Hello, COLLEGE!
January 2015
Transforming Public High School Students Into College Graduates
Over 150 College Scholars Network with the Pros (Even a Jets Player!)

Our Scholars attend 132 different colleges and universities across 26 states--so when they return to New York City for winter break, it's a special opportunity to reconnect in person.

This January, at our annual Winter Institute, over 150 College Scholars joined us for three days of academic and career development workshops, plus plenty of networking practice. 
  • Guest speaker Tony Forte, founder and president of the Silver Spoon Foundation, brought New York Jets linebacker Quinton Coples to share insights on building a personal brand. 
  • Scholars met with over 60 professionals, including SEO's Chairman Henry Kravis and board members Hara Amdemariam and Aren LeeKong, to hone their networking skills and explore careers. 
  • Scholars met representatives from 32 different companies at a career fair, including the Ford Foundation, Goldman Sachs, and UBS.
The Winter Institute is just one of the ways in which we help our Scholars to graduate from college and leave ready for productive careers. Did you know...

95% of SEO Scholars graduate college within 6 years
80% of SEO Scholars graduate college in 4 years
 
In This Issue

NYC College Acceptances and

Woodjerry will be the first in his family to attend college.
Scholarship Winners

This fall, our 12th grade Scholars each applied to 3 "safety" schools, 3 "target" schools and 3 "reach" schools. We're thrilled to share that 13 of our New York City Scholars are already accepted to college and 7 have earned competitive national scholarships.

QuestBridge Scholarship Winner
Woodjerry, a 12th grade Scholar from Brooklyn, has been accepted to Swarthmore College on a four-year, full-ride scholarship. Here's what he had to say about the moment he found out:


"When I entered SEO Scholars in the 9th grade,
I didn't know how I'd pay for college and I didn't think I was good enough to get a scholarship. When I got the news, I kept hitting the refresh button. I couldn't believe it. Winning this scholarship is the culmination of my dream and the first time I realized I have a future. Now I can spark a trend of college attendance in my family."

6 Posse Scholarship Winners
These Scholars earned four-year, full-tuition scholarships:
  • Alexis D. - Middlebury College
  • Mohammad H. - Brandeis University
  • Philip O. & Keyla Y. - Franklin & Marshall College
  • Harry R. - Lawrence University
  • Pascual V. - Lafayette College
Early Action, Early Decision, or Early Notifications:
  • Jancy C. - Columbia University
  • Jessica C. - Ohio Wesleyan University
  • Elvis M. - Dartmouth College
  • Pauline M. - SUNY Binghamton University, University of Hartford
  • Rebecca O. - Canisius College
  • Tanzima U. - Franklin & Marshall College
San Francisco Scholars Excel on the SAT--and College Acceptances Are Rolling In!

Twenty 12th graders are on their way to becoming the very first class of San Francisco College Scholars. On their final SAT exams, they scored an average of 1672--nearly 300 points above the average score of students in their income bracket and well above the 1550 "college-ready" benchmark. We're so proud!


With nearly 300 college applications submitted, 75% of which are to top-tier colleges according to Barron's, they've already been accepted to the University of Notre Dame and several California State Universities. We hope you'll join us for our first graduation celebration in San Francisco on Tuesday, May 19.
Kravis Scholars Dinner 2014
Chairman Henry Kravis with our Scholars at last year's Awards Dinner.
Honoring Bloomberg and Rubenstein in April

Join us at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan on April 27th for SEO's 12th Annual Awards Dinner. Proceeds from the event will benefit SEO Scholars. Mix and mingle with the SEO family, and meet our inspiring Scholars. Honorees include Michael R. Bloomberg, David M. Rubenstein and SEO alumnus and Board Treasurer Gilbert A. Garcia. The dinner chair is Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America.