UW-Green Bay’s Rising Phoenix Program adds to high schools in Kewaunee County
Applications now being accepted for program that will give Algoma, Kewaunee and Luxemburg-Casco high school students a jumpstart toward a college degree
Kewaunee County, Wis.—The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Rising Phoenix Early College High School Program continues to gain momentum with a new partnership between Algoma, Kewaunee and Luxemburg-Casco high schools in Kewaunee County. High school students from these schools will have the opportunity to get a head start on earning college credits through dual enrollment while still in high school. The application is now open for the program which will start in Fall 2023.
Superintendents from the three participating schools are excited for the program to grow in Kewaunee County. “Creating this partnership with UW-Green Bay is a huge step in preparing our students for college and careers before they even graduate from Kewaunee High School,” remarked Kewaunee School District Superintendent, Scott Fritz.
“The partnership between the Kewaunee County School Districts and UW-Green Bay’s Rising Phoenix program will provide endless opportunities for all students,” added Algoma School District Superintendent Jesse Brinkmann. “We hope to inspire our children in Algoma to be college and career ready when they graduate high school and show them that post-secondary opportunities are obtainable for anyone.”
Luxemburg-Casco Superintendent Jo-Ellen Fairbanks continued, “If students are ready for college-level work, why would we hold them back? Rising Phoenix students can enter the workforce or continue on and earn a bachelor’s degree in half the time. This is a fantastic opportunity for students and their families.”
Current high school sophomores from Luxemburg-Casco, Kewaunee and Algoma will have the opportunity to apply for the Rising Phoenix Program and if admitted will be enrolled during their junior and senior years of high school. Rising Phoenix students will be concurrently enrolled in courses at their high school and UW-Green Bay. Rising Phoenix courses are selected to meet Wisconsin high school graduation requirements and the UW-Green Bay Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS) degree.
Courses will be offered in students’ high schools, online and UW-Green Bay, providing students flexible options to take courses and participate in extra-curricular activities at the high school and on the university campus. These opportunities allow for students to experience college coursework in the familiar environment of their high school and to learn alongside other college students at a college campus.
The Rising Phoenix program started in Fall 2020, and the program’s growth in each successive year has been significant. Rising Phoenix was created with the goal of reducing college debt, closing the achievement gap and providing advanced learning opportunities for students in Wisconsin.
The goal for participating students is to earn both their high school diploma and get a significant head start on their college degree with an opportunity to earn an AAS degree at the same time they graduate from high school. Students who complete an AAS degree will have the first two years of a bachelor’s degree completed. The accomplishment applies if students transfer to a different college or university, if they enter the workforce with a college credential or if they decide to continue at UW-Green Bay.
“UW-Green Bay is reimagining higher education with innovative partnerships that provide a bridge to higher education,” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander. “We are a university on the rise, committed to a mission of fearlessly meeting challenges and providing access to education for all who want to learn. We are proud to collaborate with area school districts to grow opportunities for students that support academic and career readiness.”
Significant advantages of the Rising Phoenix program are student support and coaching. Every student enrolled will work consistently with UW-Green Bay’s Rising Phoenix Student Success Coach, who will:
- Assist students through the admissions process
- Facilitate academic advising
- Provide social and emotional support
- Serve as a transition specialist upon graduation (college applications, scholarships, FAFSA and financial aid assistance)
To learn more about the program, please visit the Rising Phoenix website.
About UW-Green Bay
Established in 1965, UW-Green Bay is a public institution serving more than 9,600 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students and 95,000 continuing education learners each year. We educate students from pre- college through retirement and offer 200+ degrees, programs and certificates. UW-Green Bay graduates are resilient, inclusive, sustaining and engaged members of their communities, ready to rise to fearlessly face challenges, solve problems and embrace diverse ideas and people. With four campus locations, the University welcomes students from every corner of the world. In 2021, UW-Green Bay was the fastest-growing UW school in Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
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