KTSU 90.9 FM Features Walk for Success

Radio show host Maurice Hope-Thompson, from the show Conversations with Maurice Hope-Thompson, interviewed Raymond Whitley, Principal Laison, Project GRAD Houston, on the 17th Annual Walk for Success. The show aired Saturday, October 1, 2005 at 9:00 a.m.

Houston to Stage 17th Annual Walk for Success

On the morning of Saturday, October 8, more than 5,000 community volunteers will visit close to 10,000 homes of some of Houston’s most at-risk students in the inner city. The annual event is called Walk for Success and is hosted each year by Project GRAD/HISD and Communities in Schools. The purpose of the walk is to let parents know that their child is in an HISD school that offers the Project GRAD program, and how it can be a part of their child’s educational future.

The 17th Annual Walk for Success home visits will familiarize parents with Project GRAD’s innovative Pre-K through 16 collaborative effort with HISD and Communities in Schools, which works with students in the elementary and middle schools in the Davis, Houston, Reagan, Wheatley, and Yates High School feeder patterns. The door-to-door campaign visits the homes of ninth-graders in five HISD high schools, sixth-graders in 11 middle schools and several grade levels in 40 elementary schools. 

During the visits, high-school parents and students are asked to sign a pledge to become eligible for a $4,000 tuition scholarship available when students receive at least a 2.5 GPA, graduate in four years from an HISD high school that offers the Project GRAD program, attend two GRAD summer college institutes, and meet specific school criteria. Middle- and elementary-school families receive information about Project GRAD academic support programs and the scholarship potential at their feeder high school.

“The Walk for Success is an incredible opportunity for our parents and students to hear the good news about how Project GRAD and HISD are working to provide a quality education leading to college scholarships and professional opportunities,” says Laurie Ballering, Director of Research at Project GRAD Houston.

The scholarship program is the cornerstone of Project GRAD Houston, a nationally recognized education reform effort that provides additional resources to school districts, teachers and families. Today, Project GRAD Houston partners with 69 HISD schools with 47,000 participating students. Since its inception, Project GRAD Houston has provided over $12 million in college scholarships to 3,000 inner-city HISD students.

Project GRAD Houston, Communities In Schools, HISD Teachers, and Volunteers will meet at each of the aforementioned schools at 8:00 a.m. for training, and will begin their door-to-door home visits by 9:00 a.m. Families targeted will be those in various elementary grades notified by their principals and all ninth-graders. Walkers will then be invited to return to their neighborhood high school at 12:30 pm for a celebration luncheon.

Funding for Project GRAD Houston’s 17th Annual Walk for Success is made possible in part by the generous donations from Taqueria Arandas and Silver Eagle Distributors.

Project GRAD to give scholarships
Houston Chronicle

This year, Project GRAD Houston will award more than 500 scholarships to students who have met the program-prescribed requirements.

To receive a $4,000 scholarship, students must attend one of five local high schools that partners with Project GRAD, maintain a 2.5 grade-point average, attend two Project GRAD College Institutes and graduate within four years.

The scholarships are made possible by corporate and private donations.

Revealing a Portrait
Houston Chronicle

Jim Ketelsen was all smiles after Jorge Chaves and Mark Medina unveiled a portrait of him during a ceremony on May 20 at Ketelsen Elementary School, 600 Quitman. Ketelsen's portrait, which was commissioned and paid for by Project GRAD, was photographed by Heinz Kugler.

KTRK CH-13 features Project GRAD Houston

On Friday, May 20, 2005 KTRK CH-13 (ABC) featured Project GRAD Houston around 6:50 a.m. in their Houston Happennings segment. They gave information on the Portrait Unveiling that took place at Ketelsen Elementary this morning.

Lakeshore Learning donated project materials

Kindergarten teacher Alfreedia Scott, 53, said every morning when she heads to her job at Dogan Elementary School, she cannot wait to get there. Read More...

