Save the Date!

Stepping Stones www.precollege.umd.edu

Pre-College Programs kicked off the academic year with an informative and exciting trip to visit colleges in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City! The trip took place October 14-15 and featured several Ivy League schools, a prestigious Brooklyn art institute, and a liberal arts women’s college:

• University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA • Princeton University, Princeton, NJ • Columbia University, Manhattan, NY • Barnard College, Manhattan, NY • Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY • New York University, Manhattan, NY

• • While visiting each campus, students learned key information about each university during

admissions presentations and campus tours. Students were engaged on each campus, and especially found NYU’s urban campus to be the most interesting and exciting. On the evening of October 14, students dressed in their “theatre best” to attend a Broadway show. Students had the option of going to see either Wicked, The Lion King, or In the Heights. Students had the opportunity to dine and explore famous and cultural landmarks in Union Square and Chinatown.

• • Pre-College Programs’ staff would like to thank all of the students who attended the Fall

College Tour. You represented our program with distinction, and we hope you learned a lot of firsthand information about your college options.

Spring College Tour April 19-22

Last Day of Saturday Academy May 7

Senior Graduation Ceremony June 7

W I N T E R 2 0 1 1

CULTURAL HOLIDAY CONCLUDES A GREAT

FALL SEMESTER

On December 11, 2010, Pre-College Programs ended the fall semester of Saturday Academy with our Cultural Holiday celebration. This event provided an opportunity for students to participate in an enriching workshop of their choice as well as celebrate the end of the semester with their friends and parents.

Experienced and committed professionals volunteered to lead our four student workshops. Mr. Paul Barber, an Upward Bound Math & Science graduate and Wall Street executive, engaged students in a lively discussion on financial literacy. Mr. Jason Rivera, director of the Reading/Writing Lab at Montgomery College, used poetry and storytelling to help students connect their personal life history with their ambitions for success. Students created quilts as a metaphor for diversity with Mrs. Yanira Pacheco, assistant director in the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education at University of Maryland. Our female students talked about the impact of media on self-esteem and body image with A Woman’s Worth, a University of Maryland student organization.

The day was capped with an amazing serenade from local recording artist and University of Maryland student, Seph Ade, who will be releasing his first studio album very soon.

Event organizer and Assistant Director, Mike Andrews expressed his sincere appreciation for the support from the staff and parents of Pre College Programs.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAMS

Fall College Tour 2010

June 9-11

Senior Trip to New York City

June 19-July 29

Summer Residential Program

STEPPING STONES WINTER 2011

2 Pre-College Programs (301) 405-6776

Maryland College Tour – November 11-12, 2010

Following the success of our Fall College Tour, day campus visits to select institutions in Maryland were offered to seniors who planned to apply to in-state schools. Students visited Towson University and University of Maryland – Baltimore County on Thursday, November 11. On Friday, November 12, we journeyed across the Bay Bridge to visit Salisbury University and University of Maryland – Eastern Shore. Although many seniors had already filled out applications for some of these schools, they expressed how much it helped to actually walk the campuses and observe students in action. In addition, Pre-College Programs’ alumni currently enrolled at UMBC, UMES, and Salisbury briefly talked with students about their college experience. A special thank you to Juliana Colón, UMBC junior; Brandon Haynes, UMES freshman; and Alexandra Rodriguez, Salisbury sophomore, for assisting with our visits!

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Support PCP Alumni From books to bedding, college freshmen need many supplies for a successful transition to college life. The ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Tau Delta Zeta Chapter, recognize this need and used their resources to help Pre-College Programs’ alumni who are now college freshmen. On Saturday, December 4, 2010 five ladies from Zeta Phi Beta delivered 20 care packages as part of the project “Necessities for Me.” These care packages – filled with toiletries and school supplies – were donated to alumni attending college in the local area.

As a federally funded non-profit organization that serves college-bound students, Pre-College Programs relies on donations from the community to sponsor many of our programs and services. This gift was quite timely. Students approaching their second semester of college often run out of necessities and scramble to purchase supplies for the new term. Our alumni were very happy to receive their care packages. Pre-College Programs thanks the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta and hopes to work with this organization in the future.

ANNOUNCING THE 2010-2011 PARENT ASSOCIATION!

Pre-College Programs cannot be successful without the input, dedication, and hard work of our parents. The Pre-College Programs’ Parent Association solicits the energy and talents of our parents to help support the mission, vision, and services of our office. In November 2010, the Parent Association Executive Board was elected, and they are currently hard at work with several initiatives designed to serve our students. Listed below are the names of 2010-2011 Parent Association board members:

President Megan Coleman Vice President Carmen Prey Treasurer Winter Dortch Vice Treasurer Nkechi Alintah Secretary Vonnetta Westfield Vice Secretary Margie Kuhn

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT SNOWS? PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAMS’ INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY Saturday Academy will be held as scheduled unless the University of Maryland at College Park is shut down or there is a delayed campus opening due to a snow or other weather emergency. You can call the university at (301) 405-1000 or (301) 405-SNOW (7669) to find out about closures due to snow/ice/tornadoes. You can also call the Pre-College Programs’ main office at (301) 405-6776. If Saturday Academy is canceled, the recorded

message will be changed to reflect that closure.

