NCR Celebrates Award Winners
NCR Alumni for the first time create and fund Peer Leader College Scholarship

200 NCR Peer Leaders, their educators, NCR Board and supporters celebarted the success of the students and schools by awarding a number of prizes and scholarships. For the first time, a group of NCR Alumni created a scholarship and awarded it to two Peer Leaders.

The 2012 Winners include:

PEER LEADERS

Allegra Coleman, Largo High School, Prince George’s County
When Allegra Coleman of Largo High returned from her College Summit 2011 workshop, she knew that she wanted to do something that would impact the whole school. As a Peer Leader, she took on the challenge of helping the school transform the Career Center into the Student Life Center. The Student Life Center’s primary purpose is to provide Largo students with an environment that empowers them to be active and positive learners, and contains college and career information, a banking center, a research room, a silent reading room, and a group activity room. In addition to her work with the Student Life Center as a Peer Leader, Allegra was also the captain of Largo’s soccer team, president of the choir, and a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. She is described by one of her teachers as bright, energetic, compassionate, and genuinely well rounded. Allegra has been accepted to ten colleges and universities, including Howard University, Virginia State University, Frostburg State University, and Fayetteville State University.

Kaelyn Scruggs, Largo High School, Prince George’s County
One of Kaelyn Scruggs’ educators at Largo High describes her as recognizing the importance of a strong work ethic, persistence, and intellectual integrity. She is a “take charge” person, who because of her enthusiasm and strong leadership skills, successfully inspires and motivates her peers to actively seek out and pursue post-secondary options. When she returned to Largo after her College Summit summer workshop, Kaelyn wanted to use the knowledge she had gained to educate her peers about the college application process. She decided to lead a College Application Week drive for seniors. As a result of her efforts, a significant number of her peers applied to college. In addition to being a Peer Leader, Kaelyn maintained a 3.5 GPA her senior year, lead the volleyball team, served as Archonette Vice-President with Sigma Phi Zeta Sorority, and volunteered with a number of groups in the community. Kaelyn has been accepted to St. John’s University, Rutgers University, Towson University, and Hampton University.

ALUMNI

Tariq Simmons, College Summit-NCR Alumnus, Bowie State Class of 2015
In 2011, Tariq Simmons was a senior at Crossland High School in Prince George’s County, MD, when he was awarded one of two College Summit-NCR Darden Peer Leader of the Year Awards. During high school, Tariq was a member of his school’s Student Government Association, an honor roll student and a member of several other volunteer and extracurricular activities. As a College Summit Peer Leader, he was diligent and goal-driven and was integral in promoting school spirit and a college-going atmosphere at Crossland. Tariq created a comic strip to motivate his peers to complete their FAFSA. He helped initiate a College Summit Club and assisted in signing up over 50 students to join the club. His other activities included volunteering at his school’s financial aid workshop, speaking to 11th graders about taking advantage of opportunities presented to them, assisting in registering juniors for the SAT, and laying the groundwork for recruiting the next year’s Peer Leaders. He did all of this while working part time after school and maintaining a 3.15 GPA.

Today, Tariq is a student at Bowie State. He is still a leader among his peers and has not forgotten his College Summit roots. Tariq has rallied his fellow College Summit Alumni to establish a college scholarship for two Peer Leaders via the ManUp Scholarship Program. This is College Summit-National Capital Region’s first alumni sponsored award.

EDUCATORS

Mr. Brecklin Barbee, Achievement Academy @ Harbor City, Baltimore City

Mr. Barbee has demonstrated his ability to be a fortified leader at Achievement Academy. Furthermore, he is an innovative thinker and seems to have a true understanding of how to appeal to his students.  Mr. Barbee has implemented several programs during this school year which include: Great Debate BUDL, MSU ASANTE Tutoring Program (where students from MSU help tutors students throughout the school year in various subject matters), College Summit Professional Development for Educators (TOP), Money Talks Financial Aid Assembly, Find Your Niche-PL PSA and Motivate Encourage Day just to name a few.  Because of Mr. Barbee’s inquisitive nature I have made a College Summit FAQs one pager, there is never a dull moment throughout my SPM day when his wheels are spinning. Because of his enthusiasm, inquisitiveness, dynamic approach, team spirit and love for his students.

Ms. Regina McClure, Coolidge High School, Washington, DC
Ms. McClure embodies the slogan “Coolidge to College”. She exemplifies what it means to have a passion for preparing students to be college and/or career ready. She organized several college application, SAT/ACT, and Financial aid drives for seniors, and she also organized SAT/ACT drives for juniors. You would never know that she is a first year CS educator because she has collaborated with other educators, counselors, principals, and other college access providers to get what she needs to support her students and implement college going culture activities. One educator said that Ms. McClure “has become invaluable to the upperclassmen of Calvin Coolidge”. She has embraced the leadership role of the CS coordinator and has demonstrated the ability to enhance the college going culture at Coolidge. She often works late and long hours, but never complains because she wants to see the students succeed. Her humility and ability to be a team player are a few characteristics that make her students and fellow educators enjoy working with her. 

PARTNER SCHOOLS

Calvin Coolidge High School, Washington, DC
This partner that has really embraced the spirit of college going culture. This work has been done with the aid of numerous dedicated educators, energized peer leaders, a student body who was ready for change and an administrative team that supports the vision of college as a reality. The school’s Peer Leaders took a lead in transforming the culture in their school. They facilitated numerous classroom presentations for their senior peers where they shared tools on how to get to college and what their summer workshop experience was like.  They also mentored juniors so they are more prepared for their senior year. The peer leaders conducted several “drives” to get students registered on CSNAV, taking the SAT and ACT and applying to college.  Each peer leaders was assigned a group of students and they were in charge of ensuring the students completing these tasks.  During PSAT in October, the peer leaders assisted English teachers and College Summit staff with personal statement workshops.  In the beginning of the school year, every peer leader wore their peer leader shirt to show off their college-going pride. This school also took advantage of College Summit resources, specifically career week. During Career Week, they embraced the concept of full culture change when they had professional speak to freshmen and sophomore classes who are not being served by College Summit.  This school has been transformed as a direct result of College Summit and the work of their students and staff. Thus far, 89% of their students have applied to college, with acceptance rates also poised to exceed last year’s rates.

Program Director Named to Connecticut Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list.

College Summit Connecticut Program Director Veronica DeLandro  was named to Connecticut Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list.  Veronica was nominated by her colleague Jamal Jimerson who described her as a “dynamic young professional with outstanding quality and true commitment to her commu­nity.”  When she’s not at work, she’s busy serving on the boards of the John E. Rogers Af­rican American Cultural Center and the Hart­ford Area Habitat for Humanity, as well as playing a key role at the Granville Academy Mentor Program at ESPN, which she founded. Learn more here.

CSNY’s newly formed Alumni Advisory Board hosted our annual Home for the Holidays celebration.

This annual event aims to reconnect NY alumni with each other as well as the NY regional office.  During the course of the celebration the AAB guided attendees through a couple of getting-to-know-you exercises, college resource sharing (scholarships, internships, etc.), students were also encouraged to take advantage of the various opportunities that College Summit presented this summer (Alumni Leader and Workshop Core Staff positions, Community Engagement Manager, Regional Summer Internship, Workshop Staff Training Internship).  It was a great time of reunion, reignition and holiday rejoicing.

College Summit New York’s 2nd Annual Financial Aid Completion Drive: “Think FAFSA”

College Summit in conjunction with Deloitte hosted our 2^nd annual FAFSA completion event at Legacy School for Integrated Studies.  Approximately 30 students/families representing CSNY high school partners from across the city were paired with trained Deloitte volunteers to complete this crucial step to make higher education affordable and accessible.

Special thanks to Legacy Staff and Students (specifically CSC’s, Camille Kinlock, Celina Acham and Principal Joan Mosely); HESC representative, Michael Turner; NY1 for covering the event; and our wonderful volunteers.

NCR Initiates Career Week 2012
40 Volunteers Share Their College and Career Journeys with 400 Students

During the week of February 6-10, College Summit-National Capital Region initiated its first Career Week in six of its partner high schools. Career Week was an opportunity for volunteers from across the region to flood College Summit classrooms and share insights about their career and education journeys with 400 students. 40 volunteers from diverse backgrounds and fields, including NBC News anchor Aaron Gilchrist, and volunteers from Freddie Mac, Citi, Deloitte, Cafritz Foundation, ETS and the Community Foundation, participated. It was an enriching experience, for not only the students, but also the educators and the volunteers themselves.

Hear what the students had to say…

I want to thank all the speakers for sharing their college experiences with us.

If you have a dream, chase it.

Surround yourself with the right people- the people with a future.

Dream big, stick with it, and prepare yourself every day.

I was really inspired to pursue my goals and dreams.

Never give up and try different things to be successful.

I will share the information from today with my fellow students, friends and family.

Follow your dreams and never let go of what you want in life.

Don’t just pick a career for the money.

You can be whomever you want to be, if you put your mind to it.

Step out of my comfort zone. Do more. Aim for more.

College will be a fun experience.

Don’t wait for the 12 grade to do well in school.

Work hard and don’t run away from challenges.

I have many options in life, and can strive to do my best.

Whatever you want to do in the future, follow your dreams and let nothing stop you.

You can never have too much education.

You can do anything with a good education.

Always keep learning.

Everything worth having is worth working for.

I loved it! It was awesome!

Volunteers loved it too…

“I had a wonderful time with the young people!  I am sure that many of these students will be fabulous in their future careers (there will be a plethora of attorneys)! I would love to participate in future projects that you and your team sponsor.”  

“I thought the sessions at Achievement Academy on Tuesday and Oakland Mills today went really well.  I had a great time. There’s something really special about going back and giving back to our Alma Mater! Kudos to you, as I know it took a lot of work to organize this effort.”

“The students were not the only ones to benefit and make new connections, but the teachers and staff in the room were engaged as well. It was amazing to see how intrigued both the students and staff were to hear about the volunteers educational and professional journeys.”

“Thank you for allowing me to participate.  It was rewarding.”

“I just wanted to send you a personal note thanking you for the wonderful opportunity to participate in the College Summit Career Week.  It was such a rewarding experience and I look forward to becoming more and more active with College Summit.”

“It was a very well run program.”

“Thank you so much for organizing us and the panel - it was inspiring.”

FAFSA Nights & A Chance to win a “Scholarship on the Spot”

Parents and their seniors can receive one-on-one assistance from FAFSA/financial aid experts to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  Refreshments  and valuable information will be provided and there will be a drawing for $500 scholarship!!!

L – R
• Erica Tyson, Program Director College Summit
• Denise Davis, Mother
• Gabriel Davis, Senior Gateway High School
• Lucinda Bryant, Counselor Gateway High School

Date: 2/7/12
Location: Gateway High School
Event: FAFSA Night

Attendees:
• 23, students and family
• TAX professionals from Trio Talent Search, Scholarship Foundation, Angela Whitlow Consulting, UMSL, College Summit

Next FAFSA Event and chance to win a “Scholarship on the Spot”

• Harrison Northside Education Center
3140 Cass Ave.
Saturday, February 11
10:00-2:00pm

• Harris Stowe State University
3026 Laclede Avenue
Sunday, February 12
2:00-4:00pm

• Clyde Miller Career Academy High School
1000 North Grand Blvd.
Tuesday,
February 21
6:00-8:00pm

WHAT PARENTS NEED TO BRING:

•    Social Security Number for parents and students.

•    Parents and student’s driver’s license info (if applicable)

•    Parents and student’s 2011 W-2 Forms and all records of money earned (ALL documents used for filing taxes)

•    Parents and student’s (if applicable) 2011 Federal Income Tax Return.  (IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040 EZ)

•    Any other income documents, i.e. veterans non-education benefit records, child support received, worker’s compensation, etc.

•    An alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

College Summit honors Mayor Michael Hancock with its “Be the First” Award.  College Summit Colorado honored Denver Mayor Michael Hancock with its “Be the First” award.  Mayor Hancock grew up as one of ten children, and was the first in his family to earn a college degree, which transformed the course of his life.  See photos of the event on College Summit’s Facebook page. 

“Education has been the path to a better life,” Hancock said.  “My life is a perfect example of the power of education.  This is why one of the objectives of my Education Compact is to increase post-secondary access and success.”

The College Summit Experience through the Eyes of Our Volunteers:
College Summit volunteers come from a variety of industries and professions: attorneys, accountants, educators, business and nonprofit leaders, authors, clergy, journalists, engineers, restaurateurs, among many others. These individuals come together to join a team of caring adults to help students succeed in education, life, and their careers. Cheryl Davis, who has been a volunteer writing coach for several years, talks about her first experience at a workshop, “I was amazed at how smoothly volunteers from various backgrounds and locations were integrated into a seamless team.”

Volunteers tell us that something happens at a workshop, something unexpected. They begin the experience with the hope that they will encourage and support students at the workshop. What they don’t expect, however, is that they are given encouragement and support from staff, fellow volunteers, and students. Volunteers share with us that they are changed in the four days, just as students are. Rich Hopkins, a volunteer with College Summit for many years shares, “You will experience the most rewarding, challenging, four days of personal growth in your lifetime.” 

We’ve asked some of our veteran volunteers to share their volunteer experiences with you. We hope that this provides you some insight into the power of the workshop and the amazing things that can be accomplished in only four days…

• “If you have a desire to help young people and shape their future, this is the place for you. There is nothing you could do to have more impact and is more rewarding than volunteering through College Summit.” Rachelle Beckner
• “As a Writing Coach, I have found College Summit to be the most intensive volunteer experience for me – but also the most rewarding! The after effects to my spirit and memory stay with me for years, and I keep coming back. I can truly say that College Summit gives me hope in humanity and our future.”  Peggy Pings
• “No other organization empowers, encourages, and prepares high school students to succeed with their college education like College Summit. The workshop was an amazing experience! I saw students transition into Peer Leaders and know they will carry this experience with them…. I am proud to know my part of College Summit will help a student achieve the dream of a college education.”  Libby Salyers
• “As students get immersed in this, they realize education is the key to opportunity and they also understand that they control their own destinies.  It is not the circumstances that define them, but rather their perseverance and determination.” James Owrey
• “College Summit is an inspiring organization for both [volunteers] and students and provides students with a better understanding of themselves as well as tools needed to make life dreams come true.”  Ali Johnson
• “The College Summit workshop really gives these kids an opportunity to know that people care about them and about their success and are willing to help them work toward it.”  Carolyn Wade
• “The rigor and discipline of the training, coaching, and the schedule create opportunity for breakthrough results in a short time.”  Dorothea Malsbary
• “You have no idea of the impact you could have on a young person. You can change their path, their mind, their life!”   Jennifer Igo
• “Volunteering gives you the opportunity to help young people realize their potential for achievement, and allows you to see the very best in every one of the young people you work with.”  Cathy Willoughby

Leadership West Virginia Gives Back by Mentoring High School Seniors

A group of West Virginia leaders are giving back to their communities through education. The 2011 Class of Leadership West Virginia partnered with College Summit West Virginia to help students plan for college. College Summit West Virginia paired the talented and educated leaders from the Leadership West Virginia class with College Summit peer leaders - seniors who participated in a College Summit workshop last summer. The one-on-one, one-hour mentoring session took place during the Leadership West Virginia session on education at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs. The students also had the opportunity to get to know other members of the Leadership West Virginia class during a luncheon sponsored by BrickStreet Insurance.

