First Generation College Bound, Inc. / Project Bridge

Project Bridge is administered by First Generation College Bound Inc., a community organization that has successfully worked to encourage and prepare economically disadvantaged students for college.  Project Bridge served Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Prince George’s County and now serves Laurel High School.  It has established higher education partnerships with Capitol College, Prince George’s Community College (PGCC), and Saint Mary’s College of Maryland.  PGCC offers a Saturday Academy during the school year, as well as several other services for students and their parents.  Capitol College has provided assistance in technology training, and St. Mary’s has provided leadership training.  The site staff coordinates with its higher education partners and the school for PSAT and SAT preparation, study-skills classes, college and financial aid awareness workshops, a newsletter to students and parents, outreach activities to families and the community, a summer academy, and other direct services to the cohort.

8000 Cherry Lane

Laurel, Maryland 20707

301-497-2050

Program Contacts

Mr. Joseph Fisher, Director
First Generation College Bound
jfisher974@aol.com
301-490-0911  Phone

301-490-1324  Fax

Ms. Phyllis Johnson, Project Contact
301-490-0911  Phone

Mr. Theo Cramer, Principal (Laurel HS)
301-497-2050  Phone

Project Title:              College Prep Partners—Moving Up

Project Director:        Margaret Taibi

                                    Dean, Student Development Services

Prince George's Community College

                                    301 Largo Road

Largo, MD 20774-2199

                                    mtaibi@pgcc.edu

 Project Abstract:

             The College Prep Partners project serves low-income eleventh-grade students and their parents and guardians at Laurel High School.   Prince George’s Community College (PGCC), First Generation College Bound, and Laurel High School continue as partners for the third year in this program.     The five components of the project are 1) a mentoring program during the academic year using college students as mentors; 2) an individual career advisement program; 3) a parent education and support program during the academic year; 4) success newsletters; and 5) a four-week summer enrichment program.   During the fall and spring semesters, activities are offered in the evening and on weekends at Laurel High School and at the Prince George’s Community College main campus and at the Laurel College Center.   The summer enrichment program is offered Monday through Fridays at the Laurel College Center or the Largo campus, depending on specific program activities for the day.

            The peer-mentoring program is intended to increase student motivation to accept greater academic challenges and to prepare them for the challenges of postsecondary education using successful college students from similar background as role models.   The individual career advisement program provides students with a career assessment and helps them develop an individual career plan.   The family education activities are designed to help parents identify and use strategies to help their students accept and succeed in an academically rigorous program of study.   In addition, the parent program will provide parents with information about college admissions and financial aid.   The success newsletters are intended to increase student and parent understanding of the relationships among between career goals, current academic achievement, and post-secondary education opportunities.   The summer enrichment program is intended to increase student skills in mathematics, writing skills, critical reading and thinking, study skills, and life management skills for young adults transitioning to independent living.   The summer program includes college-level instruction.