Marygrove College Receives Grant

to Help 7^th Graders Compete for Scholarships

October 1, 2004-- Marygrove College has formed a partnership with The YES Foundation to help Detroit area students compete for scholarships to college preparatory high schools and successfully complete accelerated high school courses. The 14-month program named YES for PREP is a rigorous, multicultural, academic and leadership development initiative. Already in its second year, the talent search to identify students for next year’s entering class is currently underway.

The Skillman Foundation has approved $271,000 for one year to work as the educational partner with the YES Foundation.

For the next four years, 100 YES for PREP participants will be selected from a pool of high performing, low-income minority 7^th grade students who are nominated by teachers, guidance counselors, or parents/guardians. Students must qualify through a series of tests and interviews. Thirty students will participate in the 14-month preparatory curriculum; another group of 70 students will be eligible to participate in the PREP Learning Community, consisting of workshops, academic advising, tutoring and a variety of cultural and leadership development activities. The project will run through August 2008.

“Our years of experience within the urban environment of Detroit and our commitment to quality education make us an ideal entity to provide the technical assistance, academic programs and facilities that this project demands,” said Dr. Glenda Price, president, Marygrove College. “We want these young people to realize their full potential as students, and ultimately, as the leaders, movers and shakers of their generation.”

Several strategies will assist in the academic success of students in both YES for PREP programs. “Academic counseling and support, enrichment opportunities, testing, parent conferences, and individual PREP plans are just a few of the approaches we will use to insure that students maintain or improve their GPAs,” said Julia Ritchie, president, The Yes Foundation.

Students will attend classes on Saturday, and each participant will receive annually advanced instruction in math, science, writing, history/social studies, and communication skills with technology infused in all courses; training in research and study skills; cultural enrichment; and will participate in online discussion groups and conference calls.

YES for PREP’s measurable program objectives include maintaining and improving GPAs; admission to highly competitive secondary schools; an increased understanding of the needs of culturally diverse students by teachers at YES for PREP partnership schools; and the use of best practice strategies to help students succeed. YES for PREP is modeled after New York’s PREP for PREP program, which has worked with parents of high-achieving children and their parents for the past 25 years.

To date, partnership schools include University of Detroit Jesuit High School, Cranbrook Educational Community, The Roper School, Detroit Country Day School, Academy of Sacred Heart, and University of Liggett School.

The Skillman Foundation is a resource for improving the lives of children in metropolitan Detroit. The Foundation applies its resources to foster positive relationships between children and adults, support high quality learning opportunities and strengthen healthy, safe and supportive homes and communities. The Foundation was founded in December 1960 by Rose P. Skillman, widow of Robert H. Skillman, vice president and director of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, and has an annual grant-making budget of $21.7 million.

Marygrove College is a liberal arts college located on 53 wooded acres in one of Detroit’s oldest residential neighborhoods. More than 1,200 students attend classes in its undergraduate and graduate programs in education, social work, the liberal and fine arts.

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