East Bay College Fund featured in:
March 19, 2010
Nonprofits Add Mentoring to Money to Keep Minorities in College
By TRACEY TAYLOR
As college admissions season draws to a close, the spotlight has been on students’ getting a foot in the door. Less attention is paid to how many of today’s high school seniors will emerge a few years down the line with diplomas in hand, and what might cause them to veer off track.
It is much tougher to stay the course in college if you are the first in your family to enroll in college, if you have rarely strayed far from home and if your life is still affected by family problems, be it a jobless parent or an addicted sibling.
At a national level, one student in two enrolling in college earns a degree within six years. In the Bay Area’s most challenged communities, the ratio is far worse. The problem is most acute among young black and Latino men. According to data gathered by the Oakland Unified School District, only 8 percent of black teenagers entering ninth grade will get a bachelor’s degree. Only 34 percent of black male students, and 44 percent of Latino male students who entered the combined University of California and California State University system in 2001 had graduated six years later. The rate for white men was 62 percent.
That statistic, graduation rates, is in the cross hairs of the East Bay College Fund. It is perhaps the most visible of a small but growing number of Bay Area nonprofits that are beginning to make inroads in steering young, at-risk students to college, and also helping them through it. The fund’s method is to supplement financial aid with a carefully administered program of mentoring, peer-to-peer guidance and life-skills training.
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Hoops Great Courtney Paris will Share Off-Court Lessons
with East Bay College Fund Scholars
Basketball superstar Courtney Paris returns home on May 19 to give
an off-court assist to 18 East Bay youth who have beaten significant
personal odds while preparing for college.
Paris will speak at the East Bay College Fund’s seventh annual
“Great Expectations Awards” at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday (5/19) at the
Student Union Building on the campus of Mills College, 5000
MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland. The ceremony is open to the public. Continue Reading »
Thank you to all who joined us to honor our 17 newest 2009 Great Expectations Awards recipients!
- 2009 Scholars and their Mentors
Recent college graduate and basketball superstar COURTNEY PARIS inspired the scholars, families and other attendees with her advice ranging from how to survive the challenges of college to accomplishing one’s dreams. Courtney was moved by each scholar’s story and assured them they have already shown the drive and resiliency to succeed in the future.
2008 “Great Expectations” Awards Ceremony
On Thursday, May 22 twenty-two outstanding scholars from Oakland and Emeryville public high schools were presented with the Great Expectations Award. Each student will receive a $16,000 scholarship over four years, a personal mentor and a support network to provide guidance during their college years.
At the 2008 Awards Ceremony (from left) Judge Evilio M. Grillo addresses the crowd, Marc-keia Jones accepts her award and Mikhael Hines poses with his mother after receiving his award.
2007 “Great Expectations” Awards Ceremony
On Wednesday, May 23, sixteen outstanding scholars from Oakland and Emeryville public high schools were presented with the Great Expectations Award. Each student will receive a $16,000 scholarship over four years, a personal mentor and a support network to provide guidance during their college years.
Beatriz Torres, our first university graduate, gives advice to 2007 award recipients. |
Jose Guerrero, Amari Washington, Janice Andrade and Elisa Ortega-Enriquez proudly display their award certificates. |
Deashla Miller accepts her scholarship award. |
2006 “Great Expectations” Awards Ceremony
On May 24, East Bay College Fund was privileged to present the recipients of our fourth annual awards. Sixteen scholars who successfully prepared themselves for college while overcoming significant personal challenges were each granted a four-year $16,000 scholarship.
2006 Scholarship recipient Karmjit Singh gratefully accepts his award. |
Guest speaker, Darrick Smith, Founder and Director of TryUMF, a youth empowerment program in Oakland, delivers an inspiring speech. |
Scholar Rakim Johnson celebrates with family members after receiving the award. |
Scholarship recipient Brittany Chambers beams as she accepts her award. |
2005 “Great Expectations” Awards Ceremony
At its annual awards ceremony on May 25, 2005, East Bay College Fund was privileged to present thirteen recipients with $16,000 4-year Great Expectations scholarships.
2005 Scholar, Burt Jones is interviewed by the Channel 2 News as Lakeisha Richardson, another 2005 Scholar looks on. |
2005 Scholar Edith Cruz proudly poses with her parents after receiving her award. |
Julie Hadnot, East Bay College Fund mentor delivers an inspiring speech during the ceremony presentations. |
2004 “Great Expectations” Awards Ceremony
On May 18, 2004, ten outstanding scholars were granted four-year, $16,000 scholarship awards.
2004 Scholarship recipient, Sam Becerra receives his award from Delores Lemon-Thomas, East Bay College Fund Advisory Council member |
2004 Scholarship recipient, Yahya Abdul-Mateen, with his parents and donors. |
2003 scholarship recipient, Beatriz Torres (left), celebrates with 2004 Scholar, Luz Gomez |
2003 “Great Expectations” Awards Ceremony
In Spring 2003 (its first year), East Bay College Fund awarded scholarships to seven exceptional scholars.
The audience listens to the 2003 Awards presentations |
2003 East Bay College Fund Scholar, Tsering Dorjee celebrates with his parents at the awards ceremony |