STEPPING STONES WINTER 2011

3 Pre-College Programs (301) 405-6776

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Mr. Paul Barber is an alumnus of

the Upward Bound Math & Science program. He attended Granby High School in Virginia and participated in the 1997 and 1998 Pre-College Programs’ summer residential programs while in high school. Mr. Barber received a Bachelor’s Degree in business management from North Carolina State University. He currently lives in the New York City area with his wife and children and works as an assistant

vice president at Bank of America, Merrill Lynch located on Wall Street.

In December 2010, Mr. Barber returned to Pre-College Programs to share his knowledge about finances and budgeting as part of our Cultural Holiday celebration. Mr. Barber was very open about mistakes he made as a college student and highlighted financial lessons learned as a result of those mistakes. Mr. Barber outlined specific strategies to help our college-bound scholars begin their path to financial success.

FAIRMONT HEIGHTS INDUCTS UBMS STUDENTS INTO

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Congratulations to Brianna Gaines, Nabeelah Hassan, Addo Mantey, Keon Proctor, and Jasmine Thomas. These five Upward Bound Math & Science students were recently inducted into the Alain Locke Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS). This honor is awarded to students that have earned at least a cumulative GPA of 3.3, are involved in community service, and are recognized by teachers for their leadership and character in and out of the classroom. Current NHS members that attend Fairmont Heights are Ibrahim Coker and Ashquinn Gordon.

Understanding the importance of academic achievement in high school, tutoring is a key service offered by Pre-College Programs. This year, we have assembled an amazing team of dedicated and hard working college students who serve as tutors on Saturdays and after school during the week. Our tutor counselors (TCs) are not only knowledgeable about their subjects, they serve as positive role models for our college-bound students. The TCs are a valuable resource to our office.

INTRODUCING OUR 2010-2011

TUTOR COUNSELORS

Jessica Archer Alenna Monet Viki Cumberbatch Ike Mpamaugo Jasmine Douglas Vu Nguyen Katie Dougherty Achama Onuma Suki Guo Genevieve Poist Naimisha Mahesh Parris Rohoblt Yasmin Mendoza Luis Sanchez Ivania Morales Christina Williams Kelvin Moncera

For students who are interested in working with a tutor, please complete a Tutor Request Form and submit it to your counselor. Students will be contacted by their assigned tutor to discuss academic needs and to arrange a tutoring appointment. TCs are available to meet with students in the West Education Annex Monday-Friday (3:00 – 6:00 p.m.) and on Saturdays during Extended Day (2:00 – 3:30 p.m.). Tutor Request Forms are available at www.precollege.umd.edu and in the West Education Annex.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2011

April 19-22 Spring College Tour May 7 Last Day of Saturday Academy June 7 Senior Graduation Ceremony June 9-11 Senior Trip to New York City June 19-July 29 Summer Residential Program

(301) 405-6776 Pre-College Programs 4

WE’RE ON OUR WAY!

CLASS OF 2011 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES

Victoria Ajayi Rutgers University (NJ) North Carolina A & T State University (NC) North Carolina Central University (NC) Old Dominion University (VA) Pennsylvania State University (PA) Akansha Anand University of Maryland Pace University (NY) Manhattan College (NY) Hofstra University (NY) Polytechnic Institute New York University (NY) New York Institute of Technology (NY) Gavin Autar Towson University St. Mary’s College North Carolina A & T St. University (NC) Ibrahim Coker Towson State University North Carolina A & T State University (NC) Deshawn Creech Capitol College Aiyana Dancy Salisbury University Spelman College (GA) Johnson C. Smith University (NC) Dillard University (LA) Winston-Salem State University (NC) Rutgers University (NJ) Drexel University (PA) Clark Atlanta University (GA) Hampton University (VA) Jose Diaz Old Dominion University (VA) Kristin Faulkner Trinity Washington University (DC) Virginia Union University (VA)

STEPPING STONES WINTER 2011

Brianna Gaines Hood College Goucher College McDaniel College Nabeelah Hassan Hood College Frostburg State University Drexel University (PA) York College (PA) Tayla Haughton University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Salisbury University Trinity Washington University (DC) Tanisha Henry University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Morgan State University Trinity Washington University (DC) Chantel Hernandez Emerson College (MA) University of Tampa (FL)

Jonathan Hernandez York College (PA) Simone Hill University of Maryland Washington College Westminster College (PA) Drexel University (PA) Ohio State University (OH) Indiana State University (IN) University of Portland (OR) Minnesota State University (MN) University of Denver (CO) Wagas Janjari Stevenson University George Mason University (VA) Hampton University (VA) Alexandria Johnson Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (PA) North Carolina A & T State University (NC) Dillard University (LA) Daritza Lahoz Trinity Washington University (DC)

Stephanie Lahoz Loyola College Towson University Chris Lucas Ferrum College (VA) Elizabeth McNair Loyola College Morgan State University Washington College Delaware State University (DE) Virginia State University (VA) Virginia Union University (VA) Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ) Nevasha Noble University of Maryland Washington College Bucknell University (PA) Fayetteville State University (NC) Spelman College (GA) Qaren Quartey University of Maryland University of Maryland-Baltimore County College of Notre Dame Hampton University (VA) Nyana Quashie University of Maryland University of Maryland-Baltimore County Loyola College Linda Quintanilla Loyola College St. Johns University (NY) Roxana Treminio Old Dominion University (VA) Tiffaney Ware Virginia Union University (VA) Yarne White Alabama A & M University (AL) Veronica Williams Trinity Washington University (DC) Paola Yongo Pennsylvania State University (PA)