(From the October 2008 Newsletter)
With today’s economy and the growing need for people to fill technical jobs, more and more high school students are opting to forgo a traditional four-year college program and pursue technical education at a community college or training institute. For these students, Social Venture Partners Portland (SVPP) administers a unique program, called Venture Scholars, which offers students a scholarship to help them pursue their dream.
Samantha graduated from Benson High School in 2006 with dreams of following her mother into nursing. “Her life has been filled with security, joy and passion,” Samantha said. “Becoming a nurse was the best thing she has ever done.” But the cost of education was prohibitive for Samantha until counselors at Benson High School encouraged her to apply for a Venture Scholars award.
SVPP’s Venture Scholars offers talented young adults up to $4,000 to spend toward their technical or professional education. The program was established to honor and support students who pursue careers that can be advanced through a community college or technical training program. “It is immensely rewarding to help someone get started in life who otherwise would be limited by a few thousand dollars for community college tuition, books and other expenses," says Frank Gill, a Venture Scholar donor and SVPP Partner.
Chosen degrees include nursing, emergency medical technician, culinary arts, photography,
multimedia technician and machinist, among others. Over the last four years, more than forty students have won a Venture Scholars award. More than 75% of these students have either finished their training or are doing well and on track to finish and find work in their chosen field. Joe Barthmaier, an SVP Partner and Venture Scholars program manager, feels the program’s success is due to the careful selection of recipients and the excellent support in the selection process by school staff. In addition, he said, “we track the students term by term, and disburse their awards in installments based on satisfactory progress, which helps to keep our average expenditure per student low.”
(continued from October 2008 newsletter)
Modeled after the Grove Scholars program of California, one of the goals of Venture Scholars is to encourage high school students to pursue the specialized training that will enable them to have better-paying jobs after high school. “A key goal of the Venture Scholars program is motivating more students to stay in school and graduate. These awards aim to heighten students’ awareness of how education leads to opportunity,” says Deborah Lockwood, another Venture Scholars volunteer program manager. With the current dropout rate in Portland Public Schools at 43%, scholarship winners can provide an example that inspires more students to stay in school and strive for a rewarding future.
Samantha hoped to be a role model like her mother, knowing she could get a job in nursing as long as she could get the degree. Samantha just needed help with some of the expenses and some moral support. Her scholarship helped to pay for books, but she also got more. “The people in charge of the Venture Scholars have been so supportive and generous,” she said. "I feel like I have the support of a whole group of people I barely know – my own group cheering me on every step of the way.”
Venture Scholars began in 2004 by developing partnerships with Benson and Roosevelt high schools to recruit and select award winners. In 2007, three additional partners were added: De La Salle High School, Friends of the Children and Self Enhancement, Inc. The program managers and donors expanded to these service agencies because they reach disadvantaged teens, offering them guidance and encouragement to pursue an education and good jobs – support that extends beyond high school graduation.
More changes for the Venture Scholar program are coming in 2009. Joe and Deborah hope to add at least one more high school in the Portland area for identifying talented and qualified candidates. Additionally, the maximum financial award will be increased to $5,000, due to the increasing cost of community college and trade school tuition.
SVPP accepts donations for Venture Scholars of $500 and more with full scholarships funded in $5,000 increments. “Donors who support this program gain the satisfaction of having made a profound difference in someone's life,” said Frank. “Attending the award ceremony and seeing the kids and especially their proud parent(s) is a real reward. And then, following these kids through their schooling and seeing them enter their chosen field with a good job really makes it all worthwhile.”
Samantha agrees. After two years in preparatory studies, she has been accepted to the nursing program at Mt. Hood Community College – just like her mom. It wasn’t easy; only 80 students were accepted out of 600 applicants. But her good grades and focused enthusiasm paid off. “Nursing is the only thing I want to do,” Samantha exclaimed. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
For more information about this program, visit our Web site at www.svpportland.org.
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