The Adrian Dominican School of Education’s (ADSOE) CARE Center has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the College Board Florida Partnership. The College Board and the Florida Department of Education have forged a partnership to help students from middle school through high school improve their academic performance and prepare for a post-secondary education and successful career.
The College Access and Readiness Experiences for Success (CARES) Grant was awarded to ADSOE’s CHAMPS-College Reach-Out Program (CROP). "The mission of ADSOE's CROP Program is to provide expanded opportunity to Miami-Dade County's middle and high school students to attend and succeed in college," said Dr. Silvia P. Reyes, Director of the CARE Center. "To this end, CHAMPS-CROP's goal is to support students who are traditionally underrepresented in matriculating to and succeeding in postsecondary education."
Through the CARES grant, Barry University students will serve as counselors that mentor, support, and guide students in grades six through 12 through various program activities that focus on social-emotional learning, leadership, academic success, college admission, financial aid, and college and career planning.
"Barry University's College Reach-Out Program contributes to the personal and academic success of our high school students. They accomplish this by helping each student address the important emotional needs which prevent them from achieving academically. It also brings together students which creates an atmosphere that allows them to find support that is much needed. Additionally, both the community and school are able to forge an alliance that serves our children well. The examples are many -- from a young Haitian boy who barely spoke English and is currently applying to Barry University as a successful and honored high school student, to an African-American young lady who will be graduating having participated in cheerleading, peer counseling, and sports — having achieved academically all the while living in a two-bedroom apartment with 10 family members," said Odalys Acosta, Hialeah Miami-Lakes high school counselor. "The student stories are countless and filled with great acts of personal courage, but I truly believe that CROP was instrumental in nurturing the resiliencies of these children."
"The grant award will be used to support our Barry students who serve as counselors in carrying out program activities that create pathways to college success for Florida's minority and underrepresented middle and high students," said Dr. Jill B. Farrell, Dean of the Adrian Dominican School of Education. "In addition, funding support from the College Board Florida Partnership for the CHAMPS-CROP initiative will allow Adrian Dominican School of Education’s CARE Center to continue to promote educational excellence and equity for all students and empower students in grades six through 12 to own their future."