Project GRAD Houston/Communities In Schools Sponsors
6th Annual College Awareness Week

Thousands of students and family members and over 65 Houston Independent School District partner schools are anticipated to participate in the early college awareness event designed to foster conversations with elementary, middle and high school students and their families about the importance of going to college. Read more...

“YES YOU CAN” Career Day Co-sponsored and supported by
MBA Council of Houston and Project GRAD Houston

The MBA Council of Houston (MBACH) sponsored and hosted its second “YES YOU CAN” Career Day on December 2, 2005 with support from Project GRAD Houston at University of St. Thomas (UST). Read more...

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.

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. Read more...

Project GRAD Holiday Family Festival Benefits
Underprivileged HISD Fine Arts Students

The Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) Fine Arts Festival at Marshall Middle School embarked on its 6th year with major support from the surrounding community and businesses on December 3, 2005 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Read more...

Students and Parents Get a Personal Visit from Local Educators

On the morning of October 8, 2005 over 5,000 community volunteers will visit close to 10,000 homes of Houston’s inner-city, at-risk students. Read more...

Best-Selling Author and Education Advocate Stedman Graham Fires Up Project GRAD Houston Volunteers for Annual Walk for Success

Project GRAD Houston is pleased to announce that New York Times bestselling author, management consultant and education reformer Stedman Graham will join hundreds of volunteers and friends at the Edwin Hornberger Conference Center on Tuesday, October 4, as part of the Walk For Success Walk Rally. Read more...

Rice MBA Project GRAD Class for High School Students

Jose Levya knew it was going to be an interesting summer. Instead of working the usual summer job like most other high-school students Levya, a John Reagan High School senior, has been analyzing stocks, writing business plans and rubbing elbows with some of the most prominent names in Houston business; all this in addition to earning himself a $4,000 college scholarship. Read more...

Project Grad Houston Awards Over $2 million in Scholarships to Local Students

Inner-City Project GRAD Students Each Receive $4,000 for College

(Houston, TX) – This year, Project GRAD Houston (Project GRAD) will award more than 500 scholarships to deserving students who have met the program-prescribed academic requirements. Read more...

1st Annual "I Contribute!" Challenge

Project GRAD Houston, a nonprofit pre-k through 16 comprehensive education reform model serving over 48,000 students in 71 HISD schools will host its first annual "I Contribute!" Challenge May 12 from 9:00a.m.-2:00p.m. Read more...

Project GRAD Celebrates the Week of the Young Child

Project GRAD Houston will celebrate the Week of the Young Child on April 6, 2005, a time to recognize that a child’s opportunities are our responsibility, and to recommit ourselves to ensuring that each and every child experiences the type of early environment -- at home, at child care, at school, and in the community. Read more...

Project GRAD Founder To Receive Civic Leadership Award

The Center for Houston’s Future, an affiliate of the Greater Houston Partnership, will honor Project GRAD Founder James L. Ketelsen as the 2005 recipient of the Eugene H. Vaughan Civic Leadership Award at its Annual Luncheon on March 8th, 2005 at the Hilton Americas- Houston. The Civic Leadership Award is presented annually to an individual whose lifetime work has significantly shaped the future of the Houston region. Read More...

Project GRAD Sponsors
1st Annual Parent Convention

Project GRAD Houston will host its 1st Annual Parent Convention on Tuesday, March 15, 2005. Over 500 parents from 71 HISD schools are anticipated to participate in the parent convention to learn and consider ways for parents to partner with schools and improve student achievement. Read More...

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...

Project GRAD Hosts 1st Annual Science Bowl

McReynolds Middle School and Sam Houston High School won the 1st Annual Project GRAD Science Bowl Competition.Forty-five middle and high school students from Project GRAD schools in HISD participated in the half-day event.  Read More...

MFAH to Celebrate Collaboration with Yates High School

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston will showcase the talent of students, past, and present from Jack Yates High School at “Eye on the Third Ward: The Tenth Anniversary,” opening February 12.  Read More...

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...

Student to Declare "I'm not intimidated anymore!"
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

Griselda Mani, a first generation Hispanic college student will address the Project GRAD USA Conference on the trials and tribulations of getting a high school education at HISD’s Davis High School, followed by an education at Rice University and now after being a software engineer is now pursing her lifelong dream of medical school at the University of Texas-Houston. Read More...

Houston Hosts Project GRAD USA’s National Conference
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

On January 10 - 12, 2005, Project GRAD USA will host its 4th Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Houston. 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. Read More...

Project GRAD Sponsors College Awareness Event
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

Project GRAD Houston will host the Fifth Annual College Day on Friday, January 7, 2005. 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. Read More...

New Book Documents Project GRAD’s Educational Initiatives in Houston
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

Whatever It Takes, Transforming American Schools, The Project GRAD Story will be released at the Project GRAD USA conference in Houston, Texas on January 10, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Read More...

