife had a celebratory dinner.)
Leroy's posting daily about his amazing journey at leroypedals.blogspot.com, and is, of course, still working to reach his $100,000 donation goal. If you'd like to help out, donations can be mailed to Kit Brown, Treasurer, Toppenish-Wapato Dollars for Scholars, 241 Joyce PL., Yakima WA 98908, or made online at our secure donation site -- just make sure and select "Northwest Dollars for Scholars" in the dropdown menu, and enter "Toppenish-Wapato Dollars for Scholars" in the "In honor of" field.
Our best wishes and sincerest thanks to Leroy for this undertaking, and here's hoping for plenty of pledges and a few less tire problems.
Leroy's posting daily about his amazing journey at leroypedals.blogspot.com, and is, of course, still working to reach his $100,000 donation goal. If you'd like to help out, donations can be mailed to Kit Brown, Treasurer, Toppenish-Wapato Dollars for Scholars, 241 Joyce PL., Yakima WA 98908, or made online at our secure donation site -- just make sure and select "Northwest Dollars for Scholars" in the dropdown menu, and enter "Toppenish-Wapato Dollars for Scholars" in the "In honor of" field.
Our best wishes and sincerest thanks to Leroy for this undertaking, and here's hoping for plenty of pledges and a few less tire problems.
A prank in the Cincinnati Reds locker room turned into a great day at the ballpark for South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars, a Scholarship America chapter in Indiana. The Reds Web site has the story:"[Cincinnati] Reds pitcher Josh Fogg finally found a home for the 150,000 pennies he's been keeping in his locker since May.
"On Friday afternoon, Fogg [pictured with Sheree Craig of United Community Bank, Dr. Harley Robinson of South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars, son Koy and South Dearborn student Cory Elder] donated the $1,500 worth of pennies to South Dearborn High School's Dollars for Scholars program. Three students from South Dearborn, which is located in nearby Aurora, Ind., came to Great American Ball Park to pick up the 60 boxes, each holding $25 worth of pennies.
"The students posed for photos with Fogg and received a few autographed baseballs.
"Fogg became the rightful owner of more than 950 pounds of pennies after Ken Griffey Jr. filled Fogg's locker to the top with the boxes in May. Griffey owed Fogg $1,500, and he promised to pay him in pennies. …"
"I've been moving the boxes around my locker for months,' said Fogg. 'I kept moving them to make room for my baseball stuff.'
"Then, Fogg received a letter written by Dr. Harley Robinson from the South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars committee. …"
(Read the rest of the story here, and check out a few more pictures of the event on Flickr.)
We may be called "Scholarship America," but we're nothing if not a worldwide organization. Above are recipients of the Red Tab Scholars scholarship, sponsored by Levi's for families of their employees across the world; this group is from Corlu, Turkey—just one of dozens of countries in which students benefit from the work of Scholarship America.
15/08: Another Bright Future
The Bright Future Dollars for Scholars Program is one of the most unique Dollars for Scholars chapters in the Scholarship America family. The Bright Future program began in the Seattle area in 1999, as a way for high school juniors and seniors to enter professional and technical fields at area colleges while simultaneously completing high school; the program quickly partnered with John Marshall High School's Dollars for Scholars chapter, to provide financial aid for those students who were qualified for Bright Future but couldn't afford tuition.
In 2006, thanks largely to the program's success at John Marshall, the chapter's name was changed to Bright Future Dollars for Scholars, and now provides Dollars for Scholars scholarships to qualified students from all Seattle-area public high schools.
Those students include Crystal Patterson, a Marshall graduate who's now working in the University of Washington Hospital's ER and going to nursing school—thanks in large part to Bright Future Dollars for Scholars and the encouragement of her dad. KUOW Radio in Seattle spoke with Crystal, and we'll let their description introduce her story:
"Fifty hours a week, at the University of Washington Medical Center ER, Crystal Patterson is so busy that she barely has time to go to the bathroom. She's cleaning wounds, drawing blood, doing EKGs, all kinds of tasks. All the medical assistants work like crazy, of course, but 18–year–old Crystal is special in that she's been doing this for a year already while her friends finished high school. And, she's going to nursing school in the fall. And, her dad never made much more than minimum wage working as a janitor. She does think her story is significant because not everyone who comes from a low income family makes it. But she did."
You can listen to the episode of KUOW's Sound Focus that feature's Crystal's story right here. If you'd like more information about Bright Future Dollars for Scholars, you can contact our Northwest Dollars for Scholars Regional Office.
In 2006, thanks largely to the program's success at John Marshall, the chapter's name was changed to Bright Future Dollars for Scholars, and now provides Dollars for Scholars scholarships to qualified students from all Seattle-area public high schools.
