The financial costs associated with college or vocational programs can be a major barrier to low-income communities. It often prohibits talented individuals from realizing educational and vocational goals. To encourage youth from TNDC’s After-School Program (TASP) to reach their potential, TNDC is proudly introducing its new Educational Scholarship Program.

A vision a few years ago, the program became reality last Fall when two donors—heartened by TNDC’s work with youth—provided the needed funding. “We are so grateful for this gift,” says Laura Choe, TASP Program Manager. “It’s a dream come true. We see it as a major addition to the support we offer for post-secondary educational pursuits.” Grants provided to students will help pay for school fees, tuition, room and board, books, and school supplies. Among the first recipients are five former TASP participants who are now in college.

Sending Students to College

The Educational Scholarship Program complements TASP’s annual college tour which introduces teens to college campuses across the country. In 2006, 15 students went to Atlanta, Georgia where they toured Georgia Tech, Morehouse, Agnes Scott, Emory and Oxford College.

Students from past tours were encouraged to participate. The hope is to provide these teens with a perspective on what each city offers. In fact, several TASP students are attending out-of-state colleges. “We believe the college tours are instrumental to opening the eyes of our youth to options outside of California and relieving some of the anxiety of traveling so far from home,” says Laura. Over the past eight years, the youth center has taken students to Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Philadelphia.

Finding the "Right" School

But no matter how impressive the city, personal preferences for college are generally varied. It’s a matter of where the students see themselves in the future. Fifteen-year old Perla Orozco, who attends Sacred Heart Cathedral, has been on three previous trips. In Atlanta, she enjoyed Agnes Scott, a private liberal arts college for women because of their dorm facilities. “The rooms are big, with two closets, nice bathrooms and huge hallways,” she says. Antonio Rios, who just graduated from Galileo High School, has an interest in entering the technology field. It’s no surprise that his favorite was Georgia Tech. “They have a great program,” says Antonio.

Academics aside, the college tour allows the teens to simply have fun in a new city. During their recent trip, 18-year old Sophie Ear enjoyed sights like Martin Luther King Jr.’s boyhood home. “It was interesting to see what his life was like before he became a civil rights leader,” she says. The students also saw the musical “Chicago” at the Fox Theatre and a live news broadcast at CNN’s studios. They truly got a sense of Atlanta’s rich history and culture.

Through the annual college tours, in conjunction with TNDC’s new Educational Scholarship Program, TNDC hopes to continue building the support and encouragement that young people in the Tenderloin need for life-long learning.