SARASOTA COUNTY- They’re not even in high school but these students are already preparing for college.
“It changed their lives because it gives them a lot of hope. It’s helping them fulfill so many dreams that they have and its equalizing the playing field for them,” said Alta vista Elementary principal Barbara Shirley.
The Students from the Alta Vista Elementary Summer Learning Program, Eagle Academy were told Tuesday night they will receive a full tuition to a college or state university in Florida. An accomplishment their principal is proud of.
“I’ve known these students since they were five years old entering kindergarten and watched them grow and just really excited about learning,” said Shirley.
The Community Foundation and local non-profit Take Stock in Children partnered with Alta Vista Elementary. College and Career Success Coach Colleen Buchmeier says although the tuition is paid, there is still hard work ahead.
“They have to meet with their mentors once a week, their college success coaches monthly,” said Buchmeier. “They have hurdles that they have to keep jumping over and meeting. They have paperwork that’s due, they have workshops to attend, so to use a common phrase, their sweat equity not insignificant.”
The Eagle Academy is in all Title 1 schools in Sarasota County and allows students and parents prepare for the future.
“We were educating parents and children together in order for them to be successful in their lives and learn how to work together as a family and work together with us, as a school,” said Shirley.
The students awarded are now in middle school and must remain drug free, crime free and keep a GPA Average above 2.5 to keep their tuition.
