|
Education
Grantmaker Invests in Wisconsin's Future |
|  |
| For over forty years, Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation (Great Lakes) has provided assistance to help low-income students who apply for and succeed in college. Great Lakes, headquartered in Madison, is a leading guarantor and servicer of student loans serving the U.S. Department of Education; 3,500 schools; and 1,250 lenders.
"Great Lakes is committed to opening the doors to higher education for students who grow up in less-privileged circumstances, or who may be the first in their family to attend college," explains Amy Kerwin, Chief Guaranty Officer at Great Lakes. "We provide funding to over 100 programs to advance this cause and are proud to support Admission Possible."
Admission Possible boasts one of the highest success rates among college access programs in the nation with over 98% of students admitted to college. Recognizing that success as well as the need for additional college access solutions for low-income students in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin, Great Lakes provided an initial seed grant of $140,000 for the program's expansion to Milwaukee in 2008.
"Milwaukee high school students want to attend college, but many lack the intensive support system of a caring adult who has been through the college application process," explains Kate Lundeen, executive director of Admission Possible. "Great Lakes understands that students can see great success from additional classes on test taking and college applications."
With Great Lakes' support, Admission Possible has been able to expand their presense and serve over 200 students including assistance in filling out the FAFSA form, studying for college entrance exams and understanding how to pay for college.
For Wisconsin, Admission Possible means more low-income and disadvantaged students are getting the education necessary to participate in the state's future workforce - a workforce that projections show will consist of middle-class jobs requiring higher education. The initial goal for 2008 was to develop the program at two Milwaukee sites - South Division and Milwaukee School of Languages high school. The program surpassed all of its goals and successfully served 60 high school juniors in the first year.
"Of Admission Possible's 53 Greater Milwaukee seniors in 2010, 94 percent have already been admitted to at least one college for next year," notes Lundeen.
To date, Great Lakes has committed more than $43 million in funding, support and resources towards benefitting students, families and the State of Wisconsin. |
"By working together with programs like Admission Possible, Great Lakes' support will help more area students enroll in college, graduate, and continue to move Wisconsin forward," says Amy Kerwin, Chief Guaranty Officer at Great Lakes. |
