Giving back to the community

by Samantha Bates, Jake Reilly, Leonard Freeman and Ashley Hanock (editor)

Project GRAD is a local high school program that benefits students in more than one way. The program allow students from Fulton and Austin-East to obtain scholarship money and, as Project GRAD staff believes, will boost graduation rates and the percentage number of those who will attend college. For the project’s staff, team and the instructor it is a way to give back to the community and help young minds grow and develop.

Nineteen year old Emily McKeehan, a Fulton graduate and staff members of Project GRAD, says that she enjoys working with the students.
“I really enjoyed getting to know them and having fun with them while being able to both teach and learn from them at the same time.” For Emily, a former Project GRAD student herself, this opportunity is a chance for the students to learn more about themselves and others and also to set future career goals.
Later Emily stated, “I think it gives them a chance to see that they really do have to work hard in college while giving them a great scholarship to help them get to college.”

“They (the students) get the support and assistance needed to enable them to apply for scholarships. It assists them with financial aid and makes sure they correctly complete college applications,” says Ms. Edie Debose, an academic student advocate from Austin-East. She also thinks her calling in life is to shape young minds.

In the past two weeks Project GRAD students were able to bond with staff leaders and experience a college setting. The UT Summer Institute gives students a sense of support and a way to successfully complete high school with guaranteed scholarship money, as long as they meet the Project GRAD requirements.

For Rebekka Freeman this project is a way to give back to the community. It shows to students that it is hard to get to college but “yet it is attainable and necessary in our society.” In her opinion Project GRAD meets and exceeds her expectations. The classes offered are all good and hands-on. They are very intense but help students retain material that might otherwise be forgotten.
“It opens their eyes to the fast-paced college life and reveal the areas in which they are adequate and in the areas in which they need to improve upon,” says Freeman.

The co-director of the UT Summer Institute, Dr. Fritz Polite, has been a positive influence over many of the students. “I love Project GRAD, and I love the students. I love to see them grow and develop,” he stated. “I enjoy working with young people.” His involvement with this program has allowed little room for error and has made students realize that college will bring hope for the future.

Brittany Blue contributed to the story.