July 2, 2007 == MEDIA ADVISORY
Summary: Educators from across the country will come to Grand Rapids next
week to study a Calvin program aimed at helping students of color succeed in
college.
Full story see http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2006-07/visit-entrada.htm
Next week senior administrators from colleges and universities around the
nation will visit Calvin College to learn about Calvin’s Entrada Scholars
Program, a month-long college experience for minority high school students.
Eighteen administrators from 13 institutions, funded by a $25,000 Lilly
Network Exchange grant, will convene at Calvin Monday, July 9 through Friday,
July 13 -- just in time to help Entrada celebrate its 20th birthday.
"I think they will enjoy seeing Entrada in action and this firsthand
experience will help them to understand the program and to enact it on their
own campuses," says Rhae Ann Booker, Calvin director of Pre-College Programs.
This year Entrada, held from Sunday, June 17 through Friday, July 13, has
drawn a record number of 76 scholars from all over the country. Spanish for
"entrance" or "gateway," Entrada immerses high school junior and senior
students of color in a college experience whose core is academic excellence.
They take a college class, live in the residence halls, eat in the dining
halls, study in the library, attend workshops, shoot hoops in the gym, perform
service projects and enjoy the occasional outing.
Ninety-six percent of Entrada scholars graduate from high school and go on to
college. Of the 552 students who have completed Entrada since 1991, 249 of them
have enrolled at Calvin.
Far from being protective of the "secrets" of the Entrada model, Booker is
eager to share the educational wealth and equally eager to see similar programs
succeed at other colleges and universities.
"Historically, in Pre-college Programs, we have created opportunities for
sharing our expertise with others, including our successes and failures. We are
committed to the work of achieving college access goals for all people," she
says. "There are enough needs, students and opportunities for all colleges and
universities to do their part."
Contact Booker at 616-526-6748
-end-
Received on Mon Jul 2 15:24:04 2007
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