NEW Scholars college readiness graduates sign letters of intent – The Press

GREEN BAY – Aspiring to become the first in their family to graduate college, a group of area high school students took a giant leap toward that outcome in a celebration May 27. “I’m excited to get to see what’s different in college,” Green Bay East High School graduate Luis Gaytán said. “It’s going to be a whole new chapter in my life.”

CollegeReady’s NEW Scholars College Readiness Program, a Green Bay nonprofit that provides financial and academic support to college-bound students, hosted a signing day for its graduates to sign letters of acceptance to attend their chosen college or university.“Our graduating NEW Scholars set their sights on earning a college degree way back in middle school,” CollegeReady’s Executive Director Brent Roubal said. “In fact, many of them have been in the program since the sixth grade.”

Roubal said according to data from the Department of Public Instruction, only 40% of economically-disadvantaged students in Wisconsin high schools will pursue post-secondary education.By contrast, he said, 95% of graduating NEW Scholars – nearly 20 students – will attend college after this school year.“We are proud of their drive and determination to become the first person in their family to attend college,” Roubal said.

Wide-range of intents
Students have been accepted at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB), Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), St. Norbert College (SNC), UWM, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Dominican University, as well as other Wisconsin colleges and universities – majoring in everything from business and education to nursing and welding.

UWGB Chancellor Michael Alexander said the university is proud to be recognized as the only First Generation Forward institution in the UW-System.

“We are fundamentally about access to education and providing the support to help students reach their educational goals and become the future leaders of our region,” Alexander said.

Source: NEW Scholars college readiness graduates sign letters of intent – The Press