When asked about her experience with College Summit, Dr. Michelle Easton, Leadership West Virginia Class of 2011 and Dean of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Charleston stated, “My parents instilled in me the importance of getting an education, both formal and informal. They made me believe that education is the way to allow you to advance, to have a better quality of life and not only provide for your family, but also to be able to help society. I’ve always had a passion for trying to have that belief instilled in others. College Summit does that and does it very well.”

“It gave our group a means of giving back and we were inspired by the ambitions of the students,” stated James Owrey, Leadership West Virginia Class of 2011 and Endowment and Major Gifts Manager for the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences. “They reminded us why it’s great to be in West Virginia and how powerful it is to come together in pursuit of these goals.”

College Summit West Virginia currently serves more than 8, 200 students in 27 schools. With partners and volunteers like those from Leadership West Virginia, our work can continue to grow and expand to support students, educators, and communities throughout the state. The vision of College Summit is that all students will experience high school as a launchpad for college and career success.

Leadership West Virginia and College Summit share a passion for cultivating leaders for the future prosperity and progress of West Virginia. Leadership West Virginia has selected College Summit as their class community partner to help develop the leaders of the future. Learn more at www.leadershipwv.org.

Welcome Estill High School!

College Summit South Carolina welcomes Estill High School, Hampton County School District Two, as our newest partner for the 2011-12 school year.

They are back on board after partnering with us from 2006-2009. In 2008, Estill High School posted one of the highest participant to non-participant college enrollment percentage differences in the county with 57% of their College Summit students enrolled in college. College Summit South Carolina is glad to have Estill as a partner school and looks forward to celebrating their continued success!

Peer Leader Academy

There was a spirit of energy and enthusiasm as fifty five + College Summit S.C. Peer Leaders landed on the Midlands Technical College Airport campus for t heir annual Peer Leader Academy. During the event, Peer Leaders began working on a video testimonial that will document their journey through the year- long college admissions process. Students worked with members of the University of S.C.Chapter of Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity Inc. to create resumes to give them a competitive edge in the job market. Peer Leaders were also given the opportunity to create their own unique FAFSA PINs (personal identification numbers).

Educators also participated in various sessions created to assist them with implementation of the College Summit Program within their respective schools. One of these sessions focused on how to help  students in completing the FAFSA. Numerous resources were presented in both digital and print form. Time was allotted for Peer Leaders and educators to plan activities for the second semester and to implement a process to track the students FAFSA completions.

This event was successful thanks to the contributions of College Summit  alumni  Kaneisha Wheelock, Janesia Glover, Jonathon Gilyard, Tabaris Smith, Vincent Pendarvis, Kendra Yates, Jamita Brown, Celeita McCoy, Ashley Sanders, Tymon Graham and  DiMarcus Washington; our regional RAP Directors Anthony “6-2” Irick  and David (D.C.) Howard and Darin Kinley, the College Summit National Director for Alumni Affairs.

Educators Academy

Twenty-five educators from across the state set foot on the campus of South Carolina State University on August 5, 2011 to learn how to prepare the next generation of college-bound students.

College Summit South Carolina hosted its annual Educator’s Academy, a professional development series for teachers and guidance counselor where participants received educational materials and information on best practices and shared their stories about their school’s College Summit activities.

Sessions included “College Summit, A Year’s Glance” and “Mentoring Activities”. Throughout the day, teachers and counselors designed flipchart papers sequencing the 12-month College Summit year. While some educators found this activity relatively easy, others relied on the collective wisdom of the group to formulate their plans. During the “Mentoring” activity, rookie and veteran educators teamed up to share their thoughts, anxieties, and best practices on implementing the College Summit program at their respective schools.

Southern California Workshops a Huge Success!

College Summit Southern California (SoCal) is proud of the huge numbers and successes from its Summer 2011 Workshop Season. During July and August 2011, 215 high school seniors from across Los Angeles County came together to build community, affirm their strengths and chart a course to college.

During the four Summer 2011 workshops – held at the University of Redlands and the University of Southern California (USC) – Peer Leaders crafted their personal statements, learned about potential colleges, learned about financial aid, created their college lists and more. They dug deep to explore their values, goals, and dreams.

Their statements offer stories of personal struggle and hardship, and also of strength, passion, healing, and hope. According to one Peer Leader, “I had always been told college wasn’t an option for a student like me. Now I have the knowledge and confidence to know better!”

For many Peer Leaders, a big part of the workshop experience is staying in the university dorms, attending workshops in real college classrooms and eating in the student dining halls. The University of Redlands has been a working with College Summit since 2009, and continues to support our work by partnering with us to offer these exciting spaces to workshop volunteers and participants. 

Leela MadhavaRau, Special Advisor to the President and Associate Dean of Campus Diversity and Inclusion at University of Redlands, knows the importance of the university setting in motivating our students. “Our partnership with College Summit goes far deeper than simply allocating space during the summer. It is a partnership towards a dream – a dream that allows motivated students to pursue education at the university level.”

Ed Rice, SoCal’s Program Manager, attributes some of our success to our cadre of amazing volunteers. Nearly 60 volunteers from around the country gave their time at workshops as Writing Coaches, College Coaches and chaperones. These volunteers work with Peer Leaders one-on-one and in groups to “help them forge strong self-knowledge and concrete post-secondary visions,” says Rice. 

Our volunteers often say they learn as much from their students as their students learn from them. Joan Stern, who served as a College Coach at USC, sums it up with simplicity:

“Exhilarating, exhausting, emotional, life-changing. Those are just a few adjectives that I would use to describe my experiences at College Summit.”

We’re also proud to have College Summit Alumni serving in important roles. Meisha Reneau, who graduated from Inglewood High School (’08) and is now studying at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise, served as our Alumni Leader Coordinator this summer. 

Why does Meisha continue to come back, year after year? Because, in her eyes, “College Summit provides hope and love to the students it serves. So many students don’t have the support or knowledge about college and we provide that. Through College Summit, students find a light for a brighter future.” Meisha, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves. 

NCR Featured on ABC News
NCR’s work at Surrattsville High is spotlighted on ABC’s Harris’ Heores

On December 29, 2011, College Summit-NCR was featured by ABC local news during its weekly Harris’ Heroes segment. The story focused on the progress College Summit’s partner school Surrattsville High in Prince George’s County has made in building college-going culture and increasing college enrollment rates. Read the story and view video segment on ABC’s site.

Metropolitan Business Academy students display college culture at open house in New Haven.

Peer leaders at Metropolitan Business Academy showed off their college culture credibility Thursday for visitors to a College Summit open house.

See the full story and video here.

College Summit-Connecticut 2nd Annual Peer Leader Conference

On Wednesday, November 16th College Summit CT held its 2nd Annual Peer Leader Conference.  51 Peer Leaders from James Hillhouse High School, Metropolitan Business Academy, and Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School attended the event which took place at Quinnipiac University’s York Hill Campus.
 The day began with welcome remarks from Heidi Erickson (Sr. Associate Director of Admissions, Quinnipiac University), Dr. Reginald Mayo (Superintendent, New Haven Public Schools), Avril Stephens (Audit Director & Diversity/Inclusion Leader, Deloitte Stamford), and Veronica DeLandro (Program Director, College Summit CT).  The Peer Leaders were then treated to a special message from a surprise guest – Ashlee Neal – who served as Rap Director at many of the students’ summer workshops.  After the keynote address, College Summit Alumni (Michael Ferron, Carmen Paulino, Taylor Burrell, and Ashley Vargas) alongside a Quinnipiac University student (Terrell Allen) participated in a panel discussion about “Life After High School”.
Following a short break, the students were given an opportunity to participate in an hour long interview skill building exercise with 18 outstanding Deloitte volunteers.  This led to a working a lunch with the volunteers, in which the Alumni facilitated discussions about how the Peer Leaders can influence the college-going culture in their schools.  The day closed with a fun-filled College Jeopardy activity led by “Veronica Trebek” in which the Peer Leaders worked in teams to answer critical college 101 trivia questions. 

Colorado Gives Day is tomorrow!  Through this link you can donate to College Summit on Tuesday, December, 6, 2011 or donate today but remember to select the option “Schedule Donation for Colorado Gives Day (12/6/2011)” so that your donation is eligible for matching funds.  Consider making a donation today.

Forbes Names College Summit Founder and CEO Among World’s Leading Social Entrepreneurs. J.B. Schramm, College Summit Founder and CEO, has been named by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 30 leading social entrepreneurs in the world.

For the first time in Forbes’ 94-year history, Forbes assembled the Impact 30: a list of the leading social entrepreneurs, or a person who uses business to solve social issues. To select the list, Forbes recruited a panel of experts who helped them identify the leading innovators across health, education, finance and other sectors.

Click here to read more.

WV Peer Leaders Recognized as EQT Students of Excellence

Three College Summit West Virginia Peer Leaders were selected as EQT Students of Excellence: Nick Alexander, Trevor Addison, and Keelee J. McCarty. A full list of the recipients can be found on the State Journal website. Watch Nick Alexander’s interview on WV Media’s Decision Makers with Bray Cary. (Segment 5)

College Summit New York’s Fifth Annual Peer Leadership Conference

October 12 – The NY Peer Leadership Conference was a huge success serving over 300 students.  Out of the five years that these regional Peer Leader conferences have been held, this last year’s conference has been the most comprehensive yet.  At the college fair, which served as the opening portion of the day, over 30 schools from the east coast were represented as well as several community based organizations.  During the college fair there were a series of elective workshops where students focused on SAT preparation, common college application pitfalls, a personal statement clinic led by volunteer Writing Coaches and an Alumni Leader-led icebreaker session.  The second portion of the day was a CS staff and volunteer led session that focused on CUNY and SUNY, senior year timelines and student engagement activities that Peer Leaders could implement in their schools.  The day closed with a motivating speech from College Summit co-founder, Derek Canty who encouraged Peer Leaders to vigorously pursue their own success despite the obstacles; an empowering performance from the Steppers for Social Justice; and a Peer Leader Open Mic. 

NCR 2011 Peer Leader Profile- Patience Amankwa
Surrattsville High School Peer Leader shares her story.

Patience Amankwa is the product of her parents who emigrated from Ghana, their hardships, and their strong African beliefs and values. Until the end of her 11^th grade year, Patience struggled with a lack of confidence and a lack of faith in her ability to make her dreams come true.

She was not originally selected to attend the College Summit 2011 Summer Workshop with the group of rising seniors who would become Surrattsville High School’s 2011-12 Peer Leaders. However, after observing the work of the past year’s Peer Leaders in her school, Patience saw the workshop as an opportunity she could not miss. She advocated to get her name on the top of the workshop waiting list.

Patience’s workshop experience was life-changing. “I walk with a sense of pride and a better appreciation of life now. The workshop changed my life in wonderful ways. I am so much more prepared for my future and what is ahead of me. College Summit gave me the confidence to believe in my dream and the motivation to make it happen. Before, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do everything on my own, but with the foundation that College Summit has laid out for me, I know that I can make it. I now have mentors who I can run to if I have any type of problems. I am also the Peer Leader President of College Summit at Surrattsville, and love coming up with new ways to inform the students of any type of college information that will be beneficial to them.” 

Patience plans to attend University of Maryland Baltimore County next fall, where she will major in Counseling and Psychology. She also plans to continue on to get her PhD. Her goal is to eventually counsel and help teenagers and young adults.

Naviance and College Summit Unite to Level the Playing Field for Students in Low-income Communities. ARLINGTON, Va. and WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/—Naviance is pleased to announce a new partnership with College Summit, a national nonprofit organization that partners with high schools and districts to strengthen college-going culture and increase college enrollment rates.

As a result of this agreement, College Summit member schools will now have the option of accessing College Summit’s curriculum and reporting capabilities through Naviance Succeed, the leading college and career readiness platform for schools and districts.  Read more here. 

Approximately 70 rising seniors from New York partner schools and 61 rising seniors from Bridgeport and New Haven schools joined Deloitte for their annual Impact Day - a celebration of Deloitte’s long-term commitment to community involvement.

The NY celebration took place at the Deloitte offices at the World Financial Center in Downtown Manhattan.  The day consisted of a Deloitte professional panel that leveraged a variety of experiences as it relates to the college and career preparation.  There was also a workshop that focused on online safety and privacy with a special emphasis on online bullying.  The highlight of the day was an CS alumni panel that allowed students to ask about some of the transitional difficulties that students from their communities experienced with the college process.

This year, the CT celebration took place at Fairfield University at the Dolan School of Business.  Deloitte volunteers demonstrated an outstanding panel discussion about college readiness.  The panel touched on everything from financial aid to the college social life.  Throughout the day students participated in skill building activities that helped prepare them for upcoming college interviews.  The day ended with a tour of Fairfield University and students creating fictional schools and admission criteria as a means of understanding what colleges look for in a student. 

June 3rd the Connecticut region celebrated its first Annual Peer Leader Awards Ceremony. 

The ceremony took place at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale.  The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Pamela Trotman Reid, President of Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT.  The theme for the awards ceremony was “The Power of Leadership.”  While celebrating our first class of peer leaders, we acknowledged students, educators and schools for their hard work throughout the school year in promoting a college-going culture in their buildings.  Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School in New Haven was the recipient of the $5,000 Deloitte award for “Creating a College-Going Culture”.  The winners of the $1,000 scholarship for “Peer Leader of the Year” were two students from Bridgeport; Kimberly Cruz from Bassick High School and Rogette Mighty from Harding High School. 

College Summit New York celebrated its 5,000 students and 39 partner schools at its Second Annual Awards Luncheon on May 25 at B.B. King Blues Club and Grill.

Awards were presented to students, educators and schools that embody the three core values of College Summit—the heart of a great teacher, the mind of an innovator, and the spirit of an inspired student. Keynote speaker Russell Simmons, CEO of Rush Communications and co-founder of Def Jam Records, encouraged students to reach for their goals and to be “Super Rich” in mind, body and spirit.  See video of the event here.

Receiving this year’s Darden Peer Leader of the Year Awards were John Boyce from Humanities and the Arts High School, and Marisch Perera from the College of Staten Island High School for International Studies. Marisch was recognized for teaching weekly sessions on college-related topics and leading a school-wide college readiness event in the fall. She will attend Pace University in the fall with an academic scholarship, joining her sister as a first-generation college student. John Boyce, who overcame the death of both his parents at a young age to become a leader, was recognized by his school for his outstanding work in coordinating the school’s college fairs, college application night and other activities to send more of his peers to college. He will attend Lincoln University in Pennsylvania this fall, becoming the first in his family to go to college. Read Marisch’s and John’s full stories on the Peer Leader and Alumni page.
 
