The mission of Project GRAD Houston is to support a quality public education for all children in economically disadvantaged communities so that high school and college graduation rates increase.
Project GRAD Houston
3000 Richmond, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77098
832-325-0325 (main)
Ann B. Stiles
Executive Director
832-325-0467
Email
UST-hosted Project Grad offers peek at college life
By JARED SEROTA
Updated: 08.12.09
For three weeks every summer, the University of St. Thomas hosts the Summer Institutes portion of Project GRAD.
The program, which partnered with the University of St. Thomas 13 years ago, is designed to help every student graduate from high school and have a chance to go to college, regardless of socioeconomic status.
The program gives high school students a taste of what it is like to go to college for three weeks and allow them to take courses that are more advanced than what is taught in their high schools.
“We serve more than 45,000 students in HISD,” said Melissa Martinez, college institute coordinator. “We’re partnered with the feeder patterns of Davis High School, Yates High School, Wheatley, Reagan and Davis.”
The program boasts a 26 percent gain in graduation rates, which is about eight times higher than comparable HISD schools.
“There’s a lot of success stories that I’m glad to hear from these students,” said Emiliano Gonzalez, a teacher of graduate courses in education who oversees the program.
Brisa Ponce, who is going into her junior year at Reagan High School said she received an excellent opportunity through Project GRAD.
“It’s helped me out to get a look at how college will be and the way I should be prepared,” said Ponce, “It helps us see college life for three weeks and helps us to be more focused so we can go to college.”
Todd Brown, a teacher from Jefferson Davis High School, who also teaches website design for Project GRAD, said the students have a different mentality when they come to the University of St. Thomas.
“They have a more serious approach to it,” Brown said. “We’re able to get to some of those other topics that you’re not able to get at a high school.”
Dennis Hurcules, a senior in Reagan High School, said “You know what to expect once you go to college. You’re not like a deer in the headlights.”
The program, which partnered with the University of St. Thomas 13 years ago, is designed to help every student graduate from high school and have a chance to go to college, regardless of socioeconomic status.
The program gives high school students a taste of what it is like to go to college for three weeks and allow them to take courses that are more advanced than what is taught in their high schools.
“We serve more than 45,000 students in HISD,” said Melissa Martinez, college institute coordinator. “We’re partnered with the feeder patterns of Davis High School, Yates High School, Wheatley, Reagan and Davis.”
The program boasts a 26 percent gain in graduation rates, which is about eight times higher than comparable HISD schools.
“There’s a lot of success stories that I’m glad to hear from these students,” said Emiliano Gonzalez, a teacher of graduate courses in education who oversees the program.
Brisa Ponce, who is going into her junior year at Reagan High School said she received an excellent opportunity through Project GRAD.
“It’s helped me out to get a look at how college will be and the way I should be prepared,” said Ponce, “It helps us see college life for three weeks and helps us to be more focused so we can go to college.”
Todd Brown, a teacher from Jefferson Davis High School, who also teaches website design for Project GRAD, said the students have a different mentality when they come to the University of St. Thomas.
“They have a more serious approach to it,” Brown said. “We’re able to get to some of those other topics that you’re not able to get at a high school.”
Dennis Hurcules, a senior in Reagan High School, said “You know what to expect once you go to college. You’re not like a deer in the headlights.”