DEF Awarded Grant to Start Local College/Career Access Program

Program begins in Wicomico and Somerset school districts

Wicomico and Somerset public schools superintendents Dr. Charlene Cooper Boston (left) and Dr. Karen-Lee Brofee (right)

meet with DEF executive director Dr. Donald Harting (standing) and DEF-CCAP Council chair Mr. Roger Harrell (seated)

to discuss their new partnership.

(January 1, 2006) The Delmarva Education Foundation (DEF) has been awarded a $90,000 Start-up Grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to implement a College/ Career Access Program (CCAP) over two years, starting with pilot programs in Somerset and Wicomico counties.

The Start-up Grant is part of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's College Access Network initiative, established to invest $1 million in Maryland during 2005 and 2006 to help create a network of college access programs through grants to new or existing community nonprofit organizations such as DEF. This award is in addition to a $5,000 Planning Grant that DEF received earlier from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

DEF's College/Career Access Program will initially serve students in Wicomico High School and Washington High School , providing one-on-one advising and group sessions about college selection, admission, financial aid, and scholarships, in addition to vocational career preparation strategies. Dr. Karen Brofee, superintendent of Somerset County public schools, is enthusiastic about this new joint venture. She noted, “We are pleased to be working with the Delmarva Education Foundation to help our students realize and pursue the opportunities in higher education that are available to them.”

The CCAP advisors will guide local high school students through the maze of choices and requirements, while providing encouragement and information for understanding the costs and benefits of pursuing career training or a college degree. Services will be available to all students, with a focus on low income, first generation students who might not otherwise go on to higher education after high school. “This program is right in line with our goals to help under-represented students in Wicomico County attain success through post-secondary education,” added Dr. Charlene Cooper Boston, superintendent of Wicomico County schools.

DEF will also raise local funds to support and expand this program in our region and to award last-dollar scholarships to eligible students. This builds on DEF's existing “ Financial Aid Clearinghouse” project, which makes information about local scholarships available through our online “ Scholarships and Aid” database at www.delmarvaed.org.

The Delmarva Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve educational opportunities for residents of the Lower Delmarva Peninsula using a regional approach to facilitate accessibility, quality, and effectiveness of education for all ages. DEF serves Dorchester , Somerset , Wicomico, and Worcester counties in Maryland ; Accomack and Northampton counties in Virginia ; and Sussex County , Delaware . For more information about the Delmarva Education Foundation visit the website at www.delmarvaed.org , phone 410-219-3336, or stop by the office on the main floor of the Wicomico Public Library.