New this year, Darden Restaurants and UNCF presented 24 New York seniors with Recipe for Success Scholarships of $2,500, renewable annually contingent upon maintaining their GPA, for motivating their peers to go to college and having been accepted into two- or four-year accredited colleges or universities. Scholarship winners included Nelsy Sanchez, a graduate of Gregorio Luperon High School who moved to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic in 2007 with her family and will attend Buffalo State College in the fall.

New Partnership - The City of New Haven, Yale University, and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven have forged an unparalleled partnership to make an unprecedented Promise: every New Haven public high school graduate who meets residency, civic, behavior and academic performance criteria (B average or better) will receive a full-tuition scholarship to a Connecticut public college or university.

 To ensure the initiative is successful, the Mayor and the Superintendent of NHPS have asked College Summit to help reshape the city’s high schools around the purpose of college success. Drawing on 18 years of experience improving college success rates for low-income high schools, College Summit will provide its innovative curriculum, which guides students along the path to postsecondary options, as well as educate parents, train principals and teachers, and motivate the most influential students to encourage their peers to pursue postsecondary studies.  We will kick off the newfound partnership in 2011-2012 school year by serving 2,000 students (grades 9-12) in three high schools.

College Summit Value Awards Given to Outstanding Peer Leaders and Educators

On April 27, 2011, College Summit Northern California celebrated the Annual Heart, Mind & Spirit Awards and Dinner at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant in Jack London Square, Oakland.  More than 170 students, educators, business partners, funders and staff attended the event to honor outstanding peer leaders and educators.

And the winners are:

Peer Leader of the Year – Hessie Parham (Oakland School for the Arts)
Spirit of an Inspired Student – Christina Sagun (Castlemont Leadership Preparatory High School)
Mind of an Innovator – Kiana Brown (MetWest)
Heart of a Great Teacher – Juan Magana (East Palo Alto Phoenix Academy)
Spirit of an Inspired Student – Amber Andrade (June Jordan School for Equity)

College Summit Advisors of the Year – Fatima Ghatala & Kateri Dodds Simpson (East Oakland School of the Arts) and Shannon Driskell (Far West High School)
College Summit Coordinators of the Year – Leslie Hsu (June Jordan School for Equity) and Nidya Baez (Youth Empowerment School)

Peer Leader in the Regional Office

Monica Buenrostro completed a College Summit workshop in the summer of 2008 as a peer leader at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2010 she returned to work as an Alumni Leader and again this summer as the Northern California Regional Intern. When asked what was your biggest challenge in working with College Summit, her response:  “I’ve been through a lot with College Summit, but the biggest challenge I’ve experienced was being convinced of every single good thing that College Summit staff has said about me. I think they see ‘success’ in me.”

Monica currently attends Chabot Community College and hopes to transfer to a four year university within the next year. Monica is an East Bay Consortium and East Oakland Youth Development Center scholarship recipient and has a long term goal of becoming a doctor. She is extremely interested in staying involved with College Summit and taking on more leadership roles in the future.

Peer Leadership Runs in the Family
By Jasmine Abele, College Summit Northern California Intern

In late June, Tony Srimoukda of Media College Preparatory Academy attended the first of four College Summit Summer Workshops to be trained as a peer leader at the University of California, Berkeley. Tony was recruited into the organization by his older siblings, Johny and Emely Srimoukda who have both successfully completed the program as peer leaders, graduated from high school, and gone onto college. Johny is 19 years old, has just completed his first year at Chico State University, and Emely is 20 years old and entering her 3rd year at Chico State as well. She was the first to learn about the College Summit program.

During Emely’s freshmen and sophomore years of high school, Emely had performed poorly academically receiving D’s and Fails, which led to her dropping out of high school.

After one year of being away she decided to attempt graduating high school again, but in a big way. Emely received a 4.0 GPA for her returning junior year and was invited to attend the College Summit workshop by her college counselor. She was hesitant at first, but after some encouragement from her mentor,  she joined the program. “College Summit really helped me with my personal statement. I still use a variation of the original statement I wrote at workshop to this day,” says Emely. She has used the personal statement she created in the workshop to apply for many scholarships, including the East Bay College Fund, which eventually granted her $16,000. She is now President of the Residential Hall Association Executive Board at Chico State, general member in Journalist United for a Stronger Tomorrow and Sigma Omega Phi sorority. Emely has also been invited back to share her story with high school and junior high school students going through the College Summit program. Emely says “College Summit helped my feel good about sharing my story.”

Emely encouraged both her siblings Johny and Tony to attend the College Summit workshop as well. She says “Johny is really shy, but I know he really appreciates the helped he received with his personal statement. Tony on the other hand has just completed the workshop and is already a College Summit poster boy. He keeps talking about how much he wants to go back to workshop and become an Alumni Leader.”

The Srimoukda family sets an excellent example for us all on how hard work, hope, and determination can be rewarding!

MetWest Sets a High Bar for Excellence
By Damien Basey, School Partnership Manager

In my professional experience working as a college access partner, some of the most critical questions schools face, particularly in public education include, “What do young people need in order to successfully transition into a relevant post-secondary plan after high school?” The leadership, faculty, and staff of MetWest High School in Oakland, CA seem to have a few answers for us that should leave little to no doubt in the minds of critics. And if it does, the numbers don’t lie.

Met West High School is part of the Big Picture Learning Network, which prides itself in holding Oakland youth to big expectations while providing them with the tools and resources necessary to meet such expectations. The Big Picture schools design is a dynamic approach to learning that engages youth in developing reasoning and problem solving skills while being active members of the community

One of MetWest’s big expectations for students includes readiness for post-secondary study. All students are required to take college entrance exams, complete and submit financial aid forms, and apply to at least four colleges.  These expectations along with rigorous academics have contributed to MetWest continuously having some of the highest graduation and college going rates in Oakland Unified today.

While MetWest understands the need to establish big goals for their students, they also know that this is only part of the solution.  An essential part of the MetWest experience is the support network that students find amongst the loving and caring adults that foster and challenge them throughout high school.  A powerful support model students have in place is the College Center which was created to serve as a “college going hub”.  This Center is always staffed by trained college student advisors who serve as role models for students. These student advisors advise students on college options, A-G requirements, and provide intensive support on all college related applications. College Student advisors, many of whom are first generation and low income (as many of MetWest students are) also often share their own experiences with transitioning  from high school to college, college life, and academic rigors.

At College Summit, the tools and resources developed to support school partners like MetWest are designed to inspire and encourage dynamic learning with underlying guiding principles at its core. Some of those principles include concepts of self advocacy, college understanding, and financial awareness. While MetWest has taken those tools and utilized them to the fullest, it is the embodiment of the ideas behind the tools that MetWest has made its own.  As students of MetWest prepare to become the leaders of tomorrow, it is through this established culture that students discover the power in their voice, actions, and presence in the world. Keep up the good work MetWest High!

Letter from Executive Director

Dear Partners & Supporters of Increased College Access & Success in Northern California,

As we at College Summit enter our 10th Year (!) of service to high schools in several Bay Area communities, we continue to be inspired by the dedication and brilliance of students, educators and administrators in so many different high school settings and school systems.  Hints of their great body of work are found in these pages.

As I write we have 55 Peer Leaders from four local high schools being supported and trained at UC Berkeley by 34 caring and trained community leaders, at one of our four 10th Anniversary Summer Workshops.  They are all working extremely hard, and they are supporting each other in strengthening their voices.  They continue to teach us all – in the work of increasing educational access and success - that there is no EASY button to push, as together we counter those who would press the MUTE button for our students.

There is no EASY button in a world of pitiful levels of investment in educating our next generation in California, in a world where our society lacks any sufficient response to the high levels of violence and children living in fear in our economically poorest communities, and in a world where educators and administrators find ways to build relationships with students and educate those students within the context of this challenging world.  There is no EASY button in a world where we seek too-easy solutions and cannot find the courage and compassion, together, to truly invest in our future.

And together we can counter the many ways we push the MUTE button on the multiple options each student should have available to them.  As I am asked about the work I do, with people outside the educational system in particular, I encounter too many assumptions about which kids are supposed to be our next doctors, engineers, leaders, and which kids should “focus on the jobs our society needs.”  Equal opportunity means they should all have those choices, through education, and it is a value not fully realized that is still worth demanding, for our talented youth from all backgrounds.

Knowing how to fit in and belong are important social skills.  And we also encourage all of our brilliant students to strengthen their own voices, and to bend the world to their will at every opportunity.

Warmly,
Paul Collins
Executive Director
College Summit – Northern California

NCR School Visited by Maryland Lt. Governor Brown
MD Lt. Governor Anthony Brown marks the beginning of the school year by touring Crossland High School in Prince George’s County.

On August 23, 2011 Lt. Governor Anthony Brown toured select Maryland schools to mark the beginning of the new school year. His tour included a visit to Crossland High School in Prince George’s County, where he spoke to students and highlighted the school’s implementation of the College Summit program. The Lt. Governor also toured the career and college center and met with Crossland’s 24 Peer Leaders, who have been trained to help build a student-led, college-going culture in their school.

In a press release, Lt. Governor Brown stated, “Governor O’Malley and I remain committed to improving public education and increasing the number of college-ready and college-bound students. But we can’t do it alone. The success of the College Summit program at Crossland is a remarkable example of what happens when we partner with visionary business leaders, civic associations and educators who are committed to helping us provide the best education possible. I look forward to seeing College Summit continue to expand in Maryland.”

Crossland has partnered with College Summit for six years and has garnered much recognition, being named an International Baccalaureate World school in 2009 and being presented with the 2010-2011 College-going Culture School of the Year award by College Summit. Most recently, Crossland has been recognized by the United States Department of Education as a national model for best practices in preparing students for college as part of the Doing What Works initiative. All junior and senior students at Crossland are required to enroll in the College Summit course.

Lt. Governor Brown leads the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s efforts to increase higher education opportunities. The administration has taken steps to make higher education more accessible and affordable for all Marylanders, including making record investments in the state’s community colleges and freezing tuition for four years in a row at the state’s four year public colleges and universities. Last year the Lt. Governor launched the Skills2Compete initiative, which promotes programs and activities to increase the skill level of Marylanders through the attainment of a post-secondary credential, apprenticeship program or degree. The administration sees College Summit as a key partner in meeting its higher education goals.

Ken Weil - new Executive Director of College Summit Colorado.  College Summit-Colorado is thrilled to announce that Ken Weil will lead the regional office as our new Executive Director, starting September 1. See Ken’s bio. 

Ken, brings an impressive set of experiences to the role, along with a wealth of education and Colorado-specific policy experience – developing policy, gaining adoption of new laws, and implementing new initiatives. See Ken’s bio. 
 
Throughout the hiring process, it was clear that Ken shares the College Summit passion for helping students reach their potential, and for breaking the multi-generational cycle of poverty.  As Ken stated, “it is hard to imagine a program that generates a greater return on investment, both in financial and human terms, than College Summit. The relatively small investment College Summit and its partners make in each student pays enormous dividends for the student, the community, and for future generations who are much more likely to go to college.”

Please join us in welcoming Ken to College Summit-Colorado!

Editorial: Can do — College access is St. Louis’s most achievable major challenge

STLtoday.com

Money isn’t everything. Not when it comes to making sure first-generation and lower-income students have a realistic chance to attend and complete college.

An action plan St. Louis Regional College Access Pipeline Project published last week shows that there is something just as important as money: encouragement. Children must be encouraged to set college as a goal at an early age. They must be academically prepared by schools that have a “college-going culture.” They and their parents must be helped through the college selection, application and admissions maze.

Yes, students and parents must have access to adequate financial aid or support. But it’s money wasted if not accompanied by a constant push to make sure students persevere until they complete their degree.

The College Access Pipeline is a coalition of area colleges and universities, K-12 educators, college access service providers and business and philanthropic leaders. Many of its recommendations are achievable with resources that already are available.

Among the nation’s 35 largest metropolitan areas, according to 2007 data compiled by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, St. Louis ranked 24th in the percentage of its population that has received at least a bachelor’s degree. It was 31st in degree attainment by African-Americans.

CAP’s goal is to ensure that 50 percent of adults in the St. Louis region have a post-secondary credential — either a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree or a meaningful vocational certificate — by 2020.

The plan’s focus is to put key players on the same page by setting common standards, creating regional databases and providing professional training to a wide range of service providers.

“We don’t need an outside savior to come in,” said Stacy Clay, director of College Summit-St. Louis and a member of the University City School Board. “Coordination is the key, and resources to do that already exist in our community.”

The greatest resource may be the growing understanding that this mission is critical to St. Louis’ future.

Kathy Reeves of Enterprise Holdings, the corporate parent of Enterprise and other car rental firms, said her company hires about 8,500 young people each year.

“All of our efforts come back to education,” she said, and while St. Louis can try to attract bright stars from other cities, the “low-hanging fruit is educating our own population.”

Ms. Reeves said that philanthropies are getting smarter and more aggressive when it comes to funding scholarships. They are starting to demand data that show colleges’ and universities’ commitment to admitting first-generation and lower-income students and making sure that they get their degrees.

Money isn’t everything. But it is indispensable.

An unacceptably high number of qualified high school graduates are priced out of college. They have done everything we have asked them to do. Even borrowing to the max, they simply can not afford to go.

Gov. Jay Nixon made deep cuts in Access Missouri, the state’s only needs-based scholarship program. Federal Pell Grants, meanwhile, are at risk in current deficit-reduction talks. The maximum grant of $5,550 could be cut by 45 percent.

Reversing those trends should become be a top political priority for the St. Louis region, given the same prominence and attention as our most ambitious economic development plans.

Government-funded scholarships need to come with a reliable private match; that’s where philanthropic help is needed. About 23,000 Missouri high school students each in the St. Louis region are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch programs, a key measure of economic need.

As little as $2,000 a year could make it possible for a student to bridge the gap and make college a reality. That’s a philanthropic goal St. Louis is capable of reaching.

College ‘readiness’ starts in the early years

STLtoday.com

Missouri’s Department of Higher Education tracks how many public high school graduates need remedial classes in English, math and reading when they attend one of Missouri’s public colleges and universities. The data are seen as a measure of how well Missouri graduates are being prepared for the basics of higher education.

In 2009, more than 40 percent of students from the St. Louis area who graduated from a public high school in 2009 needed one or more remedial courses. Statewide, the remediation rate was about 38 percent.

Those numbers suggest that Missouri high schools should better align their curricula to the realities and expectations of colleges and universities. No doubt they should. But the remediation data are just one part of a complex picture.

