Phoenix GPS students learn, help others learn about success at college


News from director Denise Bartell and the Phoenix GPS Program: The students from the Hopscotching the World of Nonprofits team have just completed their service learning project working with the NEW Scholars program of Scholarships Inc. A college readiness program for under-represented students, the NEW Scholars work on reading, writing, and character while earning credits toward financial scholarships. The UWGB students worked with them for two afternoons, getting to know the middle schoolers and joining in with their book club, writing, and team building activities. On a Saturday morning in April, the UWGB students, who are under-represented college students themselves, met with middle schoolers’ parents and shared what college was like for them and how they got there. Finally, the NEW Scholars visited campus for a tour led by the GPS students, complete with a stop to see the friendly staff at the AIC and an actual dorm room (a highlight)! The visit concluded with a large circle where middle school students asked questions and UWGB students shared their own words of wisdom about what college was like, ranging from “sleep is important!” to “there are lots of people at UWGB to help you” and “try to get into the GPS program because it’s made such a difference for me!” The GPS program is an intensive yearlong learning experience for first-year students that culminates in a service learning project completed by each team.