ATLANTA – The rising cost of college is a looming threat for the future workforce in Georgia. With the Federal Pell Grant facing a $19 billion gap, and Georgia HOPE’s reserves expecting a shortfall in the next two years that exceeds $550 million—with complete depletion by the close of 2013—there is only one thing that is certain. Now is not the time for families to panic, but it is definitely time for everyone to plan.
In an effort to help students and parents secure funding for college, Atlanta City Councilmember Aaron Watson and Atlanta Board of Education member Yolanda Johnson have teamed up with The Scholarship Academy(TSA), a local nonprofit scholarship preparatory program, to launch the ― "I am College Material" Scholarship Fair.
The Fair will be Wednesday, November 17, 2010 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the atrium of Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave, SW. Students and their parents are encouraged to participate in this free event. Parking will be available in the deck located at the corner of Washington Street and Memorial Drive as well as paid on-street parking around City Hall.
This event will introduce ―average students‖ to the private scholarship application process. The Scholarship Fair is designed to ensure that two core populations of students, low-wealth students with ―average‖ GPAs (2.5 – 3.3) and middle-income students seeking merit-based aid can effectively address the gaps in their financial aid packages.
“There are college scholarships available for students from all academic, cultural, economic backgrounds and interests; however, the challenge is often in identifying those opportunities and fulfilling the application requirements,‖ said Councilmember Watson. ― I am pleased to partner with the Scholarship Academy, which has had great success in guiding students to valuable scholarship opportunities.”
More than 250 Atlanta public school students will be actively engaged in at least two scholarship preparatory stations and gain valuable insight on the following: Maximizing Your Eligibility, Navigating the Scholarship Research Maze, Crafting Winning Essays and Nailing the Scholarship Interview.
Scholarship giveaways will be provided by Sodexo, a leading provider of food and facilities management. School Board Member Yolanda Johnson, District 6 adds, ―Now, more than ever, our students must be prepared to compete in the global market. That process starts with a solid, affordable college education.‖ Students will have the opportunity to interact with local and national scholarship committees and learn the best approach to securing scholarships. Scholarship program participants include the Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, Posse Foundation Scholars, The Lead Foundation and the United Negro College Fund. November is National Scholarship Month, sanctioned by the National Scholarship Providers Association.
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About The Scholarship AcademyThe Scholarship Academy (TSA) was created in January of 2006 by Jessica Johnson, a recipient of nearly $200,000 in scholarships. Featured in the Black Enterprise and the NAACP Crisis Magazine, TSA specializes in breaking down the scholarship acquisition process into realistic terms for low- income/first-generation students. Using a series of curriculum-based activities, The Scholarship Academy assists local schools and youth-serving organizations in preparing students (and their parents) for the financial aid process. In the last 2 years, our students have received over $2.5 million in scholarships, claiming titles such as Howard University’s first Marshall Scholar, Gates Millennium Scholars, and the Children’s Defense Fund “Beat the Odds” Award, to name a few.
For more information about The Scholarship Academy, visit www.scholarshipacademy.org.
Times Are Hard. Paying For College Shouldn’t Be.
Contact
Jessica Johnson
Phone: (404) 521-9603
E-mail:
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Dexter Chambers, City Council Communications Director
Phone: 404-330-6309/392-0159
E-mail:
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