College Admissions Project

College Application Panel at Warren Easton High School October 31, 2013

College Application Panel volunteer group, L-R: Andre Lewis, Darryl Robertson, Brandi Gros, Alex Navarre-Davis (September Hargrove, not pictured)

2014 Super Service Challenge• Who did you serve, and what did you accomplish that day?College Admission Project is a volunteer mentoring program that provides college admissions guidance to low-income or first-

generation college students in New Orleans public high schools. Established in 2007, CAP is committed to increasing college enrollment and improving educational outcomes for New Orleans public high school students.

Each fall, the program pairs high school seniors with YLC members who serve as the students’ volunteer “guides.” Guides meet with their students regularly to draft a college wish list, discuss application deadlines, provide ACT prep, edit essays, file the FAFSA, and search for and apply to scholarships. Guides are trained on the college admissions process, are supported by a volunteer administrative team, and partner with staff members at participating high schools.

In 2013, 50 High School seniors participating in the CAP program were admitted to the college of their choice. In the 2013 – 2014 academic year, CAP paired 59 guides with students while operating in International High School and Warren Easton High School.

Our volunteer team of September Hargrove, Andre Lewis, Darryl Robertson, Brandi Gros, and Alex Navarre-Davis volunteered with a panel that was hosted for CAP students at Warren Easton High School. The panel, held on October 31, 2013, allowed the participants to hear the experiences of five young professionals and ask questions about college selection, cost, curriculum and activities. Panel members were diverse in current professions and colleges, representing Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU’s), private, public and Ivy league institutions.

The panel was attended by 30 Warren Easton High School juniors and seniors. September Hargrove came up with the idea for the panel, and worked to identify other young professionals who would be able to volunteer on the panel. She served as moderator for the discussion, as well as sharing her personal story of attending Harvard University after 15 years in the foster care system. September’s goal for the panel was to encourage questions, and show the students that college is obtainable for everyone, and there are many options available in terms of what colleges to attend.

• What is your team's plan for an ongoing relationship with the nonprofit?

September Hargrove recently signed on to be a CAP project leader, and the rest of the panel team will be serving as one-on-one college mentor guides for the 2013-2014 school year.

• What would your nonprofit do if they won part of the prize money?

We would use the funds to further the mission of the College Admissions Project. Current costs for the project include paying college application fees for students participating, purchasing ACT and SAT test preparation materials, and creating college application guides and other printed materials for students participating in the program. CAP also organizes a group college visit for the students in the program, and was able to arrange for tours of 5 Louisiana colleges in the fall of 2013. Costs for the tours include transportation and food for the students on the day of the tour.