A $50,000 Grant Supports Activities and Scholarships for 53 Beloit Youth
Madison, Wis. - Beloit College "Help Yourself Programs" will help 53 low-income Beloit high school students prepare and pay for college with a $50,000 grant from Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation.
Great Lakes’ funding will support the pre-collegiate aspect of the Help Yourself Programs, which provides educational opportunities to help low-income and minority high school students in Beloit, Wisconsin, aspire to higher education. Help Yourself Programs has provided 1,200 students with college outreach activities and scholarships since 1986.
The $50,000 grant will enable Help Yourself Programs to provide:
- A true college experience in Washington, D.C., including on-campus stays at Georgetown University and George Washington University, and visits to American University, Howard University, Trinity Washington University, and Gallaudet University.
- Monthly stipends for low-income youth who often must choose working at the expense of focusing on improving coursework and preparing for college.
- Ten $500 scholarships for seniors who fully participate in college preparation activities and events during their final two years of high school.
The program’s services play a vital role in Beloit, which has one of the highest child poverty rates in Wisconsin and where minorities make up 25 percent of the population. More than 16 percent of people under the age of 18 are living in poverty. "We are elated and excited about this new relationship with Great Lakes," said Help Yourself Programs Director Stephanie King Norton. "We look forward to our next steps to encourage, motivate, and prepare Beloit area students for college through these initiatives."
"The hardships faced by many of Beloit’s young people and the growing recognition of their critical role in the success of Wisconsin’s economic future make increasing awareness and access to higher education ever more important," said Richard D. George, President and Chief Executive Officer of Great Lakes. "We are pleased to support the Help Yourself Programs’ efforts to make higher education an achievable goal and realistic option for Beloit’s low-income and underrepresented youth."
For more information on the Help Yourself Programs, contact Stephanie King Norton, 608-363-2637. For more information about Great Lakes’ outreach initiatives, please contact Amy Kerwin at 608-246-1785.
About the Help Yourself Programs
The Help Yourself Programs (HYSP) is a Beloit College outreach initiative for low-income youth in the State-Line area. HYSP is a comprehensive educational enrichment program whose goal is to prepare students for post secondary education. The Help Yourself Programs consists of four parts: the Beloit Academy, the Mezzo, Pre-Collegiate, and Scholarship Programs.
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About Great Lakes
Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation and Affiliates works with schools, lenders, and community organizations to change lives for the better through higher education. Great Lakes supports these partners with financial, educational, and operational resources that help students and families pay for college and build bright futures. As a leading guarantor, originator, and servicer of student loans for over forty years, Great Lakes serves more than 2,700 schools and 1,400 lenders across the nation. One of the nation's largest integrated providers of student loan services, Great Lakes services student loans for more than two million borrowers and holds guarantees on more than $43 billion in FFELP loans. Great Lakes serves as the designated guarantor for Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands under the Higher Education Act. Great Lakes is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, with operating centers in Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. For additional information, visit mygreatlakes.org.
Posted 05/01/08 to www.NASFAA.org. Posting of press releases is done as a service to Members and does not imply endorsement or support by NASFAA. NASFAA does not review this information for content or accuracy.
