Mansfield ISD Magazine Winter 2015 | Page 14

Top 25 Percent of MISD Juniors Guaranteed Admission to Prairie View A&M MISD Superintendent Dr. Jim Vaszauskas signs the PVAMU agreement with the university’s president Dr. George Wright and his students. A new partnership between Mansfield ISD and Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) will allow MISD juniors who rank in the top 25 percent of their class to earn automatic admission to PVAMU. Along with the guaranteed admission to PVAMU, each MISD high school will receive three $5,000 Opportunity Target High School scholarships to give to eligible students. The first scholarships awarded will be effective for fall 2016. “It’s always exciting when we are able to provide our students with opportunities that will set them up for success after they graduate high school,” said Cynthia McCallum, area superintendent for MISD middle and high schools. “Prairie View A&M is home to prestigious and nationally-recognized programs, and it is an honor to be able to partner with them in this way.” MISD juniors in the top 25 percent need to have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and receive an 820 on the critical reading and math portions of the SAT, or a score of 17 on the ACT exam. Qualified students also need to satisfy Texas Success Initiatives (TSI) requirements. PVAMU 12 Mansfield School & Family staff members will visit MISD high schools to assist students with admissions and financial aid applications. This year’s seniors who rank in the top 25 percent will be grandfathered into the program; after fall 2016, guaranteed admission will only apply to juniors. The unconditional admission will be based on the rankings at the end of a student’s junior year. The official ceremony announcing the partnership between MISD and PVAMU took place on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Timberview High School. Afterwards, attendees and all MISD high school band students were invited to Vernon Newsom Stadium to watch PVAMU’s award-winning band, The Marching Storm, perform on the field.