With graduation season on the horizon, plans are in the works for the incoming college freshman class this fall made up of those who have been “C” students in high school in District 211, District 214 and District 220.
Having raised five children, I had students that could have benefited from programming in high school that would have encouraged an average student to do better.
Of our five children, four of them attended courses at Elgin Community College. All of them had good experiences and benefited from the job training and academic courses that they took. I have taken enrichment courses at Elgin Community College and have walked away feeling that my time was well spent.
Nearby, Harper Community College in Palatine has announced the Promise Scholarship Program. This new program will be offered to ninth-graders in the area who will pledge to earn solid grades, have good attendance, pass all their classes that include college preparatory course work, and contribute to their communities by performing community service.
As long as these students make the cut in high school and continue their good work habits at Harper, they can earn four consecutive semesters of free tuition.
“There are plenty of scholarships out there for your top students,” said Phil Burdick, chief communications officer at Harper. “Harper wanted to make programming available for “C” students that can achieve more with the programming that the Promises Scholarship will be offering. Just because a student has a “C” average doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t have a work ethic.”
This program was developed by Harper, area high schools and local business leaders “to promote life skills and habits that will help students succeed in college and provide businesses with smart, skilled and motivated employees,” according to the college’s website.
Does Elgin Community College have any plans for developing such a program?
“ECC is not considering this at this time,” said Communications Office representative Toya Webb. This type of programming “has not been discussed by the Board or Administrators.”
Aurora resident Lisa Snyder, who has a daughter in high school, said this type of programming “would give kids not earning top grades the incentive to do more and know that they can be successful, too.” She said she “would be ecstatic” if her daughter could be enrolled in such a program and she feels it “would be cost effective for parents.”
With scholarship programs similar to Harper’s Promise being offered at Illinois Central College, and City Colleges of Chicago, it would be a great incentive for students attending high school in the ECC District to have such a program available to them. Elgin Community College should consider offering scholarship incentives for hard working area students. This type of programming is a win-win for everyone involved.
Linda McDaniel-Hale is a Fox Valley resident who offers opinion on local topics.
