New School Year and Fall Activities Under Way 
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FALL 2016: SUCCESS TEAM  SENDS  FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS  OFF TO   MORE THAN  60  COLLEGES
Kudos to Success Program Director Jenni Adams and her team: Coach Nneka, Coach Danny and Coach Rachel. The super-charged and hardworking group spent the summer readying students for their freshman year of college. 

Their work paid off and more than 114 rising freshman went off with confidence and a game plan to more than 60 colleges. On the roster of schools were local favorites such as Montgomery College, the University of Maryland at College Park and Trinity-Washington University. Others went farther afield to schools such as the University of Rochester and Ithaca College in New York, Bethel University in Minnesota, Arizona State and Florida State University. 

Says Success Program Director Jenni Adams, "Our Success Scholars are so excited about their opportunities. Of course, we make sure they know there are a lot challenges ahead but CollegeTracks will be by their sides when they hit a rough patch and need support. We encourage our students to study hard, but also to get out and explore organizations and clubs on campus that align with their interests."

A SALUTE  TO OUR  GROWING
CORPS OF  VOLUNTEERS
Michele Parsonnet ( pictured), CollegeTracks Volunteer Coordinator, reports that CollegeTracks now boasts a cadre of 80 volunteers, most of whom work with our Access students at B-CC, Watkins Mill and Wheaton High Schools while some tutor students at Montgomery College. 

Training for the 2016-2017 school year is underway. More than 10 training sessions have taken place with an emphasis on the milestones of the college admissions and financial aid process as well as ACT Prep.  Parsonnet reports that volunteers are carefully trained to ensure scholars receive every "dollar" available to them. 


B-CC SCHOLARS RECRUITED for  SOUL CYCLE WELLNESS PROGRAM

Soul Cycle will partner with CollegeTracks to offer the first Soul Cycle Scholars program in the Washington, DC area this fall. 

Approximately  15 CollegeTracks students from B-CC High School will challenge themselves in twice weekly spin classes at  the Soul Cycle studio in Bethesda. 

The 12-week program begins in October. CollegeTracks staff will ride alongside the students in classes attended by the local community. Program participants will also receive education related to wellness, nutrition and leadership.

A charity ride to benefit CollegeTracks will follow the Soul Scholars program. Recruitment will begin in November. Details to follow. 

THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES INCREASE IN THE  PELL GRANT

A big thank-you to President Obama for increasing the Pell Grant from $5,775.00 to $5,920.00 for school year 2017-2018. The announcement was released from the White House on October 7th and the CollegeTracks Access team ( pictured) had nothing but big smiles when they learned of the news.  

In case you didn't know, nearly all students are eligible for financial aid, but only 45% of high school seniors nationally complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) before graduation. T he FAFSA is required for access to all Federal and state aid as well as most aid from colleges. 

Over 90% of CollegeTracks students submit the FAFSA, thanks to CollegeTracks staff and volunteers who spend HUNDREDS of hours helping students and families complete it. The goal: Let no money go unclaimed! 

HELP A STUDENT GO TO COLEGE: DONATE NOW
COLLEGETRACKS SCHOLARS VISIT  TOWSON STATE UNIVERSITY 

On September 12th, CollegeTracks staff members accompanied 35 students to Towson University in Baltimore. 

The scholars toured the campus and acquainted themselves with the academic offerings and extracurricular activities of the university.  

Mr. Barry Evans ( pictured),  Outreach Specialist for Academic Affairs and President of the Black Faculty and Staff Association,  was on hand to welcome the students and give them important tips about applying to college in general and to Towson specifically.

WATKINS MILL NOW SERVING SENIORS 

It's official. Our Watkins Mill program is now preparing its first senior cohort for college admission. More than 170 students have joined the College Tracks program since it started in spring of 2016. Lots of work was done over the summer to help students prep for the ACT, write admissions essays and research schools. Currently, the group is focused on completion of the FAFSA and college applications. 

Program Director Bridget Kasprzak remarked that word of the program has spread far and wide. In addition to the cohort of seniors, more than 50 of this year's juniors have already signed up for the CollegeTracks program.

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