Among area high schools, St. Louis’ Vashon High School had the highest percentage of graduates enrolled in a remedial course. More than 90 percent needed catch-up course work in college.

But of the 137 students in Vashon’s class of 2009, only 25 went on to one of Missouri’s two-year or four-year colleges or universities. Of these students, just eight were young men. The class had a drop-out rate of more than 25 percent. Nearly three of four graduates were eligible for free or reduced-cost lunches.

Missouri can better prepare more students for college. But the job can’t begin in high school.

St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams told us that city students work with non-profit college-readiness service agencies — including College Bound and College Summit — and that he charts the progress of all high school students heading for higher education to ensure that they meet deadlines and seize opportunities.

But, the superintendent said, one of the biggest challenges is that “children who live in poverty see high school graduation as an end, not a beginning.” Changing that mind-set requires “moving kids from early childhood through middle school better prepared for school,” he said.

For thousands of students in the St. Louis area who have overcome obstacles to gain access to higher education — many of them the first in their families to do so — remedial courses should not be seen as a stigma. They should be embraced as evidence of success.

“A student who has the tenacity to graduate from a struggling high school, navigate the admission and financial aid process and then enroll in college deserves every ounce of support we can provide her,” Faith Sandler, executive director of the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, said.

“We have students for whom one or two developmental courses can change everything,” she said. “Thank goodness colleges and universities are realizing the importance and the promise of academic intervention.”

The best strategies for increasing college readiness start in early childhood and extend through high school. These strategies depend on recruiting, developing and retaining good teachers who are backed by extra resources and support for needier families.

Colleges and universities in the state — private, public, and for-profit — must be held accountable for the timely graduation of their students. When students arrive there better prepared and believing that graduation is a real possibility, all of Missouri benefits.
_____________
Editor’s note: This editorial was updated to correctly state the total number of Vashon High School graduates in 2009.

College Access Challenge Grants Awarded

Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE)

Jefferson City - Missouri State University-West Plains is in the 10th poorest congressional district in the nation. Only 12 percent of the adult population in the region it serves has a college degree, and half of its students are first generation college students. Ninety-five percent receive financial aid, and many work full time while attending school. President Drew Bennett calls the college “an island of opportunity in a sea of need.”

Missouri State University-West Plains is one of 20 recipients of the College Access Challenge Grant to help minority and under-served populations attain a college degree.

The Missouri State University-West Plains grant proposal entitled “Project Threshold” focuses on students in 23 public school districts, private academies and organizations offering adult basic education courses. The college began hosting “extravaganzas” at high schools in its seven-county service area in 2007 to convince the student body that college is within their grasp. Since that time, the percentage of high school graduates going on to college has increased 5.6 percent.

“We are spreading the word that education is affordable, accessible and appropriate,” Bennett says. “It is the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty.”
The College Access Challenge Grant Program was passed by Congress in 2007 as part of the omnibus College Cost Reduction and Access Act. It is intended to foster partnerships among federal, state and local governments and non-profit organizations through matching challenge grants that are aimed at increasing the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

To date, more than 60,000 low-income first generation students received services pertaining to college access, retention and completion. The Missouri Department of Higher Education will distribute about $1.6 million to 20 organizations during this grant cycle, the third year of distributions.

Recipients are:
• College Bound, St. Louis—$100,000
• College Summit, St. Louis—$100,000
• De La Salle Middle School, St. Louis—$99,838.65
• Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis—$46,328
• Hogan Preparatory Academy, Kansas City—$87,760
• Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City—$100,000
• Missouri State University, Springfield—$100,000
• Missouri State University, West Plains—$98,500
• North Side Community Center, St. Louis—$92,037
• State Fair Community College, Sedalia—$99,368
• St. Louis Internship Program, St. Louis—$35,604
• Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau—$100,000
• South Central Career Center, West Plains—$85,847.38
• The Community Partnership, Rolla—$41,374
• The Infinite Scholars Program of Missouri, St. Louis, Kansas City, Park Hills—$64,800
• The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, St. Louis—$100,000
• The University of Missouri Extension 4-H Center, St. Louis, Kansas City, mid-Missouri—$100,000
• Truman State University, Kirksville—$58,127
• University of Missouri, Columbia—$100,000
• Wyman, St. Louis—$99,997

Improving Educational Outcomes

Ladue News

College Summit

    In 2005, when the St. Louis division of College Summit was launched, the college enrollment rate in St. Louis Public Schools was 39 percent. By 2009, the rate had jumped to 60.9 percent. “Together with our partner schools, we have worked to build the college-going culture in St. Louis,” says executive director Stacy Clay.

    Targeting students from low-income backgrounds, College Summit provides a four-year curriculum to SLPS and Normandy School district high schools, which prepares those students to apply, be accepted and succeed in college. Teachers are certified and classes are held within the context of a school day, utilizing custom textbooks and a companion website.

    With 90 percent of SLPS seniors involved in a College Summit class last year, the program recognizes how influential one 17-year-old can be to another. After junior year, teachers and counselors nominate students to become peer leaders. Those students attend a four-day workshop on an area college campus and return as advocates for the senior year process. “They come out embracing the idea that they have a real future and college is for them, in whatever form that takes,” Clay says.

    While College Summit is a nationwide program, the St. Louis entity focuses on how higher education will provide both personal enrichment, as well as a boost to a region that needs a college-educated workforce to remain competitive in today’s economy, Clay says. “We want to work with as many students as possible, regardless of GPA and circumstance, because every kid needs to have a plan after graduating from high school.” 

Roosevelt High raises money for UNCF

Suburban Journals

Date: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 12:00 am

Roosevelt High School students are engaged in a contest to raise money for the United Negro College Fund.

Organized into grade-level teams, led by College Summit seniors, the students compete to raise the most money toward the school’s goal of $3,000.

The UNCF provides college tuition money and scholarships for students. Many of Roosevelt High School’s students hope to attend one of the many United Negro College Fund supported colleges and universities.

Read the full article

College Summit gets $125,000 of Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize

St. Louis Business Journal
Date: Friday, March 12, 2010, 4:34pm CST

College Summit, which has operations in St. Louis, said Friday it has been awarded $125,000 of President Barack Obama’s $1.4 million Nobel Peace Prize award.
The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit is one of 10 organizations to share in the president’s prize money.

College Summit-St. Louis, led by Executive Director Stacy Clay and Chairman Brian Hayden, said it would use its $10,000 portion to support its efforts to help more students from under-resourced communities graduate from college, including in St. Louis.

The St. Louis branch partners with 14 high schools and three school districts in the greater Metropolitan St. Louis area and expects to reach 1,500 students in 2010-11.
“In our five year partnership with College Summit , St. Louis Public Schools has not only sent more students to college but has also experienced a district-wide shift toward a college-going culture,” St. Louis school Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams said in a statement. “We have a long way to go but the support provided by programs like College Summit has been instrumental in changing our culture.”

College Summit to Host Financial Aid Workshops

STL Today

College Summit will host training sessions to assist parents and guardians of high school seniors in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The FAFSA application is used by most higher education institutions to administer federal, state and need-based financial aid, including grants, student loans and work study. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to be eligible for the maximum amount of aid, even if a student is undecided about which college to attend.

The training sessions are free and open to the public. Financial aid professionals will be available to assist with questions and concerns. For families with a household income less than $50,000 per year, free professional tax preparation will be provided.

The sessions will be from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26 at the St. Louis Public School District’s Central Office at 801 N. 11th St. Free parking is available in the adjacent parking garage.

To apply for the 2011-2012 college school year, parents and guardians should bring the following financial information:

• Social Security Number for parents and students.
• Parents’ and student’s driver’s license information, if applicable.
• Parents’ and student’s 2009 W-2 forms and all records of money earned.
• Parents’ and student’s 2009 Federal Income Tax Return.
• Foreign Tax Return, or Tax Return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federal States of Micronesia, or Palau.
• Any other income documents, including veterans non-education benefit records, child support received, worker’s compensation, etc.
• An alien registration or permanent resident card, if you are not a U.S. citizen.

Refreshments will be served.
For more information, contact College Summit’s Help Line at 314-345-4HLP (4457) or 314-625-3008.

ECA Foundation Makes $1.25 Million Commitment to College Summit

Over the last decade, thanks to the unwavering support and guidance from ECA Foundation and the Mork Family, College Summit has served over 21,000 West Virginia students and will serve an additional 8,000 during the upcoming school year. At the 2011 College Summit Awards banquet,  Julie Mork announced that the ECA Foundation had renewed its 5-year,  $1.25 million commitment to College Summit West Virginia.

——
When Energy Corporation of America and the ECA Foundation brought College Summit to Kanawha County in 2001, no one really predicted the impact the introduction would have for the students not just in the Charleston area but across the state. Julie Mork, the managing director of the ECA Foundation and wife of ECA President and CEO, John Mork, worked with College Summit on the national level and initiated the partnership with Kanawha County Schools by recruiting 10 students and their chaperones for a workshop in Colorado. Over the last decade, thanks to the unwavering support and guidance from ECA Foundation and the Mork Family, College Summit has served over 21,000 West Virginia students and will serve an additional 8,000 during the upcoming school year. At the 2011 College Summit Awards banquet, Julie Mork announced that the ECA Foundation had renewed its 5-year, $1.25 million commitment to College Summit West Virginia. Our vision, inspired by the Morks, is to serve more than 50,000 West Virginia students by 2016. “We are honored to accept the generous grant from the ECA Foundation on behalf of the students of our state and are committed to expanding our partnerships with schools to make sure all of our students are college and career ready.  This gift is an extraordinary investment in the economic future of West Virginia, an investment that will provide invaluable and sustained returns,” explained Jon Charles, Director of College Summit West Virginia. 

Who are College Summit alumni?

Current college students who participated in the College Summit class during high school and/or attended a summer workshop are considered College Summit alumni and receive professional and personal development opportunities throughout their academic career to prepare for the workforce and life beyond college. College Summit alumni also have the opportunity to return each summer to support the peer leaders at the workshop. College Summit alumni see this as a way to “pay it forward” and are dedicated to the program to help other students learn, grow, and succeed.

IN THEIR WORDS – Check out what the alumni have to say about their experience as alumni.

• “We get to become a support system for some kids who have never really had anyone to be there and listen to them and take an interest. We get an opportunity to help others with not only their futures, but also their past and present.” – Denitra Houchins, West Virginia State University
• “Being an alumnus shows me that the choices I have made have been worth it. Seeing over and over students go through the program and have their lives changed instantly, it makes me look back and see the same change that took place in me. Some of the same lives I have helped out have come back and worked by my side, all on the same mission that I have and support so dearly.” – Eddie Williams, West Virginia University
  
• “Being an alumnus isn’t only giving back and helping future college students, it’s also about personal growth and learning who you are and what you could achieve. After a workshop, you’ll see changes in each student and when you see growth in them from the weekend, you know you did your job.” – Jeff Norton, Alderson-Broaddus College
  
• “The great thing about being an alumnus is being able to come back and do it all over again. It helped me a ton the first time through, but every time after, College Summit keeps finding ways to make me a better me.” – Craig Chipps, Fairmont State University
  
• “Being an alumnus means that you are willing to give back what you have learned, share your knowledge and shed light on positives to younger peers. It also means that you plant a positive seed in a young person’s life and as they get older, that seed will grow into something beautiful.” – Drew Thomas, Marshall University
  
• “College Summit for me is my way to give back to the ones who paved the way for me as an alumna. At my PL workshop, I had amazing alumni that inspired me to go to college and become the leader I was always able to be. I only wanted to be one of those few select alumni who have thrown their passion into this program. Being an alumna not only lets me inspire others as I was inspired, but it also opens doors that I never thought were going to budge. I’ve become a better leader, friend, and me in general through the alumni team of West Virginia. I can honestly say it’s a blessing to be part of such an awesome program but even more to work and learn with extraordinary people.” – Nikki Kinder, Marshall University
  

If you would like to get involved as a College Summit alumnus, check out the notes section of our Facebook fan page for more information, or contact Jen Wood at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

A Four-Day Experience to Change the Next Four Years
With the support of more than 70 volunteers, talented workshop staff, and 15 fantastic alumni, 241 rising seniors received guidance and support to prepare for their futures this summer.

Students from partner high schools across West Virginia arrived on college campuses this summer nervous and excited about their College Summit workshop. As they experienced college at Marshall, Concord, or Fairmont State, they met new people and made lasting friendships. One peer leader, LaChel House from South Charleston High School, wrote about her experience in a recent edition of Flipside,  “College Summit is an experience that can’t be duplicated…Being able to call myself a peer leader is one thing, but being welcomed into a family of complete strangers is another.” Whitney Surface, a peer leader from Herbert Hoover High School, shared on the College Summit Facebook page after her workshop, “This has truly been the greatest experience in my life and I appreciate everyone who helped us throughout this workshop. I have definitely made lifetime friends among my fellow peer leaders.” In addition to the college experience and the friends they made, the peer leaders received information about financial aid and the college application process. The rising seniors were also coached by staff and volunteers on self-advocacy, peer leadership, college selection, and their personal essay for college and scholarship applications.

With the support of more than 70 volunteers, talented workshop staff, and 15 fantastic alumni, 241 rising seniors received guidance and support to prepare for their futures this summer. We greatly appreciate their enthusiasm and hard work. We are proud of our peer leaders and are excited to work with them again this fall.

This summer, we explored our strengths, celebrated and acknowledged each others’ successes, and became excited for what’s to come.

Educators successfully trained at Educators Academy. College Summit hosted two of its six Educators Academy’s (EA) on Thursday 8/11 at Manual High School and on Friday 8/12 at Sheridan High School.  EA’s help educators learn how to use curriculum, collect data, and support and track each student’s postsecondary path. See photos

The purpose of the EA trainings in August:

• Describe roles, structure, and expectations of a post-secondary planning team
• Create vision for students path to postsecondary success
• Understand content of the Navigator and Launch curriculums
• Understand ways CSNav (online tool) can support program implementation
• Develop plan for implementing College Summit with school structu
• Identify ways data can be used to inform instruction and implementation

College Summit will host four additional EA’s this school year between September and December.  Educators receive professional development credit for attending EA’s.

Bruce Randolph and Sheridan High Schools: New School Partners in 2011-12. College Summit will be building on Bruce Randolph and Sheridan High School’s academic offerings by helping each school focus on preparation for college and career readiness. College Summit will be serving all seniors at Bruce Randolph High School and juniors and seniors at Sheridan High School in 2011-12. 

As Michelle Kelly, principal at Sheridan High School says: “College Summit’s model is well-aligned with our mission as they provide a system to help students create life goals and successful career and postsecondary plans. We believe College Summit will play a critical role at our school by providing curriculum and services to ensure our students progress towards high school graduation and to college success.”

We look forward to our new partnerships with both Bruce Randolph and Sheridan High Schools!  Learn more about Bruce Randolph and Sheridan High School

College Summit West Virginia Rolls Out the Red Carpet

On May 3, more than 370 students, educators, volunteers, alumni, donors, and other community supporters got the red carpet treatment at an awards event to honor those individuals, schools, and organizations who have helped build the college-going culture in schools and communities.