KHOU-TV CH 11 (CBS) to Feature Project GRAD Founder Jim Ketelsen

On Thursday, April 7, 2005, KHOU-TV CH 11 (CBS) will feature Project GRAD Founder Jim Ketelsen and his commitment to education and improving the lives of young people on the 5:00 p.m. News. KHOU-TV also will feature Griselda Mani, a first generation Hispanic college student and Project GRAD recipient, on her trials and tribulations of getting a high school education at Davis High School, followed by an education at Rice University and now her lifelong dream of medical school at the University of Texas-Houston. The pre-taped interview also will air on KHOU-TV CH 11 at 12:00 p.m. News on Friday, April 8, 2005.

On Sunday, March 27, 2005, Houston PBS KUHT (Ch 8) will feature Project GRAD Houston’s 1st Annual Parent Convention at 2:00 p.m. on HISD Perspectives, a video magazine highlighting HISD activities. Project GRAD Houston’s 1st Annual Parent Convention attracted over 400 parents from 71 HISD schools to learn and consider ways for parents to partner with schools and improve student achievement. Houston PBS reaches 2.5 million people in 1 million households in the greater Houston area each week. KUHT's mission is to educate, inform and entertain the people of Southeast Texas.

KTRK CH-13 (ABC) Viva Houston Features Fine Arts Festival & Project GRAD

KTRK CH-13 Anchor Minerva Perez interviewed Robert Pollock, Principal, Looscan Elementary School on the upcoming 5th Annual Fine Arts Festival on Saturday, April 9, 2005 and the goals of Project GRAD. Project GRAD Parent Cynthia Cortez and her daughter, Ashley, were interviewed along with Mr. Pollock adding insight into parent involvement and Project GRAD. The pre-taped interview with air this Sunday, March 27, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. on KTRK CH-13.

Parents seek increased presence at schools

Safety is the primary issue compelling parents to take on a more significant role in their children's schools, Project GRAD board members said after the school reform group hosted its first parent convention. Read More...

Faces In The Crowd

Blanca Ortega had always thought about finishing high school, but she never had. All she needed was a push in the right direction. Read More...

HISD News Features Project GRAD Founder Jim Ketelsen

On Thursday, March 10, 2005 HISD News (Time Warner Cable TV CH 18) will feature Project GRAD Founder Jim Ketelsen at 6:30 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m. as the 2005 recipient of the Eugene H. Vaughan Civic Leadership Award for the Center for Houston's Future. The Civic Leadership Award is presented annually to an individual whose lifetime work has significantly shaped the future of the Houston region. HISD News is also scheduled to air the program on Friday, March 11, 2005 at 8:00 a.m. and noon.

What's Going On?
Houston Chronicle

Project GRAD founder is honored

The Center for Houston's Future, an affiliate of the Greater Houston Partnership, honored Project GRAD founder James L. Ketelsen as the 2005 recipient of the Eugene H. Vaughan Civic Leadership Award at its annual luncheon Tuesday.

The award is presented annually to an individual whose lifetime work has significantly shaped the future of the Houston region.

Ketelsen is well-known in Houston for his distinguished career in business, having served as chairman and CEO of Tenneco Inc. from 1978 to 1992. It has been his dedication to civic involvement, particularly through Project GRAD, that distinguished him for the award.

KUHF 88.7 FM Houston Public Radio - The Center for Houston's Future honored Project GRAD founder James Ketelsen

The Center for Houston's Future honored Project GRAD founder James Ketelsen with the 2005 Eugene Vaughan Civic Leadership Award at a Hilton-Americas luncheon. The former Tenneco chairman and CEO began the development of a system for the schools that empowers teachers and families to create higher expectations for academic achievement.

Jim Ketelsen audio

Project GRAD is currently operating in 71 schools, and Project GRAD student college graduation rates are nearly twice the national average of 26% for economically disadvantaged students.

Looking for a Way to Support Students?

