Six Brooklyn students were recently the recipients in the first round of scholarships from a long-running and innovative St Francis College program that provides extra tutoring, mentoring and monitoring for students to prepare them for college life.
The ‘Project Access’ program, instituted 13 years ago, is designed to address the challenges that arise for some students when they transition from high school to college, bringing with it on increased workload, more challenging courses and a new environment.
“We accept people who on paper may not meet the qualifications for college. But we look beyond scores to see the potential in people who are motivated to earn a college degree. There are many factors that could lead to a lower GPA or standardized test scores and we seek to remedy those factors.” said Richard Relkin, St. Francis College Director of Media Relations and an adjunct professor.
The program sponsors events to bring students and faculty together, including museum visits, community service projects, and theatrical performances. The program also offers peer tutoring, where sophomores or juniors from Project Access classes mentor first-year students to introduce them to college life.
“At St. Francis College, we understand that everyone who comes out of high school may not be ready for the pressure and educational commitment required to succeed at the college level,” said Stefan Spezio, Director of the Academic Enhancement Center and Project Access Program.
Since its’ inception, Project Access has impacted more than 1,100 students. This year, the six students who earned the first round of scholarships are: Marie Barrett, Andrea Couchon, Carvel Crossmanm, Ayomiposi Makinde, Andrew Nestor, and Blake Timmons.
In the hopes of promoting a higher retention rate, the new scholarships will grant an additional $2,000 per student after freshman year. The scholarship will continue as long as the student remains in good standing. Last semester, there were 61 students in the program. The new group for Fall 2015 is currently being put together.
“It’s our mission to bring those students up to a level where they can not only complete the work, but thrive. These new scholarships are another way to remove hurdles for our students that may keep them from graduating,” said Spezio.
