FSCJ and the City of Jacksonville Receive $25k Grant

The Florida State College Foundation and the City of Jacksonville were awarded a $25,000 grant by the Walmart Foundation through the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program for the Pre-Collegiate Studies College Reach-Out Summer Program.

The College Reach-Out Summer Program will offer a dynamic five-day summer program to 80 at-risk middle and high school students to inspire them to pursue postsecondary education. The overall goal of the College Reach-Out Summer Program is to encourage and enlighten students in grades six through 12 to sharpen their academic skills and broaden their knowledge of the urgency to successfully graduate from high school and complete postsecondary education.

The program will include the following components:

1. Students will gain a true "college experience" through speaking one-on-one with college students and professors, visiting college classes and touring different campuses to learn about various programs of studies and majors.
2. Completing workshops on personal development topics including building self-esteem, dealing with negative behavior and leadership skills. Students will learn to deal with problems in positive ways through goal setting, dream building, self-motivation and time management.
3. Parent workshops will be offered on topics such as: Parental Involvement; Financial Literacy; Testing and Assessment; Stress Management within the Family; College Financial Planning 101; and College and Career Mapping.
4. Educational field trips will enhance students' career exploration and Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills.
5. Career and educational plans will be developed with each student to map their steps to transitioning to postsecondary education.
6. Academic instruction will be given in science, math and language arts.

The Florida State College Foundation is honored to work with the City of Jacksonville and the Mayor’s Office to execute this program. Mayor Alvin Brown has committed to participate in opening and closing events and meeting in small groups and/or one-on-one offering support and encouragement to the students.