|
ThinkCOLLEGE®
A college access program of Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Inc.
Mission
The mission of ThinkCOLLEGE® is to encourage, prepare, and enroll Communities In Schools students in some form of post-secondary education or training.
|
History
In 1996, after more than a decade of helping kids stay in school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, CIS realized that high school graduates need post-secondary training or other skills-based training to compete for jobs in today’s workforce. In response to this need, Jack Tate, one of the original founders of CIS in Charlotte, worked to raise money for college scholarships and to mobilize other community resources. CIS partnered with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Central Piedmont Community College, and the Foundation for the Carolinas to develop ThinkCOLLEGE® as a new “college access” component of the services offered by Communities In Schools.
|
|
Services
ThinkCOLLEGE® provides advisement, information, and encouragement to CIS students who want to attend college. Trained Career Advisors coordinate services for students including individual advisement, study skills instruction, career exploration, job shadowing and internships, college campus tours, admissions information, assistance with financial aid and college admission applications, and scholarships.
Scholarships
Students enrolled in ThinkCOLLEGE® are invited to apply for scholarships from numerous funds, including the ThinkCOLLEGE® fund, the Patricia Fields Scholarship Fund sponsored by Myers Park Presbyterian Church, and a number of other scholarship funds. Recipients are chosen based on motivation, financial need, and academic achievement.
Summer Bridge
A five-week "Summer Bridge" program held on the campus of Central Piedmont Community College helps ThinkCOLLEGE® students make the transition from high school to college. Students have the opportunity to earn four college credit hours and also learn about support services offered by the college.
Partners
Our partners in the ThinkCOLLEGE® program include: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Central Piedmont Community College, and the Foundation For The Carolinas.
For more information about ThinkCOLLEGE®, contact Renee Leak, Communities In Schools Program Director for High Schools and ThinkCOLLEGE®.
back to top
|
