Widener Photo
Widener University welcomes home
first Widener Partnership Charter School alumni, as freshmen in class of 2022
Twelve students receive $100,000
scholarships
Widener
University is pleased to welcome home 12 students who entered the university
this fall as freshmen in the class of 2022, and whose primary education began
at the Widener
Partnership Charter School.
Widener
launched the charter school with a kindergarten and first grade in 2006, in
partnership with community leaders and residents of Chester. Five of the
charter school students who are now Widener freshmen were in the inaugural
first grade class and continued there as the school added grade levels through
middle school. Others joined the school in grades two through four.
Together,
they were among the 37 eighth grade students in the first class promoted to
high school, in 2014. They were also the first class to receive a promise from
Widener University: those who excelled in high school and met Widener’s
admissions requirements would be eligible for $100,000 scholarships over four
years to pursue their undergraduate degrees full time.
The
university is fulfilling that financial promise to the 12 charter school alumni
who have entered as freshmen.
“We are
so excited and honored that these students have returned to Widener to pursue
their undergraduate degrees,” said President
Julie E. Wollman. “All of them have met our rigorous standards for
admission and have earned their place in Widener’s class of 2022. I am proud of
their accomplishments, and especially gratified because we nurtured them
through their elementary and middle school years and watched as they headed off
to high school. It truly feels like we have welcomed them home as they begin
the next chapter of their academic lives.”
Freshman
Destiny Barnes, an exploratory studies major, said she was happy to be back
with former Widener schoolmates.
“We
started together. We’re going to finish together,” Barnes said. “That’s what
makes me happy. I’m proud of us.”
Biology
major Jada Cottman, a Maguire College Scholar at Widener, said she is
volunteering at the charter school, working with students on their sight words.
The experience makes her feel like a role model, and teachers there encourage
her to talk with the elementary children about her education. Cottman wants to
be a pediatrician.
“They
want them to know it’s possible. You can go to college,” she said.
Chester
Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland added his support for the students.
“Anytime
a young person commits themselves to higher education, it is a win for the
future,” Kirkland said. “Even more so, when those young persons are products of
our very own community, we know that commitment signifies a win for our city.
As these students matriculate at Widener University, the power of partnerships
is reaffirmed. We are proud of these students and salute all parties involved
for helping to cultivate our next generation of leaders.”
The Widener
Partnership Charter School is Pennsylvania’s first university-based charter
school. It takes a holistic approach to K-to-8 education, equipping the next
generation with skills and resources to succeed. The school emphasizes a low student-to-teacher ratio, the social
and emotional development of each student, a close partnership with parents and
caregivers, and the inclusion of music, art, physical and health education and
foreign language instruction as integral parts of the curriculum.
The
university-charter school partnership also benefits the younger learners
through use of Widener’s Wolfgram
Memorial Library, and resources available through the Center
for Education, Center
for Social Work Education, and the Institute
for Graduate Clinical Psychology. Widener also encourages
charter school students to use university facilities such as the Art Gallery
and the Science Teaching Center.
Charter
school alumni who are members of Widener’s class of 2022, and their majors,
include:
Robert Harvey, criminal justice
Asia McDonald, nursing
Brea Simms, communications studies
Kennae Wood, biology
De-Avion Johnson, criminal justice
Destiny Barnes, exploratory studies
Jada Cottman, biology
Kenia Ramos, nursing
Cire Holmes, nursing
Aqeel Collins, business
Jaami’a Boyer, biology
Brandon Nichols, accounting
Asia McDonald, nursing
Brea Simms, communications studies
Kennae Wood, biology
De-Avion Johnson, criminal justice
Destiny Barnes, exploratory studies
Jada Cottman, biology
Kenia Ramos, nursing
Cire Holmes, nursing
Aqeel Collins, business
Jaami’a Boyer, biology
Brandon Nichols, accounting