The event, held at the Charleston Civic Center, was sponsored by Darden Restaurants Foundation, Inc. and Deloitte. Other funders that were recognized during the event include The Allstate Foundation, Energy Corporation of America and the ECA Foundation, and AEP Appalachian Power.

For the second year in a row, Shady Spring High School won the Deloitte Award designated for schools that have significantly increased college enrollment for all students through innovative approaches to building a college-going culture. “Shady Spring High School has truly embraced the idea of a college-going culture.  Their very active peer leaders, led by Debby Gallaher, promote college by sharing their college knowledge in classrooms throughout the school, updating their college acceptance wall, and recruiting juniors to attend the workshop,” says Keri Ferro,  College Summit West Virginia Program Manager.

Peer Leader of the Year, Tyler Gunnells, of Westside High School in Wyoming County plans to attend West Virginia University as a math major this fall.  After completing his undergraduate degree he plans to attend the WVU School of Dentistry, and eventually return to his hometown to start an oral healthcare educational initiative. “I feel it is necessary to give back to my community because of the tremendous help that was given to me in my time of need.”

Another Peer Leader of the year, Gabrielle “Grace” Sorah, president of the Shady Spring High School Peer Leader Club, plans to attend Concord University in the fall.  As part of the Launchpad Campaign Pilot, Grace participated in the peer coach/mentor program. In an article published in the Beckley Register Herald, Grace said, “Being involved with peer coaching has been one of the most rewarding experiences in the program.  We talk with at-risk freshmen who are having problems with their grades or are missing school and motivate them,” she explained. “Being a good peer coach is about being open-minded and friendly, and it betters you in the long run,” Sorah added.  She believes that College Summit is beneficial for people like her, who already plan to attend college, as well as others; Sorah explained, “It is most important for people that might have a lower GPA because you learn about all the options available, and learn about all the help and scholarships that are available.”

John Mork, CEO of Energy Corporation of America was presented with the 2011 Connect to Your Future Award by Founder and CEO of College Summit,  J.B. Schramm.  The Connect to Your Future Award is presented to individuals who exhibit outstanding commitment to students, education,  and building the college-going culture. Mork’s commitment to education in West Virginia and continued support of College Summit’s values and mission is immense. To read more about the Mork Family and their continued commitment to College Summit, click here. 

For pictures from the event, check out the photo album on our Facebook page.

Here is a complete list of the awards presented during the event:
College Summit Values Award - Terri O’Fiesh, St. Albans High School
Peer Leader Values Award -  Jonathan Rhudy, Shady Spring High School
Outstanding Peer Leader Club – Shady Spring High School
Outstanding Peer Leaders of the Year – Tyler Gunnels of Westside High School and Grace Sorah of Shady Spring High School
The Deloitte Award – Shady Spring High School
The Connect to Your Future Award – John Mork
Beyond the Classroom Awards were presented to Marie McCoy of Tug Valley High School, Nancy Johnson of Winfield High School, John Henry of Shady Spring High School, and Tanya Fatony of Woodrow Wilson High School.

College Summit Summer Workshop a Success at Regis University! Over 50 students attended our summer workshop at Regis University and were coached through the college application process and trained to be Peer Leaders to drive the college-going culture in their high schools.  See photos from the workshop!

A huge shout out to Regis University for hosting our workshop!  Regis University continues to be one of the longest-standing College Summit college partners and we are incredibly grateful for their ongoing commitment to our youth.  Thank you, Regis University!

NCR 2011 Summer Workshops Success
2 Universities, 4 Workshops, 55 Volunteers, and 200 Students!

Thank you NCR Workshop Volunteers, Supporters and Staff for making this one of our best workshop seasons ever!

In July 2011, College Summit-NCR implemented four Peer Leader Summer Workshops. Three of the workshops were held at Trinity University, and one was held at Monmouth University in New Jersey, in collaboration with College Summit’s New York regional program. A total of 200 Peer Leaders were trained at the four-day workshops, which empower rising high school seniors with the tools and knowledge to realize their college potential. We also train them to influence their classmates and younger students, helping to build college-going culture in their schools. The workshops were supported by the College Summit-NCR staff, but are run by a core team of trained facilitators, educators, managers and Alumni Leaders, and over 50 volunteer writing coaches and college coaches from the region.

“I had an AMAZING time. The peer leaders, the staff, the other volunteers…I just can’t stop talking about how great it was.” - Na’eemah Jackson, Writing Coach

“I cannot tell you what a rich and powerful personal experience it was for me to play a small part as a Writing Coach to help the College Summit Peer Leaders over the last 4 days. I could see firsthand what a fundamentally important cause your organization is dedicated to which is critical to the future success, not only of the Peer Leaders as individuals, but to this country, as a whole, in the 21^st century.” -Dr. Nat Ganesh, Writing Coach

Raleigh County Peer Leaders met with the Raleigh County Board of Education to discuss how College Summit workshops, curriculum, and peer coaching have helped them and others in planning for their futures.

By Sarah Plummer Register-Herald Reporter

BECKLEY — Students from Independence, Shady Spring and Woodrow Wilson high schools met with the Raleigh County Board of Education last week to talk about their experiences participating in College Summit.

Nelson Spencer, director of secondary schools, explained the program is “designed to increase the college enrollment rate in addition to providing peer coaching for at-risk youths.”

Through the summit, students can visit area colleges, get assistance in applying for college and work with other students to encourage them to consider higher education.

Grace Sorah, a senior, is the president of College Summit at Shady Spring High School.

Being involved with peer coaching has been one of the most rewarding experiences in the program, she said.

“We talk with at-risk freshmen who are having problems with their grades or are missing school and motivate them,” she said.

“Being a good peer coach is about being open-minded and friendly, and it betters you in the long run,” Sorah added.

She explained that, while College Summit is a great program for people like her, who already plan to attend college, “it is most important for people that might have a lower GPA because you learn about all the options available and learn about all the help and scholarships that are available.”

Another participant, Josh Snow, attended the Concord University College Summit and also works as a peer mentor.

He said that a writing group at Concord, where participants get personalized help writing their personal statement for college applications, was a great experience and helped build his confidence.

Snow also shared his experience as a peer mentor.

“I work with this boy who does not come to school regularly. I work to tell him what is going on with my life to build trust so he will confide in me,” he said.

Snow added, “I hope College Summit continues to flourish in this area. It really is a great thing.”

Board member Larry Ford commented, “You all are our best ad for promoting College Summit to others in our schools, and I thank you all.”

Bill Rosenberger of The Herald-Dispatch interviews College Summit alumni and volunteers who attend or graduated from Marshall University about why they give back to College Summit.

HUNTINGTON — Marshall University sophomore Jamecia James is working hard this weekend as a volunteer with the national program College Summit.

The program aims to better prepare high school students, primarily those who would be the first in their family to go to college, entering their senior year with a better understanding of the college application process and a glimpse of living on campus.
 
James, from Charleston, attended College Summit in 2009 at West Virginia State University. It was there she participated in one of the writing sessions to help students write their personal mission statements.

“My personal statement earned me two scholarships,” James said Friday, during the first of four College Summit weekends to be held on Marshall’s campus this summer.

“The coaches and leaders pushed my limits, to go the extra mile,” she said.

During the four-day sessions, students work with alumni leaders such as James, who went through the program and are now volunteering their summers to give back to a program they say helped them.

Students go through sessions on college admissions, touring the campus, meeting one-on-one with a college counselor and learning how to take these new tools back to their school to share with their peers.

Jennifer Wood, the West Virginia community relations specialist for College Summit, said there are 62 students from Kanawha and Wyoming counties. More students from various counties also will attend June 23-26, July 7-10 and July 14-17.

Morgan Shillingburg, who just graduated from Marshall, said the program “flat out works.”

“There are a lot of community outreach programs like this ... but (College Summit) is about teaching them how to fight, to get it for themselves,” he said. “It empowers them.”

Shillingburg has worked with College Summit for the past four years and said his observations are that college is a big question mark for the students who come. Some aren’t sure if they want to attend college, some don’t know what to do to get in and others are nervous or have questions about various aspects of college life, such as living in the dorm with a new roommate.

“We’re able to walk the students through the entire process,” Wood added.

Fourth-year student Brian Summers said he shares a very personal experience about his first year of college at Marshall. He was put on academic probation after his first semester, didn’t catch up in the spring and was placed on academic suspension the following fall semester. He has since righted the ship, but he said his College Summit experience in 2007 helped him get through the re-enrollment process with Marshall and financial aid.

“Last year, I received four or five acknowledgments (from the students) about my experience,” Summers said. “They said it saved their college future.”

LaChel House, a peer leader from South Charleston High School, writes about her workshop experience in an article for the Charleston Gazette’s Flipside section.

“College Summit is an experience that can’t be duplicated. I encourage every junior to look into it and consider going.”

CHARLESTON, W.Va.—In my nearly 17 years, I’ve never experienced anything like College Summit.

I attended it at Marshall University in early July, and I must admit that when I arrived on Thursday I wanted to call my mother to come pick me up. In the end, though, this was truly a life changing experience.

College Summit, according to its website (collegesummit.org), is a national nonprofit organization that helps high schools raise their college enrollment rates by building college-going culture. During my three and a half days there, I did things like learn about financial aid and compose my personal statement.

As soon as I arrived, my fellow peer leaders and I immediately got to know each other. The alumni made us form groups and socialize. We also picked one person we didn’t know and introduced him or her to the group.

That day gave us the opportunity to become comfortable with the alumni and our instructor. We stayed in one room nearly all day and played games that had to do with different aspects of applying for college as well as once you’re accepted. My favorite was creating your own college, where we were split into groups and came up with our own college, complete with tuition and facts about it.

After dinner, we had our first of three rap sessions. These are open discussions where students tell such things as their greatest achievement and biggest obstacle they’ve overcome.

The next two days were mainly dedicated to the development of our personal statements. We met our writing coach and divided into small groups to work.

The writing groups were quite intense. Students could openly share problems they have faced in their lives and how those have molded them into the person they are.

This is the most amazing thing about College Summit. In just three and a half days, you become extremely close with the strangers you met when you arrived.

Aside from our personal statements, we tackled subjects like how to receive scholarships, grants and student loans. We also got the opportunity to ask our alumni leaders questions about their college lives as well as fill out a college application for practice.

You also have college coaching time at College Summit where an advisor helps you sort through colleges that specialize in your major. It’s extremely helpful.

In addition to our work, there was also a banquet and a dance. At the banquet, your writing coach would read a passage out of your personal statement to share with the rest of your peer leaders.

On our final day, we put the finishing touches on our personal statements and attended the closing circle, which was priceless. My fellow peer leaders and I had become extremely close in those three and a half days; the realization that we were leaving took a toll on everyone. Additionally, our director had us look our leaders and helpers in the eyes and thank one another in silence. I’ve never cried that much in public.

College Summit is an experience that can’t be duplicated. I encourage every junior to look into it and consider going. You gain many new friends as well as useful knowledge before heading into senior year.
Being able to call myself a peer leader is one thing, but being welcomed into a family of complete strangers is another. I’m beyond elated in my choice to attend College Summit. I’m even considering going back in two years as an alumnus.

NCR Alumni Impress a Princess
Four NCR Alumni speak to H.R.H. Princes Mathilde of Belgium about leadership 

In June 2011, four NCR Alumni Leaders spoke on a panel about their College Summit Peer Leader experiences with H.R.H. Princess Mathilde of Belgium. It was a tremendous honor for the Princess to select College Summit as one of two nonprofits she visited during her trip to D.C. She was particularly interested in the Peer Leadership concept, and how these four students had driven college-going culture improvements in their schools and communities. Watch a video of the event on College Summit’s YouTube channel.

NCR School a Model for the Country
NCR Partner Crossland High School Profiled by Department of Education

College Summit-NCR partner, Crossland High School in Prince George’s County, MD, was featured by the United States Department of Education (USDE)  as a model for the rest of the nation on preparing students for college. The USDE and the American Institutes of Research created audio-video packages to showcase how schools and school districts across the country have successfully helped their students navigate the path to college. In June 2011, Crossland’s profile, which featured its 5 years of work with College Summit building a school-wide college-going culture, went live on the USDE best practices website Doing What Works.

Crossland’s profile is now live on the USDE web-site Doing What Works. Read about Crossland’s impressive accomplishments and watch the three videos: Placing Value on Doing Well Academically; Assigning Students to the Right Classes; and Walking Students Through the Application Process.

Crossland Principal Charles Thomas

NCR Partners with Deloitte for Impact Day 2011
Deloitte Impact Day prepares students for Summer Workshops

On June 10, 2011, a cohort of Deloitte National Capital Area employees volunteered during their company’s global Impact Day to implement a  leadership training for rising College Summit Peer Leaders (11^th grade students who were to attend the College Summit workshop that summer). Two teams of Deloitte volunteers facilitated leadership sessions for 45 newly selected Peer Leaders at Washington Lee High School (Arlington, VA), and Crossland High School (Prince George’s County, MD). In preparation for the summer 2011 Peer Leader workshops, the sessions focused on helping students develop a leadership style, build a personal brand, and set goals for their senior year of high school. 

4 days that can make 4 years possible!

Honoring the Peer Leaders, Educators, School Partners, and Alumni who work to build sustainable College Going Cultures in their schools!

Congratulations to our Peer Leaders and Educators on a wonderful year!

 It has been an honor and our pleasure to work with and serve you. Today we celebrate the dedication you’ve shown to building college-going cultures in your schools. Your achievements serve as a beacon to the community, a call for others to join in this vital cause to ensure higher education for all. We wish our Peer Leaders great success through passion, persistence, and following your bliss. Let your light and talent shine!

Here’s to making next year even better than the last!

Alexis, Ed, Terry, Michael & Mahriana

College Summit and Deloitte Op-Ed Featured in Denver Post.  Susan Bross, College Summit Executive Director, and Alexie Tune, College Summit board member and Director at Deloitte & Touche LLP, wrote an op-ed titled Guest Commentary: Where do they go after high school? Click here to review it.

Meet the 2011 NCR Deloitte College-going Culture Award Winners!

Crossland High School: Crossland experienced phenomenal growth in its college-going culture in 2010-11. The school’s Peer Leaders took a lead in transforming the culture in their school. They created a College Summit Club. The school signed up students not enrolled in College Summit to ensure that they received the same important information about post-secondary planning. The Peer Leaders encouraged the expansion of the role of teachers in getting students to think about college. Peer Leaders made pennants for each teacher’s door indicating what college he or she attended. Students were encouraged to talk to teachers who attended schools they were interested in attending. At their “College Profile Fair”, College Summit students created a beautiful tri-fold display board conveying key information about a wide variety of colleges in the U.S.  Peer Leaders gave tours of these boards located in the media center where students could gain information about the colleges, prior to visiting or going to the college fair. Crossland has been transformed as a direct result of College Summit. Last year this school’s college enrollment rate was just over 70%, and over 90% of their students applied to college. Thus far, 97% of their students have applied to college, with acceptance rates also poised to exceed last year’s rates. Because of this success, 50 students and the principal of Crossland were invited to the White House where they were recognized by First Lady Michelle Obama.