Become a Project GRAD Mentor! The nationally recognized program needs volunteers to act as mentors to Houston's young people. If you've been looking for a way to get involved in public education, specifically by encouraging students to finish school and helping them with their future education and career goals, then now's your chance. Read More...

Continental Magazine Features
Project GRAD Founder Jim Ketelsen

When Jim Ketelsen read a 1978 report on the state of inner-city education
in the United States, he was shocked by the high student
dropout rate. So in 1981, he directed Houston-based Tenneco Inc.,
where he was chairman and CEO, to do what many corporations
were doing and adopt the city’s lowest-performing public high school. Read more...

KPFT 90.1 (Pacifica Radio) Nuestra Palabra Radio Show: Project GRAD

90.1 FM KPFT Talk Show Host Tony Diaz from Nuestra Palabra Radio Show on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 from 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. will interview University of Houston student Bowdoin College Student Carlos Montalvo and Whatever It Takes - The Project GRAD Story Author Holly Holland. KPFT 90.1 FM is Houston's only non-commercial, listener-sponsored radio station that reaches 145,000 listeners weekly in the Houston community.

KRBE 104 FM Radio Interview to Air on Sunday, January 16, 2005 at 6:00 a.m.

KRBE 104 FM, Houston's #1 Hit Music Radio Station, will air a pre-taped interview with Project GRAD Houston Scholar and current University of Houston student Claudia Aguiree, Project GRAD Houston Board Member and Former Davis High School Principal Emily Cole, and Whatever It Takes - The Project GRAD Story Author Holly Holland. The 30-minute program will air on KRBE 104 FM at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 16, 2005. Over 750,000 people tune to 104 KRBE weekly, the largest audience of any station in Texas

HISD News to Feature New Book on Project GRAD

On Thursday, January 13, 2005 HISD News (Time Warner Cable TV CH 18) at 6:30 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m. will feature Project GRAD and the new book, Whatever It Takes by Holly Holland, documenting Project GRAD’s education initiatives in Houston. Interviews will include students featured in the book, Project GRAD's Founder Jim Ketelsen and author Holly Holland. HISD News is also scheduled to air the program on Project GRAD on Friday, January 14, 2005 at 8:00 a.m. and noon.

002 Magazine
A Study in Civic Leadership
Myra Bolton
1998 Davis High School Graduate and El Paso Scholar
Attended University of Virginia

A former energy giant now dedicates most of his energy to making sure Houston students stay in school and graduate from college. Read More...

KPRC-TV CH 2 (NBC)
Houston Hosts Project GRAD's National Conference
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Project GRAD representatives from around the country will gather to strategize plans for the future and share best practices on how students have been positively impacted by the education initiative at Project GRAD USA 4th Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Houston. A local student, Griselda Mani, one of the first to graduate from Davis High School with a Project GRAD scholarship ten years ago will provide her insight to educators of inner-city schools from across the nation as the keynote speaker.

KRTK-TV
New Book Documents Project GRAD's Educational Initiatives in Houston
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

A local nonprofit and HISD will be featured in a new upcoming book, Whatever It Takes – The Project GRAD Story. It focuses on the national GRAD education initiative that started right here at Jeff Davis High School . The author, award winning Holly Holland, is in town today to talk about that book. Her book reception will be at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at 1200 Louisiana Street at 5:00 p.m.

KRTK-TV CH 13 (ABC)
Project GRAD’s 5th Annual College Day
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Over 50 HISD schools participated in Project GRAD Houston’s 5^th Annual College Day which seeks to encourage students to continue on to higher education. Miriam Medina, Project GRAD, discussed and encouraged students to go to college.

KRPC-TV CH 2 (NBC)
It’s never too early to start thinking about college
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

It’s never too early to start thinking about college. Elementary and middle school students in HISD had college day today in an early awareness event to promote high education at Project GRAD Houston’s 5^th Annual College Day.