College students to share College experiences, help LEAP kids to ASPIRE

CLC's ASPIRE project is inviting college students from Rutgers–Camden and other universities to participate in a college mentoring panel to speak with 180 high school students from LEAP Academy.

The panel will take place on February 9 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm at LEAP Academy where they will meet with students in grades 8-10 and speak about their own experiences in college. Panelists will share important information about admissions, internships, financial aid, time management and how to adjust to living on college campuses.

"Our students sometimes struggle to understand the importance of what they are learning in their classes, how it relates to the real world and how it prepares them for college. But this panel will really bring it home for them," said Jenna Tutjer, CLC's Associate Director for Special Projects. "Students will be able to relate to the panelists as they share their experiences and motivate our students to achieve in high school so that they can excel in college."

National studies have shown that students in 8th to 10th-grades are the most likely to drop out of school, with more than one-third of all high school dropouts in 9th-grade. ASPIRE
provides mentoring experiences for LEAP students to help them develop academically and socially throughout high school. It recruits college students to work as mentors and frequently
hosts events to inform and inspire LEAP students to excel in school and pursue their college dreams. ASPIRE is funded by a grant from the AT&T Foundation.

"This is an incredibly important time in these students' lives and every positive academic interaction they have will increase their motivation for college," said Atnre Alleyne, a doctoral student at the University of Delaware who has volunteered for the panel. Mr. Alleyne
founded his own youth leadership program, TeenSHARP, and said young students need to understand that every grade matters. "How they perform academically today absolutely matters
when they apply to college. Their college applications begin now."

For information on how you can support ASPIRE and help every LEAP child graduate
high school and go to college, please contact Jenna Tutjer at jt554@camden.rutgers.edu or
(856) 225-2871.