On the Path to College at Park Center High School

College Possible receives grant from Boston Scientific to benefit Park Center students

St. Paul, Minn. – Growing up in Conakry, Guinea in West Africa with no access to computers or books, Karimatou Bah had limited opportunities. When she moved with her family to the United States in 2009 Karimatou struggled at first to understand the U.S. teaching style and students made fun of her for speaking with an accent. After joining College Possible, Karimatou has found new opportunities and her future looks promising. 

“Knowing that I will be the first child in my family to attend a four-year college motivates me. With the help of College Possible, I applied and got accepted to my dream school, the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, and won a scholarship from my school district,” Bah said. With help from her College Possible coach, Sam, and her teachers, she became a National Honor Society member and will graduate with a 3.7 GPA. She plans to study biochemistry this fall.

“Without Sam’s help I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Bah said. “I joined College Possible with little knowledge about college. With their help I was able to achieve my educational dream. I want to experience college life and inspire and motivate others to help them realize that college can be possible for them.”

College Possible, an internationally recognized nonprofit making college admission and success possible for low-income students, is doing just that for 80 low-income students at Park Center High School. Students attending College Possible programs are determined to overcome barriers many low-income students face in pursuing a college degree. By starting their journey toward higher education as juniors, students receive guidance and support from College Possible all the way through college graduation.

“Since our partnership began almost two years ago, College Possible has delivered on their commitment to the students of Park Center Senior High,” said Assistant Principal Bart Becker. “Today, those students who dedicated themselves to the two-year curriculum of coaching and support find themselves with improved ACT scores, acceptance to college, financial aid packages, and friendships to last a lifetime. We are looking forward to many more years of achievement with College Possible!”

College Possible’s work with Park Center students is made possible in part through a gift from Boston Scientific, a global medical device company that has a large presence in the Twin Cities area, including 3 facilities and more than 5,000 employees. Park Center High School receives program and mentorship support from Boston Scientific volunteers. 

“We're thrilled to receive support from Boston Scientific!  The company’s commitment to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for students is inspiring,” said College Possible Twin Cities Executive Director Sara Dziuk. “Together we’re ensuring a brighter future for Park Center students and their families.”

Founded in 2000 and based in St. Paul, College Possible served 35 students in its first year, partnering with public high schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The program has grown more than 250-fold in twelve years, adding school partners in the Columbia Heights, Robbinsdale, St. Louis Park, Osseo, Bloomington and Anoka Hennepin Districts. With the addition of Champlin Park High School in the fall of 2013, College Possible will be serving more than 1,600 students in 20 partner high schools in the Twin Cities. To help these students succeed, 59 AmeriCorps members will commit more than 100,300 hours of service as near-peer coaches for the high school and college students in the program.

College Possible students meet twice per week in afterschool sessions during their junior and senior years of high school. Coaches support students in small learning groups and one-on- one, providing free ACT/SAT test preparation, intensive guidance in preparing college applications, help in obtaining financial aid and guidance in the transition to college. After graduation, students receive support from college coaches renewing their FAFSA, getting connected to existing resources on campus, and searching for scholarships and internships.

Last year, 99 percent of the 668 College Possible seniors earned admission to more than 100 colleges and universities, and were awarded more than $4.4 million in scholarships. The juniors in the program achieved a remarkable average ACT score increase of 27 percent last year. Overall, College Possible students are ten times more likely to earn a college degree than their low-income peers.

ABOUT COLLEGE POSSIBLE TWIN CITIES

College Possible™ is making college admission and success possible for low-income students through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. Launched in 2000, College Possible Twin Cities serves 8,600 low-income high school and college age students through its college access and completion programs. Nationwide, College Possible’s innovative and award-winning model serves nearly 12,000 Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin students in 2012-13 with plans to reach 20,000 students annually in 10 locations across the country by 2020. According to a recent Harvard study, the program more than doubles a student’s chances of enrolling in college. More information at www.CollegePossible.org