Do You SEC... What I "C"-Whitney to College Degree

Verified Non-Profit

Verified Non-Profit

The Description

With these funds I will secure a tour of SEC colleges for our 4th and 5th grade students.

The Southeastern Conference is a powerhouse in our state when it comes to athletics and college support. Every weekend games are televised and our scholars often follow the outcomes due to their teachers' expressed interest.

Our scholars live in a community with an high unemployment rate, low college graduation rate, and the highest teen pregnancy rate in the country. It is imperative that the dream of a college degree is instilled in our scholars at an early age. It is also equally imperative that we give them a real world exposure to the college experience. We expect our scholars to dream and begin their plan to attend college while studying at Whitney Achievement Elementary School. We instill this expectation in various ways such as naming homerooms after their teachers' university, learning college cheers as well as reciting the year in which they will begin their own college experience. The harsh reality is that less than 5% of our students have a family member that has attended college. We have to be the avenue of exposure.

  • This project would take students on a college tour through the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee
  • Scholars will engage on the campuses by touring classrooms, dormitories, gymnasiums, student activity centers
  • Scholars will experience a meal like a typical college student and will keep a journal of their experiences
  • At the end of the tour, scholars will make a pledge to realize the college dream "Whitney to College Degree"
  • This three day college excursion will include visits to HBCU Alabama State, Morehouse and Spellman

This project will provide a once in a lifetime experience for our scholars and will encourage our community to pursue a college education.

Funding for this cause will provide transportation, hotel accomodations, meals, snacks, as well as a college. A detailed itinerary can be provided upon request.

Back Up Plan

If I do not meet my goal I will purchase transportation to pursue as much of the above as possible. At a minimal that would be a one day excursion to local universities in the greater Memphis area.

Fundraiser Updates (2)

We Did It...Thanks so much

May 24, 2016

On Monday, May 16th, our scholars set out for their college tours.  They visited Ole Miss, Mississippi State, University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Tennessee.  Thanks so much for you support.

 

 

 

 

Thanks from our scholars

December 1, 2015

Howard University with 5th Graders 2013

Comments (5)

Michelle Lyons November 15, 2015

STATEMENTS FROM FORMER STUDENTS THAT I TOOK ON COLLEGE TOURS WHEN THEY WERE IN GRADES 5-8

Jasmine W.
I had the chance to go on a college tour every year while in middle school. The experience was definitely an eye opener each time. I was able to see the impact college can have on your life no matter the decision. It was something I kept in my mind when i decided to attend college in 2010. I filled out many college applications because of scholarship opportunities I learned about on the trips. I decided to attend Austin Peay State University, and I graduated on December 12, 2014 with a Bachelors degree in social work. It definitely motivated me to brighten my future.

Ericka R.
Visiting colleges in middle school gave me early exposure to college life and showed me what to expect in school to be able to get there. I enjoyed touring the different schools in the different places, and they were all fun learning experiences. Touring colleges now also saves you money. Who knows? You might fall in love with a school that you visit. I did.. And I've applied and I'm so anxious to see that letter on my bed waiting from the office of admissions. Actually, I have applied to a couple of the schools that we've visited with the school. When visiting you learn about admissions, get advice for the upcoming years, learn about housing and much more. Currently I have been accepted to 7 colleges and visited 3 of them with my school. Because of the early exposure it helped in making decisions to where I wanted to apply, and now I'm waiting on other acceptances so that I can make my final decision. #DecidedButUndecided2020

Delaine November 13, 2015

College bound!

Samuel November 8, 2015

See you timely met the match amount

Angeleta Potts November 7, 2015

Let's go to college.

Samuel Crayton November 7, 2015

Great cause, hope you get to the goal to have donations matched before the 10th

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About the Creator

I am the assistant principal at an elementary school serving PreK-5th grade scholars. Our school is located in an underserved community and the school itself is in its third year of operation after being taken over by the state for extremely low performance. This past year, our school had the 12th highest growth in science and the 4th highest growth in math for the state of Tennessee on our standardized assessment. The hard work of our staff, parents, and scholars is proving what is possible when a group of dedicated and skilled individuals are whole-heartedly committed to providing a quality education to students in an impoverished and struggling community. Most rewarding is that students are closing the achievement gap and set on pace to realize the college dream.

Investments (44)

$20

Michelle Lyons

8 years ago

$50

Ernestine Hollins

8 years ago

$50

Florine West-McLemore

8 years ago

$10

dwight pugh

9 years ago

$52

Rebekah Berlin

9 years ago

$21

William Parker

9 years ago

$100

Leslie Garth

9 years ago

$25

Kelly Mcgough

9 years ago

$12

Michelle Lyons

9 years ago

$500

Delaine Smith

9 years ago

$50

Bridgette Simmons

9 years ago

$25

Marian Johnson

9 years ago

$10

Teneia Fair-Hawkins

9 years ago

$30

Debra Broughton

9 years ago

$10

Lurlynn Franklin

9 years ago

$20

Tiffany Webb

9 years ago

$10

9 years ago

$10

Aszure Knox-Brown

9 years ago

$189

Anonymous

9 years ago

$40

Samuel Crayton

9 years ago

$52

Landolph Lee

9 years ago

$25

Ann Walker

9 years ago

$10

Kelly Rawls

9 years ago

$10

Deneia Brooks

9 years ago

$15

Sylvester Lyons

9 years ago

$10

Anonymous

9 years ago

$10

Rukiya Young

9 years ago

$10

Clifton Taylor

9 years ago

$10

Ericka Young-Hull

9 years ago

$709

Anonymous

9 years ago

$103

Angeleta Potts

9 years ago

$100

Damien White

9 years ago

$100

tracy lyons

9 years ago

$10

Jeff Austin

9 years ago

$140

Samuel Crayton

9 years ago

$206

Dennis Turner

9 years ago

$40

Pete Lyons

9 years ago

$10

Michelle Lyons

9 years ago

$52

Anonymous

9 years ago

$52

Carolyn Jones

9 years ago

$50

Anonymous

9 years ago

$10

Clifton Taylor

9 years ago

$20

Taisha Stovall

9 years ago

$20

Michelle Lyons

9 years ago