College transition program launches in Bethel regionPublished on March 11th, 2010 By TUNDRA DRUMS STAFF
Some Mountain Village sophomores received information about Take Wing Alaska in early March. Trina Landlord, second from left, helped organize the program and is now a family school liaison. Also, Maggie Mike, fourth from left, cannot participate because she is a junior. She wanted to be in the photo with her friends. Sophomore students who might apply include, from left: Karlene George, Joseph Landlord, Misti Moses and Chasity Adams. Sophomore students attending schools in the Lower Yukon and Lower Kuskokwim school districts are eligible to apply for the Take Wing Alaska program, an effort to combat dropout rates by introducing students to higher education early in their high school career. The Alaska Humanities Forum project is designed to ease students into post-secondary life and reduce the intimidating cultural changes students face when leaving villages for big-city campuses. With college as a goal, the effort should also keep high school students interested in class work. On March 3, program organizers flew to Mountain Village to introduce sophomores to the concept. They also met with community leaders, since the program plans to involve parents and a community liaison who will travel with the winning students and keep them on track. Amber Matthews, project coordinator, said the community meeting went very well. "They asked really great questions, so it was good," she said. "They asked if we were going to pressure them to stay in the urban communities, which we're not. We're trying to groom leaders so they can come back and be leaders in their communities." "They asked if we would competitively judge (applicants) by grade point and we won't," she said. "We'll base it on their enthusiasm and their commitment to staying involved (in the program)." Here's how it will work: In its first year, 25 sophomore students will go on summer trips to the University of Alaska Anchorage or the Alaska Job Corps in Palmer. Students will stay in campus housing, meet with Native leaders, take a one-credit college course and participate in other activities. The lucky students will temporarily return to the campuses as juniors to learn about such things as enrolling, signing up for classes and applying for scholarships and loans. Finally, in their senior year of high school, they'll shadow a student on campus, following them to class and school events during a four-day weekend. To apply for the program, visit http://tinyurl.com/yk389jy for an application. The application deadline is May 3. To learn more about the program, see www.takewingalaska.org. Tundra Drums Staff can be reached at editor@alaskanewspapers.com |
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