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High schoolers signing up for chance at free Harper College tuition

Deisy Aguilera never thought college was an option for her after high school. The Palatine High School freshman instead saw herself enlisting in the Navy after graduation.

But now, after learning about Harper College's Promise program, Aguilera believes higher education is an option.

Aguilera has a lot of company. More than two-thirds of the freshmen at three Northwest suburban high school districts have enrolled in Harper Promise, starting a 3½-year journey that, if they complete, could earn them two years of tuition-free education at the Palatine college.

To stay in the program, which college administrators launched in March 2015, students must keep their grades up, limit their school absences, perform community service and graduate on time.

As of Jan. 15, the deadline to apply for the program, 67 percent of high school freshmen from Palatine-Schaumburg District 211, Northwest Suburban District 214 and Barrington Area Unit District 220 applied for the program.

It's already changed the way some participants, like Aguilera, view their life's journey.

"It's what you do with yourself and how you push yourself that determine what you learn," she said.

As the youngest of five children, Barrington High School student Annie Peterson said the program makes her more confident she can earn her way through college without relying solely on her parents' help.

Her dad, Bruce Peterson, said the program's standards seem like they will help keep kids on their toes.

"The criteria is well thought-out and reasonable, but it's certainly not a layup," he said.

Promise students can miss no more than five days of school their freshman year, nine sophomore year, eight junior year and seven in their senior year. They must maintain a minimum 'C' average as freshmen. The minimum grade-point average progressively increases to 2.3 on a 4.0 scale and 3.3 on a 5.0 scale by students' senior year.

The program also requires five hours of community service for freshmen, increasing incrementally to 20 hours for seniors.

Palatine High School freshman Joshua Opada said he remembers his dad talking about the cost of raising a family while paying back student loans, something he couldn't accomplish until Joshua was about 10.

"Harper feels like an option. You can always transfer schools," said Opada, who believes he'll major in business. "It's a good start to save some money and get a free education."

Like Opada, Barrington High freshman Mae Baustert said free tuition at Harper is a good option to have after high school. Baustert, who hopes to study acting, said she has heard good things about Harper from older students who attended the community college after leaving four-year universities.

Mae's mother, Chris Baustert, said she likes that the program incorporates life skills.

"I really like the attitude, that we are going to reinforce those occupational behaviors of showing up, being committed, having good attendance, being a good person, being involved in your community, and the kids can see that," she said. "If you do that, and do that consistently, they get automatic access to a postsecondary education and maybe that doesn't seem as scary or as unattainable."

Promise students' commitment doesn't end in high school. They have to continue meeting grade, attendance and community service standards once enrolled at Harper.

College officials hope to have $10 million by 2019 to fund the program, with the initial $5 million coming from the school's general fund. About $2.88 million in donations has been received in the last year, bringing the program's total to $7.88 million. Donors Kim Duchossois and Vince and Pat Foglia have each contributed $1 million.

Harper's program comes amid a national and suburban push to make community college more accessible and affordable.

President Barack Obama in January 2015 announced an initiative to make community colleges as affordable and universal as high school. The proposal, which seeks federal dollars to cover a majority of community college tuition, is still sitting in Congress.

Programs like Harper's have gained popularity elsewhere, with Tennessee paving the way initially, said American Association of Community Colleges spokeswoman Martha Parham.

"The programs look different in different places because community colleges cater to the community in which they serve," Parham said. "What happens in New York City looks different from what happens in rural Kansas."

Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300 and Elgin Community College have partnered to offer an Accelerate College program that gives qualified high school seniors the opportunity to take a full year of college classes before they graduate.

The Northwest Education Consortium, consisting of Harper and districts 214, 211 and 220, launched a Power of 15 program in February 2015 that encourages high school students to have 15 hours of college credit under their belts by the time they graduate.

Ultimately, promise programs get students thinking about college early and increase accessibility, Parham says.

"For a lot of community college students, cost is still a barrier for them," she said "But to remove those barriers and provide access, it's a win-win for the country as a whole."

  Dr. Ken Ender, president of Harper College listens as Kim Duchossois, Harper Promise Donor talks about Harper Promise program. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Lisa Timbo, general manager of the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, Dr. David Schuler, superintendent, district 214, Dr. Linda Klobucher, assistant superintendent school district 220, Dr. Ken Ender, president of Harper College, Kim Duchossois, Harper Promise Donor and Dr. Daniel Cates, superintendent of district 211 talk about Harper Promise program. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Lisa Timbo, General Manager, Renaissance of Schaumburg talks to Harper College representatives and students about Harper College's Promise Program. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Lisa Timbo, general manager of the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, Dr. David Schuler, superintendent, district 214, Dr. Linda Klobucher, assistant superintendent school district 220, Dr. Ken Ender, president of Harper College, Kim Duchossois, Harper Promise Donor and Dr. Daniel Cates, superintendent of district 211 talk about Harper Promise program before parents and students. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Lisa Timbo, general manager of the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, Dr. David Schuler, superintendent, district 214, Dr. Linda Klobucher, assistant superintendent school district 220, Dr. Ken Ender, president of Harper College, Kim Duchossois, Harper Promise Donor and Dr. Daniel Cates, superintendent of district 211 talk about Harper Promise program before parents and students like Chris Baustert and her daughter Mae who is a freshman at Barrington High School. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Lisa Timbo, general manager of the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, Dr. David Schuler, superintendent, district 214, Dr. Linda Klobucher, assistant superintendent school district 220, Dr. Ken Ender, president of Harper College, Kim Duchossois, Harper Promise Donor and Dr. Daniel Cates, superintendent of district 211 talk about Harper Promise program before parents and students like Annie Peterson a student at Barrington High School. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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