Keven Williams was a self-confessed "average" student in high school, until he found a program called College Bound and became a motivated student - even increasing his SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores by 100 points. Now this college graduate has another goal: to become Chief Financial Officer for the organization that is helping hundreds of students gain access to college.
College Bound began in Andy and Johnnie Savoy's living room in 1991, after they helped son Kareem through the college application process and wanted to share what they learned with other African-American families. That year, 39 students enrolled. It soon became clear the needs went beyond writing effective essays.
To help level the playing field for underrepresented students, College Bound had to change attitudes and opportunities. "Every child should know early on they can go to college," says Johnnie Savoy, its president and CEO.
Today, more than 600 students from grades 4 through 12 - 95% of them African American - attend intensive, 10-month-long Saturday Schools at Pomona College and Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Certified teachers and volunteers teach math, literature, writing, ethnic heritage, study skills, and time management. A $100,000 Weingart Foundation grant will help expand these popular Saturday sessions.
One major focus: enhancing SAT scores, which Savoy calls "the gatekeepers." College Bound puts students through standardized testing beginning in the fourth grade, helping them to build confidence. "If you start early enough and give kids support," Savoy says, "they'll blossom."
That support includes connections to summer enrichment programs, scholarships, tutoring, internships - anything to make students' college applications stand out. Savoy takes a "holistic approach," strategizing what each child needs, including one-on-one counseling and yearly academic assessments.
One key is mandatory parental involvement. While students attend Saturday School, family members are in adjacent classrooms, studying such topics as financial planning and adolescent health.
The results are impressive: 96% of College Bound students are accepted into four-year schools. As of June 2000, the program boasts 89 college graduates and 343 students in colleges and universities nationwide, including the Ivy League.
Williams, who earned his degree in business administration and managerial finance from California State University Sacramento, says, "Most of us wouldn't be where we are without College Bound. I'm a prime example."
