Widener Partnership Charter
School Students show their pride -- and their certificates of promotion --
following ceremony.
|
BLOCS
Announces Full Scholarships for Graduates to Attend Area Catholic High Schools
Widener Announces $100,000 Scholarships for Graduates to Attend the University
Widener Announces $100,000 Scholarships for Graduates to Attend the University
Chester, Pa.—Parents of Widener
Partnership Charter School students beamed proudly as their sons and daughters
graduated Thursday from the state’s first university-based charter school, but
their pride hid their uncertainty of how to pay for the next phase of their
children’s education. Then, Bill O’Brien, executive director of Business
Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS) stepped to the podium and
made an announcement that swept away that uncertainty.
O’Brien announced that 25 eighth
grade students graduating from Widener Partnership Charter School in Chester,
Pa. will receive full four-year scholarships to attend Philadelphia area
Catholic high schools. Widener Partnership educates grades kindergarten through
eight.
Earlier in the ceremony, Widener
University President James T. Harris III announced that all of the graduates
would receive $100,000 scholarships to attend Widener for undergraduate study.
If the students meet the criteria for admission, they would receive $25,000 per
year for four years at Widener.
“Eight years ago, families of these
students opted for an alternative to the public schools in Chester,” O’Brien
said. “Widener Partnership Charter School has prepared its students for success
in furthering their education and beyond. Unfortunately, without financial
assistance, these families don’t have that same option for high school, and the
hard work of these students, their parents, and their teachers would then be in
vain. The mission of BLOCS is to help families who desire a Catholic education
regardless of race, religion or financial means.”
The event marked the inaugural
graduation of the Widener Partnership Charter School, which educates
kindergarten through eighth grades and is the state’s first university based
charter school. In all, 37 Widener Partnership students graduated Thursday,
most of whom started as kindergartners when Widener University opened the
school in fall 2006.
Dr. Darlene Davis, principal and CEO
of the school, said that most of the families of students attending the school
live at or below the federal poverty level, and that attending private or
parochial schools would be financially out of the question without BLOCS.
“As the name suggests, this school
is built on partnerships,” Davis said. “BLOCS and Bill O’Brien are vital
partners of the school and stewards of the continued success of our students.
Their tremendous generosity truly opens the doors of opportunity for these
students.”
Harris said that Widener invested in
the future of the children of Chester when it opened the school eight years
ago, and the $100,000 scholarships continue that investment.
“These students have worked very
hard to get to this point today, and they deserve our continued support,”
Harris said. “The work that BLOCS has done to raise the funds to provide full
high school scholarships to our students inspired us to make a similar
gesture.”
Jada Cottman of Chester, one of two
students who spoke on behalf of the class, proclaimed that her classmates will
be seen as "world changers."
"Widener Partnership Charter School taught us how to be respectful, responsible for ready to achieve all of our goals and be successful," Cottman said. "I believe we are all ready to take on what the world has to offer."
"Widener Partnership Charter School taught us how to be respectful, responsible for ready to achieve all of our goals and be successful," Cottman said. "I believe we are all ready to take on what the world has to offer."
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