Rowan Crosby Scholars is accepting applications this fall from today through Oct. 1. This college access program assists public school students with preparing academically, financially and personally for successful college admission as early as middle school.
Every public sixth- to 10th-grade student in Rowan County is eligible to apply to the program.
Once admitted, students must fulfill a number of requirements each year in order to remain in the Crosby Scholars Program.
In 2013-14, its first academic year, Crosby Scholars admitted more than 1,700 students, had more than 1,200 students attend one of the Saturday academies and had more than 980 students complete a minimum of two hours of community service.
Altogether, Crosby students reported a grand total of more than 5,400 volunteer hours, with a number of students who actually logged more than 50 hours of service.
“Attending an academy and completing and documenting community service hours are a necessity to remain in the program,” explains Jennifer Canipe, executive director. “We had to dismiss a number of students last year because they weren’t able to meet those obligations.”
The good news is that up until 10th grade, students who have been dismissed from the program can reapply. Canipe explains, “We really want to get the word out that rising seventh through 10th-grade students who, for one reason or another, were dismissed from our program last year, are eligible to reapply to the Crosby program this year.
“We hope a lot of our previous applicants who were dismissed from our program will reapply and we hope to gain a lot of new sixth- to 10th-grade enrollees, as well,” Canipe continues.
Crosby students are required to have completed all requirements in their sophomore year in order to move on in the program as juniors.
Crosby’s junior class is made up of 271 students from all over Rowan County. These students have already received their first junior newsletter and will be attending their academy workshops in September. They will be invited to attend a screening of a special “First Generation” film this fall and will be eligible to go on college tours over their spring break.
“As a college access program, our aim is to help all of our middle and high school students be able to reach their goal of education beyond high school,” says Canipe.
“Exposing students to the idea of college and helping them prepare for eventual acceptance into college is really what we’re all about.”
For more information about the Crosby Scholars program, or to apply, please go to the website, www.crosbyscholarsrowan.org, or call the Crosby office at 704-762-3512.