C.H. Flowers High School: The Peer Leaders at C.H. Flowers were eager to implement the skills that they learned at the 2010 Summer Workshop at Trinity University. This year they expanded and built upon an already significant college-going culture at their school. They created a display in the school’s main hallway encouraging high school graduation and college attendance. A college-going assembly was held for the senior class where the Peer Leaders helped to demystify the application process. They also served as instructors for a class called “College 101”, using resources from College Summit’s curriculum and College Summit-NCR’s office. The Peer Leaders taught over 85 of their classmates how to manage and get the most of their senior year. One of the Peer Leaders wrote a twice monthly column for their school paper. In the classroom, students used their Facebook and Twitter accounts to assist other students with completing the FAFSA, providing information about scholarships and reminders of test dates. During “College Days”, each faculty member was asked to discuss with their classes what their time in college was like, with a focus on the application process and financing college. 73% of their 2010 graduates are currently enrolled in 4 year colleges and universities and 2 year colleges. This year 80% of the senior class has been accepted into college.

Meet the 2011 NCR Darden Peer Leaders of the Year!

Moriah Perry (Surrattsville High): Moriah Perry has demonstrated responsibility and professionalism. As a Peer Leader, she is always ready to take the lead and get everyone motivated. Writing about her workshop experience she says, “The workshop was very useful to me. It was a guide to help me get started on my post-secondary plan. It started me on the right path to getting accepted to college. It also helped me to be a resource for my friends at school. When they had questions they would come and ask me for assistance.” Some of the ways she and her fellow Peer Leaders helped broaden their school’s college going-culture were by: sponsoring an “I am Going to College” assembly for all of the seniors, holding a college application session, promoting “Fantastic Fridays” where Peer Leaders invited senior and juniors to lunch to meet with college admissions staff and hear speakers talk about their careers. Academic excellence is important to her. She is a member of the National Honor Society, President of the Student Government Association, member of her school’s chorus, an executive board member of the Peer Mediators and a member of the girls’ basketball team. She has a cumulative GPA of 3.80 and is enrolled in AP courses. She has been accepted at Penn State, Hampton University, St. John’s University and Old Dominion University.

Tariq Simmons (Crossland High): Tariq Simmons brings vibrancy to his school community of learners and positively impacts the culture in his class. His curiosity and questioning skills are an integral aspect of his personality. He is a former member of his school’s Student Government Association, an honor roll student and a member of several other volunteer and extracurricular activities. His College Summit Advisor writes, “He has been a diligent and goal-driven student determined to reach academic success beyond high school. He holds an integral position in promoting school spirit and college-going atmosphere as a Peer Leader. “He created a comic strip to motivate his peers to complete their FAFSA. He helped initiate a College Summit Club and assisted in signing up over 50 students to join the club. The purpose of the club is to give individuals in all grade levels that do not have a College Summit class a chance to have the opportunity and skills needed to reach post-secondary success. The club met twice a month and focused on a different aspect of the college application process. His other activities included volunteering at his school’s financial aid workshop, speaking to 11th graders about taking advantage of opportunities presented to them, assisted in registering juniors for the May SAT and laying the groundwork for recruiting next year’s peer leaders. He does all of this while working part time after school and maintaining a 3.15 GPA. He has been accepted to Clark Atlanta University, Tuskegee University, Virginia Union University and Westminster College in PA where he received the 1852 Founder’s Grant worth $48,000 or $12,000 per year for up to four years.

NCR Students Win 24 Darden-UNCF Scholarships
24 of the 60 nation-wide winners are from NCR

College Summit partnered with Darden Restaurants and the United Negro College Fund to award the “Recipe for Success Scholarship” to College Summit students who had motivated their peers to go to college in exceptional ways, and had been accepted into a two- or four-year accredited college or university. Of the 60 5-year, $12,500 ($2,500 per year) Darden-UNCF Recipe for Success college scholarships awarded to high school seniors nation-wide, 24 winners were from NCR. Read more about the Recipe for Success Scholarship, and Darden and UNCF.

Meet the 2011 NCR James Dyke Scholarship Winners!

Charnisa Royster of Coolidge High is described by her recommender as having dedication to academic excellence and an uplifting positive personality. She is considered a trailblazer and has done a magnificent job representing her senior class. As a Peer Leader, she has assisted many of her classmates by simplifying the college application process to a less intimidating task. She launched a CSNav registration drive, hosted a writing workshop, a SAT/ACT drive, and planned a 3-day college application drive. She is committed to her education and community, and has been accepted to Trinity University in Washington, DC.

Kenneth Brown of Surrattsville High has a dedication to academic excellence and a strong work ethic. He understands the benefits of being a well-rounded student. He was the senior class treasurer, a member of the Yearbook Club, a Varsity Scholar and member of the varsity football team.  As a Peer Leader he has displayed leadership and the ability to formulate plans and execute them with professionalism. He is mature and has a great rapport with his peers, as well as the adults in his school. Kenneth has been accepted to Florida Memorial University and West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Meet the 2011 NCR Educators of the Year! 

Mr. Brecklin Barbee: Mr. Brecklin Barbee, of Achievement Academy in Baltimore, MD, is on the forefront of helping to forge a college-going culture at his school. He has worked collaboratively with his fellow educators to get students to discuss their post-secondary plans. When students said they wanted to make more than minimum wage and that they wanted more out of life, he used the Navigator curriculum and CSNav to meet all of his students’ interests. He directed them to CSNav to research careers and majors, create a resume, and complete job applications. This first-year College Summit educator is someone that students can relate to, and consistently delivers the message that college is the way to go. He has played an integral role in the implementation of the College Summit curriculum at his school. He is a dynamic educator,  has facilitated several professional development trainings for his fellow educators, and is a pillar in the foundation of the college-going culture at his school. Through a partnership with a local university, he started a tutorial/mentorship program. Currently enrolled college students serve as mentors and tutors to high school students. He utilizes his school’s Peer Leaders to design and distribute information to their peers about various colleges in their “College of the Week!” announcements. One of his Peer Leaders writes, “I am glad to have him in my corner. He made me feel that I can be successful through college, regardless of past troubles and unsupportive family members. He is always available to listen. He is a great educator that really cares for his students and goes beyond the call of duty to help them.”

Ms. Jackie Iloh: Ms. Jackie Iloh, of Coolidge High in DC, has done a phenomenal job creating a program that supports the senior class. On any given day you will notice a number of students parading through the school adorned in black t-shirts with multi colored letters that read College Summit. The Peer Leaders, led by Ms. Iloh, commanded attention in any room that they entered when wearing their shirts. Students and parents would look in awe and often ask the question, “What is that, or how can I become a part?” She taught every section of the College Summit class, and worked hard to help students invest in the program. She used icebreakers and group activities in order to create a cohesive family setting in each class. Understanding early on that collaboration was key to a successful program, she worked with all educators in the building in planning and implementing programs together.  This included a CSNav drive, where not only the currently enrolled students created accounts, but those students who took the class second semester also had accounts. Other events included drives focusing on college application and FAFSA completion, and a community service drive. Her impact as leader of the College Summit program is best reflected in the words of one her Peer Leaders, “Before College Summit, college was almost an unspoken topic. Now it is common to walk down the hall and hear groups of seniors ... sharing scholarship information and discussing where they will attend college in the fall.”

Orangeburg-Wilkerson High Hosts FAFSA EVents

The cornerstone to any grant or scholarship search is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA is a free application provided by the U.S. Department of Education that can qualify students for government-funded scholarships and grants. The application must be completed and submitted to the federal government in order to be considered for public and university financial aid programs, as well. Putting off or not filing the FAFSA means risking missing the deadline and severing one’s chances of receiving thousands of dollars in free college money. The FAFSA may be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

College Summit urges educators to host FAFSA events at their schools the beginning of each year to encourage more seniors to complete and file their FAFSA form as early as possible. One South Carolina school, Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School (O-W) in Orangeburg, SC, has excelled at hosting such events and, as a result, has experienced tremendous success in getting its seniors to complete the FAFSA form in a timely manner.

After attending a College Summit Peer Leader Academy (November 2010) that focused on the importance of seniors completing the FAFSA, Orangeburg-Wilkinson High teachers Deborah Hailey and Tantanisha Johnson took the initiative to gather together peer leaders and advisors at their school to develop a comprehensive plan that would ensure that more seniors at O-W applied for their PIN and completed the FAFSA. The group established two primary goals and several action steps in order to accomplish the goals. The goals included: all seniors would have their PIN number by December 31st and all seniors would have their FAFSA completed by February 15th. In order to accomplish these goals several action steps were to be used including: selecting a date (December 1) when all seniors were to rotate in and out of the media center during 1st period to sign-up for FAFSA PINs; assigning each peer leader a group of seniors to text reminders to request PINs and complete FAFSA forms; hosting 3-4 FAFSA Nights with parents in attendance and financial aid officers from local colleges; distribution of sample copies of completed FAFSA forms; daily school announcements; and offering incentives to students who provided verification that they’ve completed their FAFSA by the deadline. As a result of the efforts and commitment of Mrs. Hailey, Ms. Johnson and the school’s peer leaders, a record number of O-W seniors have completed their FAFSA forms this spring; months before the deadline of June 30th.

Spring Educators Academy

Twenty educators from across the state traveled to West Columbia to attend College Summit’s Spring Educators Academy on March 3, 2011 Midlands Technical College-Airport Campus.

The day-long training program equipped educators with the information and tools needed in order to support their students through postsecondary planning, college admissions, and the financial aid process – all necessary components of building a college-going culture within their classrooms. Sessions included: Junior Recruitment, Beyond Graduation: What Comes Next, and a special session on financial literacy conducted by guest speaker Iva Walters, Business Development Director,  with SC Federal Credit Union.

VIP Reception at USC

College Summit hosted a fundraising reception at the University of South Carolina on March 24, 2011, featuring special guest speaker, Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-SC).  Hosted in collaboration with the University of South Carolina Office of the Provost and the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the event was intended to increase awareness of College Summit and to expand the organization’s base of friends and supporters.

Following opening remarks by College Summit’s President, Dean Furbush, Congressman Clyburn spoke eloquently about the importance of programs such as College Summit that offer opportunities for youth who otherwise might fall through the cracks and not be given a chance to fulfill their potential. He related personal stories about his experiences as an educator in the Sumter County SC public school system years ago and a couple students, in particular, that he encountered along the way. He recounted that in both cases, the men today are very successful, but that were it not for the guidance, support and encouragement these men received as youth their lives may have turned out very differently. Following the Congressman’s moving, thoughtful words, Jaime Harrison, a member of the College Summit National Board of Directors, made a heart-felt plea (via video from Washington, DC) for those in attendance to support the efforts of College Summit to give low-income youth a chance at higher education and, thus, a chance at life. Mr. Harrison then made a $5,000 challenge grant to those in attendance. Attendees accepted the challenge and responded in-kind. Submitting matching $5,000 pledges were BB&T and the Clyburn Foundation. In addition, other guests submitted pledges in the amount of $9,000. As a result, College Summit raised nearly $25,000 to support its programs and students.

 In addition to corporate representatives, elected officials, and community leaders, In attendance at the event were several College Summit educators including, Francis Wheat of Sumter High School (Sumter, SC), Natasha Mullins of Spartanburg High School (Spartanburg, SC), Robert Seay of Cross High School (Cross, SC), Rosemary Keller of Lake Marion High School (Santee, SC), Lori Still of Lower Richland High School (Columbia, SC), Deborah Haile of Keenan High School (Columbia, SC), and Alvin Pressley, principal of Keenan High School (Columbia, SC).

Five College Summit students receive 2011 Daniels Fund Scholarship.  To see the list of 2011 Daniels Fund recipients, go to: http://www.danielsfund.org/

NCR is Recruiting New Advisory Board Members

Apply today!

The College Summit National Capital Region’s Advisory Board consists of up to 20 business and community leaders who volunteer their expertise, stature, and time to advise on the annual goals and objectives of the organization.  Advisory Board members serve an essential role in CS NCR’s mission to raise the college enrollment rate.  Because success hinges on the dedication and energy of all of the region’s local and national partners - school systems, philanthropists, corporations, community activists, and volunteers - it is essential to College Summit’s mission to ensure all partners are well integrated.

In this spirit, the NCR Advisory Board is organized (1) to maximize College Summit’s impact in the local community by establishing a network of individuals, businesses, and other organizations, both public and private, who are committed to raising the college enrollment rate of students; and (2) to support and promote the mission, vision, and goals of the larger College Summit organization.

Advisory Board members are elected to a three-year term and may be re-elected to serve one additional three-year term for a total of up to six years of service.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

All Advisory Board members are expected to:

• Advise on the strategic direction of CS NCR, including evaluation of new opportunities, existing programs, organizational effectiveness, fundraising, marketing, and other topics critical to CS NCR’s sustainability;

• Review and advise on CS NCR’s annual budget;

• Play a role in securing adequate financial resources by making a personal financial contribution and helping the Board collectively raise a minimum of $100,000 each year through the cultivation, recruitment, and solicitation of donors;

• Attend all regular and special meetings of the Board (The CS-NCR Board has up to six regular meetings and other optional and special meetings.);

• Serve on at least one Standing (Development or Nominating) or Ad hoc Committee of the Board;

• Participate and help recruit volunteers for CS NCR summer workshops and banquets, school year activities, and national events; and

• If the Executive Director position of College Summit-NCR becomes vacant, NCR Advisory Board members will work with the national College Summit organization to identify, recruit, and/or jointly approve Executive Director candidates. However, the ultimate hiring and termination process is the sole responsibility of College Summit, Inc.

Qualifications

The National Capital Region seeks candidates who have experience and contributions to make in at least one of two priority areas:

1) Fundraising/Resource Development
2) Communications/Public Relations

The NCR currently seeks individuals who have extensive and deep contacts within the Washington, DC-Baltimore, MD business community who can significantly raise CS-NCR’s profile and visibility and/or provide access to high net worth individuals for purposes of major gift development.

Additional experience, which is not required, but desired, includes:

• Prior experience serving on nonprofit boards;
• Experience working with low-income, disadvantaged populations; and,
• Teaching or school administration experience, particularly in Washington, DC; Alexandria, VA;  Arlington, VA;  or Baltimore, MD.

Advisory Board candidates will be reviewed by a Nominating Committee and approved by the Executive Director and the Advisory Board of College Summit-NCR.

