High schoolers tour campus, part of Phuture Phoenix grant program at Green Bay West
Three dozen Green Bay West High School students visited UW-Green Bay Dec. 3, part of a Phuture Phoenix program designed to help boost participation in — and scores on — the ACT college entrance exam.
The students spent the morning touring campus and learning about everything from academics and admissions to student services and financial aid. The visit was part of an ACT Test Prep Pilot class that began this fall thanks to a grant from Phuture Phoenix, UW-Green Bay’s signature program that boosts college aspirations for students from low-income schools.
“Offering the structured campus experience along with this ACT Test Prep Pilot for West High students leverages success by exposing them to the environment, the expectations and the culture of a college campus,” said Phuture Phoenix director Kim Desotell. “The visit helps to set the tone for why students must perform well on their college entrance exams, so that they see the value of their goal — college entrance!”
(Click thumbnails to enter slideshow view.)
Funding for the test-prep class is part of a larger grant, announced last February, from Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation. The noon-hour course includes mentoring and academic support to help guide students through test preparation activities. Students who effectively prepare for college entrance exams perform better on the tests and enjoy more opportunity for postsecondary education, organizers say.
The $177,579 Great Lakes grant also is providing funds for a grant coordinator and 10 Phuture Phoenix Phellows, pre-service Education majors who oversee more than 275 pre-service Education students who tutor and mentor in 10 middle and high schools in the Green Bay area. In addition to the ACT prep pilot program, the grant is funding a parent training program, designed to help parents prepare their children for college; and an after-school academic tutoring program, also at West.
More information about Phuture Phoenix is available online.
