2016-2017 Leadership Memphis Pathway to Prosperity College & Career Tours

For those who act now, you have a chance to help a young person get to college.  Here’s how.  But first, hear it from the students themselves with this interview from WREG: 

Shelby County Students Attend College and Career Tours Through Leadership Memphis

Many students do not think they can go to college. They have been told over and over that there is no way they can make it, or afford it.  Still many other students want to go to college, dream about going to college, and will even tell you they are going to college.  Unfortunately, for too many of our students there is too often a disconnect between what they think – and reality.

We have found that College and Career Tours are a big part of the answer – a sure fire way to connect them to the reality of going to college. That is why we are raising over $75,000 to send 750 students on their tours this summer and fall.  Opening doors, opening minds, creating opportunities to be exposed to many careers and career pathways that start with certificates and degrees in the military, vocational/technical programs, visual and performing arts tracks, as well as four-year degrees to the future.  

You can contribute $25, $50, $100, or whatever you like.  We have one person who contributed   $2500 to get us off on the right foot!  You can make a difference when you donate and when you encourage others to do the same.

And every dollar you give to help a student is matched – which multiplies your gift.  The Turley Family Foundation is matching every $2 you give with another $1.  Your $2 = $3 for this campaign thanks to the foundation.  So, for each donation of $30 the Turley Family Foundation will contribute the other $15 to equal $45 and one local tour.  It costs $450 to take a student on a regional 3-day/2-night college and career tour.  And for each donation of $300 the Turley Family Foundation will match that with $150 to equal $450 for one regional tour.

Many students in the Memphis area may or may not find their way to college or even know how to apply for college.  This is a major issue in the Memphis area since forty-four percent of Shelby County School students who graduated in 2014 simply stopped with a high school diploma.  The #1 way students find their path to college is through a college tour.  Students without a technical certification, 2 year or 4 year degree find it less likely to find a good-paying job and thus never find their pathway out of poverty.

Like last year, we are organizing college and career tours for seniors, juniors and hopefully this year even sophomores from Hamilton, Trezevant, East, Melrose, Fairley, Kingsbury, Kirby and George Washington Carver high schools.  If there are students that could use your help – it’s these kids.    

We raised $60,000 last year and over 500 students have visited college campuses, including University of Memphis, Rhodes College, Christian Brothers University, LeMoyne Owen College, Moore Tech, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Arkansas State University, Rust College, Fisk University, Belmont College, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, Vanderbilt University, Jackson State University, and Tulane University.

Thank you again to those who helped last year.  Please give again this year.  Or give for the first time this year.  The key is – give so these students can not only see the future – give so we can connect them to the future. 

Leadership Memphis has received a 1:2 crowdfunding match up to $25,000 from the Turley Family Foundation to take 750+ high school students on local and regional college and career tours. With the $25,000 1:2 match, Leadership Memphis plans to raise $51,285 for the tours.  You can contribute any amount and every contribution is deeply appreciated!

The project timeline is as follows:

Crowdfunding Period: February 1 - April 1, 2016

Day of Service Event (Crowdfunding Community Kick-off): January 18, 2016

Leadership Luncheon Awards Ceremony: March 2, 2016 at Hilton Ridgeway Hotel

Students embark on College & Career Tours: Early June 2016

If every student matters, what about an entire school system?  Six thousand students (6,000) graduated from Shelby County Schools last year only to stop with a high school diploma. Forty-four percent of Shelby County School students who graduated in 2014 did not pursue a college certificate or degree. 

We also know that 65% of the jobs created by 2020 will require a certificate or degree, so continuing education beyond high school can make all the difference in a young person’s life.  The #1 request from students when asked what would help them go to college was “college and career tours”.  Makes sense, right?  If you’ve never been on a college campus, how do you know what it feels like, or what to expect when you get there?  If you’ve never talked to a college advisor/counselor, how do you know what that college expects from you on your application.

Student Evaluations

The following information was learned based on evaluations completed by students participating in the Pathway to ProsperityRegional College and Career Tours:

99% - “I learned about colleges that could be possible options for me to attend."

86% - “I have a better understanding of the college admission process and requirements."

76% - “I gained a better understanding of how to prepare to attend college."

“In Their Own Words…”

“This trip was an eye-opening experience. It showed me the importance of higher education, and let me know it is okay to be nervous about going to college. It also opened my eyes to how important that even the smallest scholarship is." ~T. Briggs, Senior Class President, Melrose High School