Blueprints End of the Year Celebration

This year was our largest year yet. Over 1,000 students from 11 high schools participated in the Blueprints College Access Initiative, and we worked with 1,400 seniors through our Cash For College Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Campaign. Our celebration of the Blueprints College Access Initiative at Alagasco’s Center for Energy Technology was a chance to recognize those who made this possible.

Over 40 of these partners came together at Alagasco’s Center for Energy Technology to celebrate the Blueprints College Access Initiative. Thank you to all who attended, and thank you to Alagasco for the use of the event space. We had high school teachers, students, guidance counselors, and administrators present. We also had college students, college faculty members and professors, and community partners and area business professionals who volunteered to help students with the FAFSA join in the celebrations.

Libba Vaughan, Director of the UAB Office of Service Learning and Alabama Possible Board Member, welcomed the guests, introduced the board and staff, and shared our successes from the year. She shared the study released by EdTrust.org which explains that out of the 10 states studied, Alabama is the only state where high-poverty districts are completing the FAFSA at higher rates than wealthier districts (http://edtrust.org/the-fasfa-divide-getting-more-low-income-students-to-apply-for-aid/).

We then heard from Dr. Cassandra Ellis, UAB Professor of English, about her college students’ experiences mentoring. Evan Lewis, Birmingham-Southern College Student-Athlete and Ramsay High School Alumni, talked about his experiences returning to his alma mater to mentor. He noted how the ambitious and impressive the goals and dreams of the 9^th graders were.

We also had the opportunity to hear from three Woodlawn High School students. Jasmine and Jawonki explained their future plans, including college at Alabama A&M, and graduate school as well. Jawonki shared with the group that he will be a doctor one day. Jasmine also mentioned that from day one Blueprints was there to work with students on scholarships. Jarrell, another Woodlawn graduating senior and Gates Millenium Scholar, provided the closing.

Congratulations to these three remarkable high school students who are moving onto college. We can’t wait to see what they and the rest of our Blueprints senior class of over 320 achieve.