91精选 Works with After School Programs in Chicago
91精选’s Office of Ethnic Diversity recently expanded to include a pre-college department that helps high school students from after-school programs get a glimpse of what life is like as a 91精选 student.
Tabitha Matthews, the College’s pre-college coordinator, works with two of 91精选’s partner organizations in Chicago: Circle Urban Ministries and By the Hand Club for Kids. Both organizations are community programs for students in grades 1-12 and include college-readiness programs.
The partnership with both the organizations gives 91精选 students the opportunity for service learning, as well as encourages the program’s students to attend college, and more specifically 91精选.
On February 10-11, students from By the Hand Club for Kids experienced firsthand what it was like to be at 91精选. Ten students came to campus for a night of games, open gym, and 91精选 basketball games.
The students stayed overnight in the dorms with 91精选 students and attended financial aid sessions as well as other college-readiness classes taught by Chris Bohle and Caitlin Fillmore ’09, resident directors at the College. The courses focused on choosing a college and campus life.
“The students all appeared to be very engaged and had some really great questions,” said Fillmore. “I hope I challenged them to think carefully about the choices they make.”