MHC-Latino Scholarship Fund Cooperative Program Impresses D.C. Officials

The MHC-affiliated Bridge to the Future program has been such a success that even cabinet-level officials in Washington, D.C., have taken notice. On December 11, the Department of Education (DOE) welcomed representatives of ten programs that encourage young people to consider and prepare for college.

One of them was special assistant to the president for educational and academic affairs Madelaine Marquez, who represented the MHC/Latino Scholarship Fund cooperative project. She said the DOE "is looking for ideas on reaching young people more effectively and helping them prepare academically for postsecondary school." The Bridge program was of particular interest to the DOE because it serves a largely Latino population. According to Marquez, Latinos are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. student population, yet have a high dropout rate.

The Bridge to the Future program is an offshoot of The Latino Scholarship Fund, itself a chapter of the national Dollars for Scholars organization, which raises money for college scholarships. Bridge, an academic support program, was started two years ago because not enough students were graduating from high school with the skills needed to succeed in college.

Seven MHC undergraduates serve as Bridge tutors and mentors to some thirty students at Holyoke High School. In addition to boosting students' English language, math, writing, and science skills, a computer skills component will be added to the program this month. Federal officials were especially impressed that Bridge involves parents, who agree to monitor and support their children's academic progress. High school students also get a taste of college life by visiting Mount Holyoke and other colleges.

Marquez says she and representatives of other programs will meet periodically as a working group with DOE staffers to help the federal government incorporate ideas that work into federal programs.