Those students include Crystal Patterson, a Marshall graduate who's now working in the University of Washington Hospital's ER and going to nursing school—thanks in large part to Bright Future Dollars for Scholars and the encouragement of her dad. KUOW Radio in Seattle spoke with Crystal, and we'll let their description introduce her story:
"Fifty hours a week, at the University of Washington Medical Center ER, Crystal Patterson is so busy that she barely has time to go to the bathroom. She's cleaning wounds, drawing blood, doing EKGs, all kinds of tasks. All the medical assistants work like crazy, of course, but 18–year–old Crystal is special in that she's been doing this for a year already while her friends finished high school. And, she's going to nursing school in the fall. And, her dad never made much more than minimum wage working as a janitor. She does think her story is significant because not everyone who comes from a low income family makes it. But she did."
You can listen to the episode of KUOW's Sound Focus that feature's Crystal's story right here. If you'd like more information about Bright Future Dollars for Scholars, you can contact our Northwest Dollars for Scholars Regional Office.
Jefferson Dollars for Scholars in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, has a long tradition of helping local students; and, after Hurricane Katrina struck, the chapter found itself on the front lines for assistance, working with Scholarship America to ensure that their scholarship recipients and all area students could continue pursuing their educational dreams in spite of the tragedy.
The chapter has done much more, too, between providing financial assistance, mentoring students for future success and receiving Scholarship America's Golden Tassel Award (recognizing outstanding Dollars for Scholars chapters) not once but twice. Now, you can find out more about Jefferson Dollars for Scholars in the video below. If you have questions or would like to get in touch with the chapter, drop us an email, and we'll pass it along.
Jefferson Dollars for Scholars from Scholarship America on Vimeo.
The chapter has done much more, too, between providing financial assistance, mentoring students for future success and receiving Scholarship America's Golden Tassel Award (recognizing outstanding Dollars for Scholars chapters) not once but twice. Now, you can find out more about Jefferson Dollars for Scholars in the video below. If you have questions or would like to get in touch with the chapter, drop us an email, and we'll pass it along.
Jefferson Dollars for Scholars from Scholarship America on Vimeo.
09/07: Hoopin' It Up for Youth
In 1990, the Charlie Mack Celebrity Basketball Game started as a simple charitable benefit event; since then, it's grown and evolved into the weekend-long Party 4 Peace, benefiting and bringing together organizations that work in a variety of ways to help young people live without fear and violence.
One of the most proven methods of doing just that is by encouraging educational achievement, and Scholarship America is pleased to be participating in this year's Party 4 Peace to do so. While she won't be playing ball in the celebrity game alongside NBAers Rudy Gay, Jameer Nelson and Elton Brand, Scholarship America's own Marian Marchese will be appearing at the Love for the Kids luncheon and panel discussion on Saturday, July 12 in Philadelphia. The luncheon will feature speakers from a number of organizations as well as kids from 12-16, and focus on peace and what to do to achieve it.
For more about the weekend itself, visit CharlieMackCelebrityWeekend.com; if you're in the Philadelphia area and are looking for tickets to the basketball game itself, they're available at the Temple University/Liacouras Center Web site.
One of the most proven methods of doing just that is by encouraging educational achievement, and Scholarship America is pleased to be participating in this year's Party 4 Peace to do so. While she won't be playing ball in the celebrity game alongside NBAers Rudy Gay, Jameer Nelson and Elton Brand, Scholarship America's own Marian Marchese will be appearing at the Love for the Kids luncheon and panel discussion on Saturday, July 12 in Philadelphia. The luncheon will feature speakers from a number of organizations as well as kids from 12-16, and focus on peace and what to do to achieve it.
For more about the weekend itself, visit CharlieMackCelebrityWeekend.com; if you're in the Philadelphia area and are looking for tickets to the basketball game itself, they're available at the Temple University/Liacouras Center Web site.
For most students, summer vacation -- and the 4th of July long weekend -- is dedicated to friends, family, food and fun. But it can also be a great opportunity to volunteer, as more than 1,200 college students are finding out via Hope Worldwide's Rebuild the City weekend coming up in New Orleans.
On July 4, students from more than 150 colleges and universities will be cleaning up more than 100 empty lots in the Lower Ninth Ward of the city, one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina; the day will end with a special ceremony in the ward's Buck Park, welcoming back thousands of displaced residents to a neighborhood that's ready for real rebuilding.
Scholarship America, through our Dollars for Scholars chapters and disaster relief programs, was able to help hundreds of Katrina's displaced continue their college educations, and we're delighted that so many students -- not just from the area, but from across the country -- are willing to donate their time over a long summer weekend to continue to give back.
For more information on the program, visit Hope Worldwide's site at HOPEww.org.
On July 4, students from more than 150 colleges and universities will be cleaning up more than 100 empty lots in the Lower Ninth Ward of the city, one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina; the day will end with a special ceremony in the ward's Buck Park, welcoming back thousands of displaced residents to a neighborhood that's ready for real rebuilding.
Scholarship America, through our Dollars for Scholars chapters and disaster relief programs, was able to help hundreds of Katrina's displaced continue their college educations, and we're delighted that so many students -- not just from the area, but from across the country -- are willing to donate their time over a long summer weekend to continue to give back.
For more information on the program, visit Hope Worldwide's site at HOPEww.org.
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