Mentoring Program Students Embrace College Opportunities

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posted April 14, 2010

These students have been participating in the College Access Mentoring program conducted by the Hamilton County Department of Education and the Public Education Foundation.

The mentoring program was designed to reach beyond the students who are highly likely to go to college and add to their ranks students who are qualified for college but face one or more hurdles to college enrollment. These hurdles might include low family income, being the first in their family to attend college, or grade averages of ‘B’ or ‘C’.

“We’re at one hundred percent! Every student in the program has applied to at least one college or technical school,” said program director Elizabeth Burgess. “Many students have already been accepted and the rest are waiting to hear about admissions and financial aid decisions.”

For over a year, participating high school students at Ooltewah High, Hixson High, Central High and Howard School of Academics and Technology have been paired with local college student mentors who were recent graduates of their high schools.

These mentors have been in frequent communication with the high school students and have offered encouragement and insight into the college application process and college life.

The program has been funded by a $155,000 grant from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Senior Clarence Bulloch has applied and been accepted to Lee University next fall to study business management and computer programming. Mr. Bulloch is the first member of his family to go to college.

“I knew I was going to college,” he said, “but I thought you just walked in and started. I found out there’s a lot more to it than that – you need a personal statement, financial aid forms, and to really take a look at which college fits you. This program really opened up my eyes a lot, and I’m really thankful for that.”

Another student, Jerlisa Harris, has applied and been accepted at eight different universities. “I’m leaning toward Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina,” said Miss Harris, but her decision is not yet final. She, too, felt that the mentoring program helped open her eyes to the college application process.

“I think they should have more programs like college access,” she said. “Every student should have a mentor to tell them what to expect or not expect.” Her advice to other students who are interested in applying to college: “The earlier the better! Applications and forms like FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) need to be submitted much earlier than anyone realizes.”

In addition to the peer mentoring component, this program has included:

• A “college bonanza” day to provide information on college admission and financial aid for students and their parents;
• A four-week career/workforce development program organized by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by eight major employers in Hamilton County;
• Individualized analysis of pre-ACT scores and subsequent ACT preparation.

Partners in this work include the Hamilton County Department of Education; the Public Education Foundation; the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; Chattanooga State Technical Community College; the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce; GEAR UP Tennessee; the Urban League and Girls Inc.

 Most of these organizations have already been striving to increase the number of students who are able to go to college through their work with the Partnership for College Access and Success. Through the efforts of PCAS, part-time college advisors have been funded for each Hamilton County public high school, school counselors have been provided with professional development opportunities, and outreach has been conducted with students and parents to learn about the college application and financial aid processes.