For more information, please contact:

David Martin
Managing Partner
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Virginia Record O’Brien
Client Partner
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20036
202-327-5485

Sterling Martin Associates is an executive search firm with locations in Washington, DC, New York, NY and Irvine, CA.  For more information, please visit our website at www.smartinsearch.com.

NCR Partners with United Way and Deloitte for Alternative Spring Break
Deloitte and undergraduate recruits volunteer during spring break to help put underserved youth on the path to higher education.

The week of March 14-17th, College Summit-NCR partnered with the United Way and Deloitte to co-host an Alternative Spring Break at two College Summit partner high schools. Students from colleges across the country and Deloitte employees formed teams and worked side by side with students in DC.

At Coolidge High School in NW Washington DC, the United Way and Deloitte volunteers leveraged College Summit’s curriculum and presented topics related to the transition from high school to college. At High Road Academy and Upper School in NE DC, the volunteers worked alongside several dozen high school students. All of High Road’s students are special education students yet, last year, 88% of their graduating students went to college.  The volunteer team worked with the students to create a series of murals throughout the school.  They also facilitated structured and informal conversations about preparing to overcome the hurdles that exist in the transition from high school to college.

Read more about Deloitte-United Way Alternative Spring Breaks.

NCR Has Become a United Way National Capital Area Member
Make a contribution to College Summit-NCR through your workplace giving campaign: United Way #9620.

CollegeSummit-National Capital Region is a proud member of the United Way of the National Capital Area (UWNCA). More than any other local organization, UWNCA realizes the interconnectedness of our region and the people who live here. The UWNCA annual workplace giving campaign disperses millions of dollars, and allows donors to support the United Way, member organizations, or the UWNCA regional Community Impact Fund. Donors can also give to funds set up to address specific impact areas, including Education.

To make a contribution to College Summit-NCR through the UWNCA annual workplace giving campaign, simply use our unique, official designation code: United Way #9620.

College Summit NY, Citi and Deloitte volunteers partner to help students complete their FAFSA.

College Summit hosted a FAFSA event for students and their parents at Brooklyn Preparatory High School on Saturday, February 12, 2011. College Summit was joined by trained volunteers from Deloitte and Citi in supporting students and their families in FAFSA completion and financial aid planning. 

This event was one of several College Summit/Deloitte events to be held in seven other regions across the country over the next month, highlighting a community approach to achieving success in reaching our national, state and local education goals and the federal government’s critical role in making higher education possible for low-income students. 

Nominate Peer Leaders from Your School Who Are Doing Great work!!

Click here to go fill out the nomination form today!

Do you know of a College Summit Peer Leader who has inspired, helped, supported, and/or pushed you or any students at your school (9th-12th grade) to think about or work on their plans for life after high school? Is there a College Summit Peer Leader who comes to mind when you think about all the great things happening at your school in increasing awareness around college applications, financial aid, personal statements, thinking about colleges to apply to etc.? Wouldn’t it be GREAT to help get them acknowledge by nominating them as our 2011 Peer Leader of the Year (as well as 3 other potential awards)?

Our Peer Leader of the Year will win a fully loaded laptop and other goodies. No good deed is too little to mention and share with our judging panel. If you answered yes to any of the above questions PLEASE tell us about it in this short nomination form.

On April 27, 2011 we will hold our annual Peer Leader and College Summit Community Awards Banquet. We need peer leaders and educators to nominate Class of 2011 Peer Leaders for one or all four Peer Leader College Summit Values Awards. See nomination form for details and award descriptions.

Citi Foundation and Deloitte visited York International (Mapleton Public Schools) to speak with Peer Leaders and staff from the school.  See the photos on our Facebook page. 

Education Secretary Arne Duncan toured Manual High and helped students fill out financial aid forms so they can get scholarships and loans for college. Read more: Nation’s schools chief promotes college aid prep - The Denver Post

See Fox News story on it.

College Summit Honors Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien
College Summit was honored to gather education advocates and community leaders to honor outgoing Lt. Governor O’Brien last month for her years of service to Colorado and specifically her commitment to education and to youth.

Special guests included Governor Bill Ritter, Lt. Governor Joe Garcia and Senator Mike Johnston. Other speakers included Terry Minger of the Piton Foundation and College Summit Board Members Jill Barkin of JP Morgan Chase and Elaine Gantz Berman of the State Board of Education.

We are grateful for the support of our lead sponsors for this event, The Piton Foundation and JPMorgan Chase.

Thank you to all of our sponsors, our board, and the speakers who made this event a success!

See Denver Post article on College Summit’s event.  Check out the photos on our Facebook page.

CSNY’s 5th Annual Peer Leadership Conference

Wednesday, October 13 – College Summit hosted our 5th annual Peer Leader Conference at Manhattan’s Riverside Church. With nearly 500 people in attendance, it was our largest event to date. Needless to say, it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to pull off this fantastic feat. We could not have done it without the tireless efforts of the College Summit NY and CT Staff, rap directors, summer staff members, alumni, chaperones, volunteers and board members.
Conference activities focused on Peer Leadership and Team Building. For the students that participated in our mid-summer Peer Leader Academy, we had a special session where volunteers facilitated mock interviews and a rousing game of College Awareness Jeopardy! This year’s guest speaker was Sabrina Lamb, the Founder/Executive Director of World of Money, dedicated to the financial education of underserved youth in the Tri-State New York City area. To add to the conference lagniappe, there was a mini-college fair (7 colleges and universities) for students and educators. The afternoon ended with a special presentation by the Step Team for Social Justice (www.liveleadershipnow.com) and a peer leader open mic.

College Summit New York and Deloitte have partnered to sponsor our first Peer Leader Academy training at the Urban Assembly School of Business for Young Women.

August 17, 18 – Over the course of two days, approximately 100 Peer Leaders congregated at the Urban Assembly School of Business for Young Women for additional training in their roles as Peer Leaders as well as identifying different ways that they can impact their school during this academic year.
This supplemental pilot training came about because of an identified need for Peer Leaders to have another touch from College Summit post summer workshop and before the start of the school year.
Sessions focused on CUNY/SUNY literacy, identifying leadership styles and how they work together, unpacking of the Peer Leader Handbook, Senior Year planning and teambuilding activities.
Special thanks to Patricia Minaya (Principal, UASBYW) for donating space; Deloitte LLP for financing the training; Facilitators: Brooke Smith (Advisor, HS for Youth and Community Development), Paula Bremmer (Coordinator, UA Academy for Careers in Sports), Tara Mathis (educator) and Ophelia Morgan (educator); CS Alums: Zakiyah Nicklette (HS for LACJ) and George Ocasio (Teachers Prep HS)
2010

Educators Know Best: Northern California Educators Best Practices Event

January 26, 2011- Nearly 20 partner educators gathered in Oakland to learn and teach about supporting students in the second semester, building strong Peer Leader cohorts and how to support AB540 students through the college admissions process, along with financial aid awareness and literacy for the diverse communities educators serve.

Thank you to Nancy Jodaitis of San Francisco State University and Jose Arreola from Educators For Fair Consideration for sharing expertise and collaborating with our partner educators.

Sharing Best Practices Around Financial Aid

Educators Discuss Supporting AB540 Students

How Can We Best Leverage Peer Leadership?

Educators Discuss Supporting Students Choosing the Community College Route

East Oakland School of the Arts: Using Data to Influence College-Going Culture

Just two weeks after the California State University and University of California application deadline of November 30, 2010, the East Oakland School of the Arts (EOSA) team sat together for two hours to reflect on where each of their seniors were in their post-secondary planning. Did everyone who was eligible submit? If yes, what systems and support structures were in place that set up the young person for success? If not, why not? And what needs to happen next? Taking the time to reflect and be intentional “was incredibly helpful,” educator, Kateri Dodds Simpson noted.

“With administration in a structured space to process, we stepped back and looked at [the application data].” She explained that as a teacher supporting seniors’ post secondary planning, “it’s intense and you get lost in the details,” but with constructive meeting and thinking deeply about changing the culture of their school, the team’s work became less about triaging and more about strengthening systems that are working and changing those that aren’t.

Fatima Ghatala and Kateri Dodds Simpson are part of a team at East Oakland School of the Arts using data to inform implementation at East Oakland School of the Arts.

The stellar team, comprised of Assistant Principals John Lynch and Aryn Bowman, and College Summit Advisors , Dodds Simpson and Fatima Ghatala, and Principal Matin Abdel-Qawi.They constantly dedicate themselves to enhancing their skills and information base to best support their students in college access and success. The team pays attention to all the factors—both qualitative and quantitative—that foster EOSA’s college-going culture, and use the CSNAV data platform to provide real-time feedback loops that inform their student support. At the December monthly meeting, the team sat with a list of every senior, and went through the student’s story, identifying celebrations and paying close attention to alarms, or as Lynch said, “figuring out what needs to happen so that [this student not applying to college] doesn’t happen.” The team exemplifies forward-thinking and thinks about both short and long-term strategies that are, and will, increase EOSA’s college enrollment and persistence rates.

EOSA’s team invests each of their seniors’ paths, and as a College Summit partner, the teachers and administrators utilize our tools to their fullest. As a chaperone this summer at one of our workshops at University of the Pacific, Dodds Simpson’s personal dedication to the rising senior class deepened. She explained:

“Seeing the kids experience having a roommate, having a small college experience increased their buy in and interest, and it was so exciting to see them see that. It was the first time they were away from home, and to watch them see it all become concrete lifted my spirits. It’s powerful to see them see themselves in that way. It was equally powerful for me to see them in the dorm. Teachers never see that part, allegedly they get there, but we never get to see that pride and satisfaction, and being able to see what all of our hard work could look like is a really deep experience. It was really powerful. It was amazing to see Sheila on a campus, and not just having to rely on faith, but seeing her do it—it brought forth a different level of investment.”

The entire team illustrates the power of knowing each student well and working collaboratively to enhance student support. Lynch and Bowman provide critical school leadership and administrative stewardship, paying attention to best practices of this senior class to learn how to better support the 11th graders and underclassmen. Simpson-Dodd worked with every senior on personal statements in her English class last fall. While Ghatala, is working with every student on their financial aid plan and literacy during this spring semester in her Social Studies class. With this incredible team at the helm, EOSA’s college going culture continues to grow and strengthen.

College Summit is proud to have EOSA as a partner, and the Northern California region is continually inspired by their extraordinary hard work and dedication.

 In Connecticut, the nationwide organization works in Bridgeport and New Haven high schools in order to get seniors thinking about the viability and critical important of college.

Read more

NEW HAVEN — For kids with good grades, stellar behavior records and a college acceptance letter in hand, New Haven Promise is a dream come true.

But for students who need a little extra help qualifying for the benefit of free college tuition, College Summit is there to help.

Read the article.

College Summit Florida and Miami Jackson Senior High School Peer Leader Warren Coley were awarded the Sun Life Rising Star Awards by the Miami Dolphins Foundation and Sun Life Financial. Check out the winners below.

Read More

College Summit Florida is heading to Broward County Public Schools. Watch the video below.

Florida International University’s Alumni from the School of Business, hosted our 2010 “Are You Ready” summit. Watch the video below.

College Summit Southern California is about to start the Alumni Leader Recruitment Process once again. Join us for an Information Session next week!

We will be holding the first of several Information Sessions at the following date/time:

• Date: Tuesday, December 7^th, 2010
• Time: 12noon PST

This Information Session will take place via conference call. In order to attend, you must RSVP with your full name, email, and cell phone number to Jenna at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Once you have RSVPed, we will provide you with all of the conference call information. Hope to talk to you soon!

NCR Peer Leaders Take Lead During Education Week
Peer Leaders at Renaissance Academy in Baltimore, MD take the lead during Annual Education Week.

November 14-20, 2010 was the 89^th Annual American Education Week. The Peer Leaders at Renaissance Academy in Baltimore, MD did not waste this opportunity to spotlight college attainment. Throughout the week, the Peer Leaders took the lead on a number of initiatives, including: an essay contest on the importance of education; a career door decorating competition amongst classes; and a town hall meeting where post secondary success was the theme. The Peer Leaders served as judges for the essay contest and the door decorating competition, and brought a local radio personality as a guest speaker to the town hall meeting. They also shared a fun slide show of highlights from their College Summit class college visits.

Deloitte Straight Talk for NCR Peer Leaders
Deloitte’s Black Employee Network advise Peer Leaders on what they wish they knew in high school about getting to the next level.

On October 27th, College Summit-NCR hosted its Annual Peer Leader Conference for over 200 Peer Leaders from our 22 partner high schools. The conference was held at Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Prince George’s County, MD, with the goal of jumpstarting college-going culture at each school. The Peer Leaders were trained on leadership, community outreach, and social media and marketing. For the second consecutive year, facilitators included Deloitte’s Black Employee Network (BEN). A dozen Deloitte BEN volunteers presented a session entitled: Straight Talk- What I Wish I Knew in High School About Getting to the Next Level. These volunteers shared their own life experiences with the Peer Leaders, and how their choices have affected their education, communities, and careers.

J.B. Schramm, College Summit Founder and CEO,  MC of  East High Alumni Heritage Hall. 

http://www.easthighheritagehall.com/

The East High Alumni Heritage Hall inducts alumni who have, during their lifetimes: made significant and enduring contributions in their fields of endeavor; elevated the stature of East High School and its students; helped open new frontiers for East students and society in general; and inspired others by their example.

Inductees included: R. Stephen Berry (1948), Jerome Biffle (1946), Joan Birkland (1946), Joe Blake (1954), Edward Chavez (1935), George Cranmer (1903), Harlon L. Dalton, John Dikeou (1953), Edwina Hume Fallis (1895, Peter Groff (1981), Frances Melrose (1939), Ron Miles (1981), Seraphine Eppstein Pisko (1877), Philip Van Cise (1903), Jerry Vasconcells (1911).

Darden and College Summit NY honor exceptional Peer Leaders

Approximately 200 Peer Leaders from 24 schools met at The Riverside Church for our first ever Peer Leader Recognition Ceremony, in conjunction with the Darden Foundation.  Students were treated to a series of presentations from corporate and community partners, educators, College Summit staff and alumni all celebrating the wonderful work that our students have been doing in their schools. 

The Peer Leader awards honored students that greatly reflected the values of College Summit: The Mind of an Innovator, The Heart of a Great Teacher, The Spirit of an Inspired Student, and the Progression Award.  Two students, André Simon and Odell Patterson, won the highest honor of the day as Peer Leaders of the Year for effectively combining all the aforementioned values.  André also was presented with a check from the Citi Foundation for being the first place winner in the Connect2urfuture video contest. 

One of the event’s highlights was the keynote address by College Summit alumna, Tara Mathis who charged students to “create your own legacy, one filled with success, hope and prosperity.  Remember that you are powerful beyond measure and that you are a voice in this world that deserves to be heard.” 

