Awareness initiative boosts college attendance: Coachella Valley Unified School District / California.

A college awareness, education and support program for sophomores, juniors and seniors at Coachella Valley High School in Thermal, Calif., is helping to increase the percentage of graduates going to college.

The program, called Catch the Dream, was created six years ago and is becoming more effective each year. The initiative's goal is to help students find the college that is right for them and then to do everything necessary to get them there.

The program, which led to Coachella Valley Unified School District being named the California state winner in the 2008 National Civic Star Award competition, was founded by community members associated with the Coachella Valley Education Foundation. The foundation was created to assist the district with funding various projects, and it started the program after community members learned that only 16 percent of graduates six years ago were going to college. By 2006, the percentage had increased to 19.6 percent and in 2007 to 23.58 percent. The program targets students who would be the first in their family to attend college. About 250 to 350 students participate yearly. A teacher and clerk typist support the program with help from district office staff, high school counselors, teachers and school administrators.

The foundation board conducts fundraising and oversees two-thirds of operational costs. The board includes the school district superintendent, a member of the district board of trustees and eight community members. The program operates out of the school's college and career center, which is open every school day before school, at lunch time and after school. The school has provided the center with 30 computers with Internet access for college applications, scholarship searches, college and career research, SAT/ACT test preparation and financial aid applications.

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Support has also been provided by Cal State University, Stanislaus; Cal State University, Chico; Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and the College Access Foundation of California, which made it possible for the program to provide scholarships to 58 students during the 2006-2007 school year.

The program invites all sophomores, juniors and seniors interested in going to college to become participants. Program participants attend monthly meetings, have access to presentations from college representatives, visit college campuses with other program participants, learn about summer program opportunities such as the California State School for Mathematics and Science and get information on college scholarships.

Each year the program offers a three-day, two-night trip to northern California colleges to about 35 sophomores and juniors based on their program participation, GPAs and community service. Three teachers from Coachella Valley High School and the program teacher served as chaperones for a recent trip.

Students in the program are encouraged to perform 20 or more hours of community service and to work toward keeping their GPAs at 3.0 or above. Several students meet with the program teacher or clerk daily to get individual assistance with advice/information about colleges, college applications, registration for the SAT/ACT, college placement exams, financial aid, scholarships, housing, orientations, transportation, and other matters.

Examples of the program's success are:

* The percentage of students attending four-year colleges has risen from 16 percent to more than 20 percent.

* The range of colleges and universities students are attending has been expanded through campus visits.

* In the 2006-2007 school year, $75,000 in college scholarships were provided to former Catch the Dream participants who were college freshmen or sophomores, thanks to funding from the College Access Foundation of California. More scholarships are expected to be provided in the current school year.

For more information, contact Superintendent Foch Pensis at Coachella Valley Unified School District, P.O. Box 847, Thermal CA 92274, or call [phone], Ex. 216. You may e-mail Pensis at [e-mail].