Houston, TX January 3, 2006

PROJECT GRAD FOCUSES ON GETTING HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE
Project GRAD Houston hosts a college access symposium for Texas colleges and universities.

(Houston, TX) – After awarding over 600 scholarships last year to HISD students who participate in the Project GRAD program, Project GRAD Houston held a symposium on December 1, 2005 at the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast to discuss issues surrounding college access and retention as well as to forge a strong partnership between Project GRAD and the colleges and universities where their scholarship recipients attend. Attendees of the Belayers’ Symposium included university partners from various colleges and universities including Texas A&M University, University of Texas and University of Houston Downtown. 

The symposium’s belayer theme focused on the support system needed for students to graduate.  In the sport of rock climbing, a belayer stays on the ground, guiding, directing, securing the lines and keeping the climber’s rope tight.  The climber’s success is dependent on the belayer much like a student’s collegiate success is dependant on university resources and organizations like Project GRAD.

Dr. Joel V. McGee, Associate Director of the Center for Academic Enhancement, Texas A&M University, used the symposiums belayer theme to stress the importance and need of support systems available to students.  “When you get in trouble, you better know how to get help,” he said.  One of Project GRAD’s goals is to help these students by working with colleges and universities to create access and support systems.

Karen Domino, District Director for the State Senator Rodney Ellis and University of Houston Downtown scholar Nayeli Cruz also addressed the group.

Paula Roe, Director of Scholarships, Project GRAD Houston said that one of her goals is to “increase the number of Project GRAD students who actually graduate from college.”  She believes there may be something Project GRAD can do before students get out of high school to help increase the probability that they will graduate from college.  The goal of getting more students to graduate is one that Project GRAD shares with colleges and universities.

The mission of Project GRAD is to ensure a quality public education for all children in economically disadvantaged communities by partnering with local school districts. By providing additional funds, learning and teaching tools, mentors and other support, Project GRAD is able help school districts increase the number of students who gradate from high school as well as increase the number of those students who attend and graduate from college.