Houston, TX January 5, 2005

Project GRAD Sponsors College Awareness Event

For Immediate Release Contact: Melissa Carroll
Work (832) 325-0301
Cell (713) 253-6953

Thousands of students and family members and over 50 HISD schools are anticipated to participate in the early college awareness event designed to foster conversations with elementary, middle and high schools students and their families about the importance of going to college.

“College Day is one of many early college awareness events Project GRAD sponsors to help build a bridge for students and families who are trying to navigate the unfamiliar path to college,” says Ann Stiles, Senior Director of Academic Programs for Project GRAD Houston. “We try to fully embrace students and families with the idea that they can go to college through hands-on college-related activities that create a college ambiance with the opportunity to meet real-life college students visiting from winter break to speak with students about their experiences.”

View a slideshow of College Day

Highlights of College Day Activities on
Friday, January 7, 2005 starting at 8:00 a.m.

Sherman Elementary School, 1909 McKee, Houston, TX 77009

• 11:00 – 12:30 p.m. the 3rd – 5th grade students will meet in the cafeteria for an assembly. Keynote speaker will be disc jockey Jesus Robles from Esterio Latino who is also a U of H student. The will be 10-15 booths from difference college fraternities and sororities giving out college information to students. LULAC and other community organizations also will be present. There will be entertainment and refreshments
• Classroom “College Day” Door Decoration Contest
• Faculty, staff, and community volunteers will wear t-shirts, sweaters, or jackets of the college they attended
• Teachers will speak to students about their college experience
• Bulletin boards and displays about College throughout the school

Ryan Elementary School, 4001 Hardy, Houston, TX 77009

• 9:40 – 10:30 a.m. College students who went to Ryan, Marshall, and Davis who are attending Columbia and UT and other colleges will speak in the classroom about their college experience. Other community leaders also will speak to the students.
• Bulletin boards and displays about College throughout the school
• Classroom “College Day” door decoration contest
• Faculty, staff, and community volunteers will wear t-shirts, sweaters, or jackets of the college they attended
• Teachers will speak to students about their college experience

Jeff Davis High School, 1100 Quitman, Houston, TX 77009

• 8:00 a.m. 20 to 25 Davis graduates will speak in the classrooms about their college experience (continental breakfast)
• Classroom “College Day” door decoration contest
• Faculty, staff, and community volunteers will wear t-shirts, sweaters, or jackets of the college they attended
• Teachers will speak to students about their college experience

Notes:

Project GRAD started at Davis High School twelve years ago as a scholarship program to help economically disadvantaged students graduate from high school and go to college. To see the success of Project GRAD Houston, click on www.projectgradhouston.org

Participants for Interviews:

• Ann Stiles, Senior Director of Academic Programs, Project GRAD Houston
• Javier Parra, Manager of Community Projects, Project GRAD Houston
• Diana Mulet, Principal, Jeff Davis High School
• Robert Pollock, Principal, Ryan Elementary
• Students, Parents, and Community Volunteers

For Interviews Contact:

Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations, Project GRAD Houston, 832-325-0301 or 713-253-6953 or via e-mail at mcarroll@projectgradhouston.org

Project GRAD is a nonprofit pre-k through16 school reform model helping students, teachers, and families in twelve school districts across the country. The mission of the program is to ensure a quality public education for all children in economically disadvantaged communities so that high school graduation rates increase and graduates are prepared to enter and be successful in college.

Project GRAD now serves 133,000 students nationally in 217 schools in Akron, Atlanta, Brownsville, Cincinnati, Columbus, Kenai Peninsula, Knoxville, Lorain, Los Angeles, Newark, and Roosevelt, New York.