A large portion of the behind the scenes work was completed by the NY Peer Leader Ambassador Council (PLAC) who were also honored for their dedication to the mission of College Summit in their schools.   PLAC member, Kevis Hillocks served as the master of ceremonies at the event.  Entertainment was provided by the hip hop dance troupe from William Cullen Bryant High School. Christine Capacillo and Tyrone Glass co-sponsor the impactful work of the PLAC members.

College Summit and Citi Foundation partner to sponsor the March Madness Milestone Contest

College Summit New York and Citi Foundation are proud to present the winners of our March Madness Milestone Contest. Each of these three schools will receive $1,000 to financially aid students through the admissions process. Examples of how the prize money can be used: Financial aid education, scholarships, additional application fees, down payments for students in need.

Central Park East High School
Frederick Douglass Academy II Secondary School
The High School for Global Citizenship

All three of these schools reflect ~95-100% Applications-out-the-Door reflected in CSNav as well as high numbers in the other pertinent milestones (FAFSA completion, Senior Year Plan, Personal Statement, SAT/ACT taken, and College List).
Congratulations to ALL schools that participated for clearly demonstrating that college-going culture is achievable when students and staff work together.

CT Peer Leader and Junior Event at Quinnipiac University

The CT Peer Leader & Junior Event took place at Quinnipiac University.  Approximately 80 students from CT partner high schools represented were present.

Students started out together and then broke up into senior and junior tracks.  Juniors received tips from QU admissions staff on the application process, essay writing and interview skills.  They also went on a tour of the campus.  Seniors listened to panel of QU students and panel of QU staff which provided information on how they should determine which school is best for them.  The panel also addressed the high school-college transition from several different perspectives ranging from the practical (i.e. housing) to the personal.

CSNY Students participate in Deloitte Academy

In their ongoing efforts to support students, Deloitte created Deloitte Academy which seeks to aid students in career exploration and college readiness. During the course of the School-to-Work day, students from Urban Assembly School of Business for Young Women, High School for Youth and Community Development at Erasmus, Gregorio Luperón High School for Science and Mathematics, as well as members of the Peer Leader Ambassador Council were exposed to various professionals in the field of finance.

Deloitte professionals facilitated group sessions on topics ranging from the importance of pursuing higher education to money management and business etiquette. Students were matched up with a Deloitte ‘mentor’ during the lunch break where students could ask questions one-on-one. The day culminated with Natalie Webb of ‘Life Inc. – The Ultimate Career Guide for Young People’ encouraging attendees to pursue their life and career aspirations.
There were approximately 200 students in attendance.

CSNY Hosts a Principals’ Dinner

College Summit NY and Harbor Lights restaurant hosted a celebration honoring our current principals. Approximately 20 current partners were in attendance as well as about 15 potential partners. CSNY Interim Executive Director, Freda Richmond shared with attendees the history of College Summit and encouraged them to converse with members of our Peer Leader Ambassador Council and CSNY staff about the present and future of College Summit.

Deloitte and NYC educators discuss their pathways to success

January 29 – Corporate partner, Deloitte sponsored a gathering of NYC educators to discuss the multiple journeys that schools have taken to develop high performing learning communities. The highlight of the day was a panel of College Summit principals: David Raubvogel (Richard R. Green High School of Teaching), Marie Prendergast (High School for Youth and Community Development at Erasmus) and Rashid Davis (Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy). The panel focused on the various approaches and challenges that schools face regarding raising their College Enrollment Rate.

Monday 10/11: Eat at Pasquini’s Uptown!  20% of the night’s attributed sales go directly to College Summit Colorado!  Pasquini’s Uptown address: 1336 East 17th Avenue, Denver, CO 80218.

Be sure to notify Pasquini’s wait staff that your are affiliated with College Summit Colorado.

Great Mentors Needed at MESA!

Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts (MESA), is still looking for 15-20 great mentors this school year.  Interested in mentoring?  Please contact Monica Breed at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Mentors will help seniors with their college application process in the 2010-11 school year. The commitment is about 3 hours a month.

NCR Kicks Off 2010-11 School Year

NCR will train over 200 Peer Leaders and serve over 3,000 students in 2010-11.

“It was challenging, and exhausting, and gratifying!” These are the words of just one of the 70+ supporters like you who volunteered at our 4 workshops this summer, preparing over 250 rising seniors to be 2010-11 Peer Leaders. This school year, over 3,600 students in the National Capital Region- including almost 1,800 9th-11th graders, and 1,800 seniors at 22 high schools in the District of Columbia, Prince George’s County and Baltimore City, Maryland, and Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia- will benefit from College Summit’s curriculum.

NCR Featured in September Prince George’s County Gazette

Five Prince George’s County schools try to keep College Summit program afloat.

“In the 2009-2010 school year, 11 [Prince George’s] county schools had the program, but this year, only five county schools still have the program, said Donna Fleming, the executive director of College Summit for the National Capital Region. County school budget cuts forced these schools to scale back College Summit, reach into their own school pocketbooks and seek alternative forms of funding. The number of students who can enroll in the program is also affected…  Because of the county school budget cuts, College Summit for the National Capital Region decided this year to pay $120,000 for the program at these five schools and plans to raise more than $600,000 to cover College Summit expenses not covered by fees paid by the schools…” Read the full Prince George’s County Gazette article by Liz Skalski.

Volunteerism And Corporate Partners

College Summit Northern California is thankful for the corporate partnerships we have, which generate both cash contributions as well as in-kind support hosting events, facilitating informational sessions and volunteering at workshops.

Darden Restaurants (parent company of restaurant chains like The Olive Garden and Red Lobster) sponsored our Peer Leader Awards in May, and their employees showed full support at the awarding ceremonies. Ramona Herrera Reeves, General Manager of Olive Garden San Jose served on the selection committee, along with College Summit staff and Board members.

In June, Deloitte & Touche LLP held Impact Day for our region, which brought together 40 Deloitte volunteers and 50 students from three schools - Leadership Preparatory Academy, East Oakland School for the Arts (EOSA) and Castlemont Business & Information Technology High School (CBITS). Deloitte volunteers conducted workshops on budgeting, finances, resume building and staged a dress-for-success fashion show. The day ended with a question and answer portion with Deloitte’s Senior Partner Mark Edmonds and Director Tania Adams Webb.

Deloitte & Touche also hosted a group of new high school graduates from the Northern California region on August 14, 2010 for a Survive and Thrive event. Presentations focused on college academic, emotional, and financial preparation.

Our summer workshops benefitted from many individuals from the corporate sector who served as writing coaches. Employees from Deloitte, BlackRock, and PG&E joined our writing coach teams who spent four days at a college campus to coach our incoming Peer Leaders on their personal statements, a crucial component in the college application process.

Thank you to our corporate partners, and we look forward to the continued engagement!

Deloitte sponsored “Survive and Thrive” event for Class of 2010 graduates on August 14, 2010

Regional Overview-Letter From The Executive Director
As we begin another school year, we wish all of our high school partners a strong, productive and impactful year - even as we acknowledge how they continue to perform for their students under severely constrained funding environments. We at College Summit have the privilege to witness the work of very dedicated educators, counselors and administrators everyday, and we Californians need to continually advocate for increased school funding to support and expand the hard work of so many California educators who are investing so much of themselves in our students, and in our future. 

Writing Teams walk to their classrooms at University of Pacific Workshop July 8-11, 2010 (left).   Peer Leaders review the day’s schedule (right).

We are thrilled to bring tremendous momentum from a summer of trainings into this school year. We trained 209 talented Peer Leaders at four summer workshops (two each at UC Berkeley and University of the Pacific - cheers to our amazing volunteers and college partners!) with the help and dedication of 65 volunteers, 13 core staff and 12 Alumni Leaders. And we have now trained over 50 educators and administrators this summer with an eye towards maximizing our tools and strengthening the college-going culture at their school sites.

And a special thanks to all of our supporters, including new funders US Bancorp and Union Bank. A recent report from a funder asked this question: “With 20/20 hindsight, is there anything you might have done differently, or is there anything you learned that will change the program in the future?” Our answer was essentially, “of course!” There is so much to learn. One of the key questions driving our work is this: We know that schools that define their own college access goals - often including persistence and college completion- are more likely to drive the school community towards those goals. How do we best support our school partners in defining their college access goals, collecting and understanding data that supports those goals, and using that data to maximize success and strengthen their college-going cultures?

Our entire Northern California team is honored to work with our 18 high school partners for 2010-2011 in addressing this and other questions. Thank you to everyone who is currently (or currently considering) supporting our partners, and our work!

Paul Collins
Executive Director - Northern California

Peer Leaders shared their workshop experience with partner educators at the Northern California Educators’ Academy on August 19, 2010.

At our Educators’ Academy educators prepare and plan for implementing College Summit in their classrooms and gain tools to support their students’ post-secondary planning.

Heart, Mind, and Spirit Awards: Celebrating Peer Leaders, Educators and Community

Under the sponsorship of Darden Restaurants, the Northern California region held its first ever regional awards ceremony on May 26, 2010. Nearly 200 Peer Leaders, parents, educators, and College Summit supporters gathered at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant in Oakland’s Jack London Square. We celebrated whole school achievements, announced the 2010 Wall of Honor winners, and honored Educators of the Year, all while breaking bread together as a regional community. The evening of celebration culminated with our Peer Leader awards, acknowledging their work towards creating college-going culture in their schools.

 Read more about our Educator and Peer Leader Award winners below!

Damien Basey as Superman 

Oakland High Peer Leaders

Educators of the Year

An awards ceremony celebrating the accomplishments of the school year could not be complete without acknowledging those who stay up late reading essays or stay after school helping students with homework. Very early in our planning, the region shifted from just being Peer Leader awards to being more inclusive and embracing the accomplishments of the community. “The Bay Area as a whole tends to live out the saying, it takes a village, we’re not perfect in the least but we definitely have a strong community feel when it comes to education access and justice. Out of this it only seemed natural and appropriate to honor the very hard work our partner educators take part in every single day,” said Diedra Barber Love, Program Manager for College Summit Northern California.

The regional staff has the privilege of working with an outstanding group of 90 educators in Oakland, San Francisco, Stockton and East Palo Alto. When Barber Love was asked what’s special about the Northern California educators she said, “They are so dedicated to their students, families and overall school communities. I’ve known them to be on campus as the sun rises till the sun sets. They show up for additional trainings and meetings and conversations so that they can better support their students and families in their post secondary planning and dreams. Educator trainings with northern California educators are always energizing, inspiring, fun, thoughtful, and insightful. They are the foundation and deserve daily celebration and respect.”

With so many wonderful educators it was a daunting task to pick those who would be honored with the Educator of the Year award. The committee judged the nominations based on how much educators used the following tools: College Summit class and the Navigator curriculum, CSNav, and trained Peer Leaders. They also considered how these educators contributed to the school’s college going culture overall, and how they stand out in the work they do every day. 

The finalists for College Summit Advisor of the year were Afreen Malim (Youth Empowerment School), Scott Sanchez (Benjamin Holt) and Lisa Shafer (Media). Scott Sanchez took home the plaque for this award, along with a gift certificate from The Olive Garden. His Peer Leaders stood in applause when Sanchez’ name was announced.

Ben Holt Peer Leaders and Scott Sanchez

The finalists for the College Summit Coordinator of the Year were Leslie Hsu (June Jordan School for Equity), Lisa Osmanian (Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy), Dr. LuPaulette Taylor (BEST) and Ana Vasquez (Mandela Law and Public Service Academy). The committee was torn with this group and in the end Lisa Osmanian and Ana Vasquez shared this honor. They too received plaques and gift certificates to The Olive Garden.

Leora Wolf-Prusan and Lisa Osmanian 

       Ana Vasquez, Robin Glover, and Michael Hearron

Congratulations to all our partner educators and thank you for your dedication!

Peer Leader Values Awards
The Peer Leader Awards were based on College Summit’s four values. These values are The Heart of a Great Teacher, The Mind of an Innovator, and The Spirit of an Inspired Student. The Peer Leader of the Year is the student who embodies heart, mind and spirit. Peer Leaders were nominated by educators and students. The winners were decided by a committee of five individuals who were not only looking for the number of nominations but the quality of the nomination. Read more about our winners below!

Nick Valmores was awarded the Heart of a Great Teacher award for constantly supporting peers and teachers. Lisa Shafer, Media Academy teacher, was one of Valmores’ nominators. She wrote, “One senior said to me, ‘Nick is not just the go-to person, he’s the person who will go to you.’ In other words, Nick is proactive in helping other students who don’t even know they need his help. ‘Whenever everyone else is stressed, Nick helps by staying calm and positive,’ said that same senior.”

Nick Valmores with Lisa Shafer

Parysh Ja’Nice was awarded the Mind of an Innovator award for constantly finding opportunity in obstacles. Fellow Far West student, Danielle Ramsey nominated Parysh. She wrote, “Parysh has also been a great help to students filling out College applications, registering for the SAT and ACT dates, and offering information and advice for fixing problems on applications after they have already been submitted.”

Parysh Ja’Nice and Danielle Ramsey

Jesus Gonzalez was also awarded the Mind of an Innovator award for constantly finding opportunity in obstacles. Lisa Osmanian is a counselor at Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy and nominated Jesus. She wrote, “Jesus had volunteered for our Clean Slate event that we had in September for our 9th grade students. We have had difficulty engaging our 9th grade boys, however, Jesus spoke to them during the event and the experiences he had at WP. He also stressed the importance of working hard and viewing college as an option in the future.”

Lisa Osmanian and Jesus Gonzalez

Alexandria Bridgett was awarded the Spirit of an Inspired Student Award. Dr. LuPaulette Taylor, a long-time educator at BEST nominated Bridgett. “Each school day morning, a burst of sunshine enters my room at 7:30 A.M. in the form of whirl wind of positivity and purpose called Alexandria Bridgett. One student had disappeared-stopped coming to classes- and Alex was very concerned. Alex took it upon herself to visit the student’s home with me to reach out and get her back to school. We stayed for two hours and finally got to the real reason the student was on the verge of giving up. The student returned the next day and has been on task since.”

Alexandria Bridgett and Dr. Taylor

Finally, Marianna Ballesteros was recognized as Peer Leader of The Year. Marianna demonstrated the Heart of a Great Teacher, Mind of an Innovator, and the Spirit of an Inspired Student. Sameer Sampat, Youth Empowerment School Teacher, wrote in his nomination that “83% of our senior class applied to 4-year colleges, Marianna had a significant part in making this happen.” Counselor Hilary Hayes of Youth Empowerment school also nominated Marianna. “When students are struggling she will sit right there with them and walk them through what they are working on, from FAFSA to college applications to decision making. For example, she helped another student make a list of benefits to choose between two schools and will tell students when she thinks they are going down the wrong path.”

Marianna Ballesteros and Sameer Sampat

Congratulations to all the nominees and thank you to the 2010 Awards Selection Committee: Jeff Camp, Paul Collins, Michael Magnaye, Ramona Herrera Reeves, Nhi Truong!