|
The College Crusade Adds 301 New Students This Year
A new group of sixth graders from Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket joins the college-readiness program for urban youth
Providence, R.I., October 19, 2009 – This fall, 301 sixth graders started school as new members of The College Crusade of Rhode Island. The new Crusaders attend 30 different public schools across Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket. They join thousands of other young Rhode Islanders in grades 6 through 12 who are already members of the organization.
The mission of The College Crusade of Rhode Island is to increase college readiness and career success for youth in Rhode Island’s low-income urban communities. From grade 6 to grade 12, students who are members of The College Crusade benefit from specialized Advisory services and an array of enrichment programs designed to help them prepare for college.
“We are excited to welcome a brand new class of Crusaders to our college-readiness program,” said Todd D. Flaherty, Ed.D., Interim President & CEO for The College Crusade. “They are a particularly dedicated group this year and are already participating enthusiastically in our academic, career awareness, and youth development programs. For the next seven years, all the way to high-school graduation, they will benefit from the guidance of our excellent Advisory staff and get involved in dozens of programs designed to prepare them to succeed in higher education. We congratulate each one of these young people for taking their first steps on the path to college, and we encourage them to set high academic goals and to persist in their studies.”
All students admitted to The College Crusade are from low-income families and attend public schools or public charter schools in Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence or Woonsocket. Students apply for membership in the organization when they are in fifth grade. They submit an application form, including an essay explaining why they wish to join. Over the summer, before they enter sixth grade, they participate in a study-skills workshop called Ways to A’s. Students pledge to work hard in school and to be good citizens in their communities. Parents and guardians attend an orientation workshop to demonstrate commitment to their child’s education.
About The College Crusade of Rhode Island
The College Crusade of Rhode Island is the state’s most comprehensive college-readiness and scholarship program for middle school and high school students in low-income urban school districts. It serves approximately 3,700 students per year and rewards the efforts and achievements of financially eligible students with up to four years of college scholarships. From grade 6 through grade 12, Crusaders experience the steady, nurturing presence of caring adults and participate in activities that focus on academic enrichment, social and personal development, career awareness and exploration, and readiness for college. Students who are members of The College Crusade graduate and go right on to college at much higher rates than their peers in the state’s urban school districts. Since 2001, The College Crusade has awarded over $20 million in college scholarships to more than 2,700 graduates from Rhode Island high schools. For more information, please visit www.thecollegecrusade.org.
The College Crusade is a nonprofit organization funded by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s GEAR UP program, by the State of Rhode Island, and by private corporations, foundations, and individuals.
###
Contact:
Karen Donovan
Marketing & Communications Officer
401 854 5506 ext 120
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
