Cleveland Metropolitan School District high school students to also receive postsecondary education advising and free college entrance exam test prep
CLEVELAND (September 28, 2023) — College Now Greater Cleveland and the Cleveland Guardians are uniting to increase local high schoolers’ readiness for and access to postsecondary education and career opportunities. Through a new Ohio Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant, College Now will offer its afterschool impact! program with the Cleveland Guardians at the Cleveland Public Library’s main branch in downtown Cleveland. The free program, which offers test preparation for college entrance exams (including PSAT, SAT and ACT) and college and career exposure opportunities, will run from October 2 – December 13, 2023, and is open to high school students throughout the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Students who complete the program also receive a $400 stipend.
In partnership with the Cleveland Guardians, participating students will explore careers available within the organization, and the Guardians will provide guest speakers from a variety of departments to showcase the many career pathways in Major League Baseball and other professional sports – including the postsecondary education needed for these positions. Tours of Progressive Field, the home of the Guardians, as well as other exposure opportunities, will also be arranged for students.
“The Cleveland Guardians have long been a partner with College Now and are looking forward to this new opportunity to work with Cleveland high school students,” said Brian Barren, Guardians president of business operations, and College Now board member. “As an organization, we are dedicated to improving communities across Northeast Ohio by providing resources for social equity, education and youth programming, and we’re excited to help students access the critical education they need for career success – including exploring careers in Major League Baseball and beyond.”
In addition to exploring career pathways and college entrance exam test preparation in the impact! program, participating high school students can travel with College Now to colleges and universities so that they can truly see themselves on campuses and continue to learn about the myriad of postsecondary education opportunities available to them.
“Education after high school remains incredibly central to future career success and we’re grateful to have a strong community partner in the Guardians organization to help us get Cleveland high school students prepared and excited for their futures,” said College Now Chief Program Officer Dr. Michele Scott Taylor. “Partnering with the Guardians will also help students understand the vast array of career opportunities available to them within a large organization and will expose them to new and interesting possibilities they may otherwise have never known existed.”
College Now has offered impact! programming through other 21st CCLC grants at sites throughout Northeast Ohio since 2012.
Interested students can learn more about the program and register by going to cngc.org/impactfall2023.
