EB211's college mentoring program earns national award
Submitted by Excel Beyond 211
Excel Beyond 211 Dollars for Scholars, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships, mentoring and financial guidance to first-generation college students from Township High School District 211, has been awarded a $15,000 grant to expand its connections in the community and strengthen its outreach.
The Dr. Irving Fradkin Legacy program's Student Support Award, which is provided by Scholarship America, will allow EB211 organizers to enhance career networking for their students, and help cultivate relationships with community stakeholders. The project includes offering paid internships for qualifying mentees; programs to learn more about professional and social networking opportunities; and creating community and alumni databases so past, present and future students can readily find and connect with opportunities.
It's the fourth national award EB211 has received for its program, which assists first-generation college students from low-income families. Now starting its 8th year as an affiliate of Dollars for Scholars, EB211's recent college graduates set a record last year for the organization, which has worked with 236 students and 157 mentors since it began in 2015. The organization has provided more than $325,000 in financial support for its students.
While only about 10 percent of first-generation students in the bottom income quarter graduate college in six years, according to a Pell Institute report on higher learning, 70 percent of EB211's Class of 2016 students earned a college degree in five years. Last year, supporters of Excel Beyond 211 celebrated the completion of another college year by honoring 27 new graduates and 90 scholarship award winners.
"We are always looking for new ways to assist our amazing college students, and this funding will help us create a stronger connection with our community," said EB211 president and co-founder Nancy Robb, a former superintendent of Township High School District 211. "The support we receive from our donors and mentors, as well as the business and educational community, is critical to the success of our students. This will help us create more opportunities."
Each year, EB211 matches 30 college-ready students with 30 mentors who offer them college and career guidance to go along with the chapter's scholarship and financial assistance opportunities. A community effort since its inception, EB211's board collaborates with the district's high schools and Harper College to help these students achieve their educational goals.
The $15,000 Student Support Award is one of four grants created by Scholarship America to honor the 100th anniversary of Dr. Irving Fradkin's birth by recognizing community-based scholarship work. The other national awards included a $10,000 Renewable Scholarship to help a Dollars for Scholars affiliate initiate and/or expand a renewable, multi-year scholarship program, and two $2,500 scholarships to help two organizations expand their current scholarship programs.
Dan Dunne, EB211 treasurer and mentor, said the nonprofit group is excited to offer an internship program for selected mentees.
"Our donors include leaders in education, technology, health care, law and construction, and we want to build stronger connections to create more opportunities for our students and graduates," Dunne said.
The group also seeks to attract more potential mentors as it strives to stay connected with its growing alumni base.
For information, visit excellbeyond211.dollarsforscholars.org.