Houston Texans Foundation Announces Winners of the 2004 NFL Community Quarterback Award
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

Ten members of the Houston community have been recognized as winners of the NFL Community Quarterback Award competition, the Houston Texans Foundation announced on December 1, 2004. Read More...

Project GRAD Houston Seeks Mentors
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

Project GRAD Houston in a cooperative effort with Volunteer Houston is seeking mentors for a school-based mentoring program to encourage students in their academic studies and career goals at Reagan High School, Sam Houston High School, Wheatley High School, and Yates High School. Read More...

MFAH Hosts Family Day for Project GRAD
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

Families of Davis High School and all of the middle and elementary schools that "feed" students into Davis are invited to a free family day at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston to celebrate "Dia de los Muertos" from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 31, 2004. Read More...

Project GRAD Houston Announces New Board Members
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

Executive Vice President and General Manager of Houston Chronicle, Bob Carlquist, and Vice President of Fayez Sarofim & Co., William Gentry Lee, Jr., were elected recently to serve on the Project GRAD Houston Board of Directors. Read More...

Donate Your Used Band Instrument
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

Our Fine Arts students in the HISD Jefferson Davis Feeder Pattern are in need of band instruments.  Read More...

16th Annual Walk for Success Largest in History of Project GRAD
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

Project GRAD Houston led a Walk for Success into Houston’s inner-city homes to talk directly with parents and students about their child’s plans for the future. Read More...

Students and Parents Get a Personal Visit from Local Educators
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

Project GRAD Houston, Communities In Schools, HISD Teachers & Volunteers visit more than 7,000 inner-city homes in a Walk for Success. Read More...

Project GRAD Houston’s 16th Annual Walk for Success
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

Project GRAD, Communities In Schools, HISD Teachers and Volunteers
Go Door-to-Door to Visit Students & Parents at Home in a Walk For Success. Read More...

In July 2004, Project GRAD Houston completed another successful Summer Institute Program with the participation of 1,798 students in 14 different residential and non-residential programs from all five of the Project GRAD Houston high schools. 158 more students participated in the Summer Institute Program than in 2003. Read More...

Summer Institute for Students offers
Exploration into Medical Careers
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

The month-long program for Project GRAD high school students provides an in-depth opportunity to explore a variety of careers in the medical profession ranging from surgical technology, nurse, lab assistant, pharmacy technician to occupational therapy assistant. Read More...

Fine Arts summer program offers students instruction in visual and performing arts by educators and artists
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Affairs
Project GRAD Houston

In partnership with Marshall Academy of Fine Arts, the Fine Arts Studio provides the basic skills and knowledge in specific arts disciplines with a preliminary focus on visual arts and music in pre-k through 8 in Houston’s predominately – Hispanic North side neighborhood. Read More...

Project GRAD Celebrates Decade of Turning Tassels and Changing Lives
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

An estimated 3,000 parents gathered at the George R. Brown Convention Center to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) Houston, a comprehensive education reform program that serves students, teachers and families at economically disadvantaged schools. Read More...

Project GRAD Teacher Named Houston Teacher of the Year
Melissa Carroll, Director of Public Relations
Project GRAD Houston

On Tuesday, May 18, 2004, HISD recognized the districts secondary teacher of the year at a ceremony at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Read More...

El Paso Honors Largest Class of Project GRAD Scholars

The El Paso Corporation honored 168 Project GRAD Davis High School students at an awards ceremony and reception on Thursday, May 13, 2004 in the Davis High School Auditorium. Read More...

Project GRAD Sponsors FotoFest – FotoFence 2004 Literacy through Photography

FotoFest’s Literacy Through Photography®, a pre-collegiate Writing and Photography Program aimed at improving literacy and writing skills through the use of visual art, will mount its Fourteenth annual exhibit of student art and writing projects this spring, May 11 – May 16, 2004, at Minute Maid Park, home field for the Houston Astros baseball team. Read More...

Davis High School Wins First Annual Math Challenge

On Monday, April 8, 2004, Project GRAD Houston (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) hosted the First Annual High School Math Challenge. Read More...

4th Annual Family Arts Festival Attracts 1,500

On Saturday, March 27, 2004 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Jefferson Davis High School, over 1,500 parents, students, teachers, and community members attended the 4 th Annual Family Art, Music, Drama, and Dance Festival featuring performances from 25-area elementary, middle, and high schools in the North District. Read More...

Project GRAD Welcomes New Executive Director and Senior Director of Academic Programs

Project GRAD Houston, a nonprofit organization that has been rated as one of the top school reform models in the United States and currently serving over 48,000 students in 73 schools in the Houston Independent School District (HISD), announced today the selection of a new administrative team. Read More...