Funding expires with 2006 summer graduation
Webster University’s School of Business and Technology concluded its Collegiate Outreach Recruitment and Exposure (CORE) program in a graduation ceremony held Saturday in the university’s Sunnen Lounge.
“The university secured initial funding for the program three years ago with a $50,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund,” said Benjamin Ola. Akande, dean of the School of Business and creator of the program.
“It’s sad to see a program that has benefited so many young men and women of color come to an end.”
The CORE program brought collegiate opportunities to minority students from low-income families by providing a free, intensive college preparatory program over the summer months.
Iris Jacob, author of My Sisters’ Voices: Teenage Girls of Color Speak Out, was a recent guest speaker of this summer’s program. Jacob, a successful author and student at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, won the 2006 K. P. Harrington Public Service Award.
“Graduates of this program are having great success in college,” said Tyann Cherry, director of the CORE program.
“This year, one of our graduates received a full Presidential Scholarship to Ottawa University in Kansas and another received a full scholarship to Truman State University in Missouri.”
Through the program, students learned leadership and organizational skills, library research techniques, ACT testing preparation, as well as how to apply to college and choose a field of study, college life and minority issues, career paths, networking, the college admission process, and received financial aid and scholarship guidance.
“The CORE program’s three-year success rate has been very impressive with all of the graduates of the program going on to college and studying in fields including nursing, pre-med biology and business,” said Akande. “There is great success awaiting the youth in our communities, and it is programs like CORE that enable students to get on the path to success.”