Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2017-2018 | Page 103

College track
C
ollege Track, a comprehensive
college completion program
with nine sites nationwide,
is on a mission to empower students
from underserved communities to
graduate from college. “We make a
10-year promise to every student –
they start with us the summer after
eighth grade and we see them through
college graduation,” says Nikki
Wardlaw, Director of Development and
Partnerships.
Launched in Sacramento in
2014, College Track welcomes 60
new students each year and now,
in its third year, currently has high
school freshmen through junior year
students. “The 2017-18 school year will
be monumental for us because we’ll
have our first class of seniors,” says
Wardlaw. “We will see our first cohort
graduate from high school and go to
college. They are paving the way as role
models for our younger College Track
students.”
College Track is open to students
every day after school. It provides
academic assistance and student life
programming, which helps students
identify their dreams and passions,
and exposes them to career paths
and college majors. This school year,
to serve the 11th graders, College
Track added new courses preparing
students for the college application
and selection process. Students are
enrolled in a weekly ACT prep course,
which has given them confidence
and improved their scores, and a new
Junior Advisory class where students
research prospective colleges and
scholarship options.
College Track also recently hosted
workshops on college affordability for
students and their families, and field
trips to college campuses. A newly
hired College Completion Director
oversees the college completion
programming and helps students
navigate their way to college.
EMPOWERING UNDERSERVED STUDENTS
TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE
“We ask the community to join us
in supporting these students on their
paths to and through college,” says
Wardlaw. “Please contact us if you can
provide internships, job shadowing, or
scholarship opportunities.”
916.287.6824 / [e-mail]
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