The Crosby Connection 🎓

In this issue:

*Message from President and CEO, Mona Lovett

*Virtual programming

*Advisor Highlights

* Community Service

*Thank you--Higher Ed Day

*Funder Focus: The Leon Levine Foundation

The

Crosby

Connection

SUMMER 2020

Mona's Message

Dear Friends,

We want to take this opportunity to celebrate our seniors: their persistence and resilience in pursuing their post-secondary educational goals during this unprecedented time. In the first week of June, we recognized our 1,081 graduating Crosby Scholars . Our students are outstanding.

· 411 students completed the Crosby Scholars program for 7 consecutive years, uninterrupted since 6 ^th grade.

· The class of 2020 is heading off to more than 120 different colleges, universities, and military branches.

· Their top 2-year college choice is Forsyth Tech, where 135 students have enrolled. Their top 4-year enrollment choices are UNC Greensboro (89), Appalachian State University (82), N.C. State University (80), UNC Charlotte (76) and UNC Chapel Hill (71).

· Our list of colleges where our students are enrolling includes Rhodes College in Tennessee, Rice University in Texas, Princeton in New Jersey, UCLA in California, Yale in Connecticut, University of Kentucky, University of Georgia, University of Hawaii, Howard University in Washington, DC, and several others. The full enrollment list will be published at the end of the summer.

· Three students enlisted in the United States military to serve our country: Joanna Hernandez enlisted in the United States Army National Guard; Wake Merrill and Daniel Ferrer-Cantu enlisted in the United States Navy.

· 12 Crosby Scholars were named valedictorians at their high schools.

· Seniors contributed 15,021 hours of community service in 2019-2020.

Additionally, with the support of generous donors, we awarded 26 Crosby Scholars Scholarships, which recognize the many unique characteristics of our students, including their commitment to community service and overcoming challenges, among others.

We continue to process student applications for Last Dollar Grants, which provide up to $1,200 per year for up to four years if a student has unmet financial need to enroll in college.

To our community partners, we thank you for supporting our efforts to support our students. We are so proud of our students and wish them well in this next chapter of their lives We will be here for them throughout their college experience. Crosby Scholars is for college—and for life.

Mona

‌

Contribute

to Crosby Scholars

here.

Check out our 2020 Community Report here!

Crosby Scholars ZOOMing toward College with Virtual Platforms

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic this summer, Crosby Scholars students keep moving forward.

Students in African American Males Pursuing Educational Dreams (AAMPED) participated in a Zoom meeting with Josh Howard (Former NBA Player) and Reggie Johnson (Current Pro Player).These two men answered any questions asked by the AAMPED students and provided them with knowledge that can help them achieve greatness in their personal, educational, and extracurricular life. AAMPED collaborated with Forsyth Technical Community College's Technology Department for a two-day camp. Our students virtually visited NASA and the National Museum of African American History and Culture . Our Seeds of Wealth (S.O.W.) Financial literacy initiative met through Zoom. AAMPED is supported by the United Way and The Black Philanthropy Initiative.

Hispanic/Latina Girls in Excelencia met in regular Zoom meetings.

African American and Hispanic/Latina girls in The SHE Project: SHOW, HELP, EMPLOY , enjoyed virtual activities, such as a NASCAR tour and college visit to N.C. A&T State University, held Zoom meetings and receive a science video every other week that is hosted by Board Member and Crosby Alum Israel Suarez. SHE is supported by Duke Energy, Novant Health, EcoLab and The Women's Fund .

Our Right Decisions, Right Now: Be Tobacco Free Camp sponsored by Reynolds American went virtual this year and taught students strong decision-making strategies.

Crosby Scholars: Advising Matters

Did you know that Crosby Scholars seniors receive individual college advising throughout the senior year? We have 26 advisors who in 2019-2020 met with more than 800 students for a total of more than 3,600 meetings. Our Senior Advisors include retired school counselors and education professionals who are well-versed in the application process. We also have Near Peer Advisors, who are recent college graduates that students can relate to as they navigate the path to college. In addition, Crosby Scholars provides essay review and mock interviews for our students applying to college.

For many families, hiring an individual college advisor is unaffordable. U.S. News and World Report notes that: "According to IECA data, the average hourly fee for a consultant in 2017 was $200...Comprehensive package fees can range from a low of $850 up to a high of $10,000."

With the counselor to student ratio in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System 1:375, our program works in conjunction with school counseling to provide individualized college and career planning services to assist our senior Crosby Scholars. Each high school has a counselor who serves as a Crosby Scholars liaison to connect students to Crosby Scholars resources, and Crosby advisors meet individually with seniors multiple times throughout the year.

Mike Garcia is a first-generation Forsyth Tech Early College student. He graduated in May 2020 with his Associates in Arts degree. He has been accepted into UNC Chapel Hill’s Business Direct program and awarded the Carolina Covenant scholarship. He met with Blaine Pugh, Crosby Scholars Near Peer Advisor at Forsyth Tech.

“I kind of saw myself in him, and if he can do it, and he’s here to lead me, then I can do it, too,” Garcia said.

"As a Crosby Alum, I know how important this program is to creating a bright future for today’s youth. Winston-Salem is one of the hardest cities to escape from poverty. Education provides that upward economic mobility that so many people from my hometown lack."

--Blaine Pugh, Crosby Scholars Near Peer Advisor at Forsyth Tech

"What I enjoy most is the feeling of accomplishment evidenced by seniors who have followed the roadmap we created for a successful college bound experience."

--Natalie Harding, Senior Advisor retired as Director of Student services at Robert B. Glenn High School.

Crosby Scholars Continue Community Service

Click here to see more Crosby Scholars serving our community.

Crosby Scholars Alumni like Linwaun Fulton continue to make a difference in our world.

Funder Focus: The Leon Levine Foundation

We are grateful to The Leon Levine Foundation for awarding Crosby Scholars $40,000 to support our college access programming designed to ensure Forsyth County public school students have equitable post-secondary educational opportunities that will increase their future economic mobility.

The Leon Levine Foundation, based in Charlotte, was created in 1980 by Leon Levine, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Family Dollar Stores, Inc. “The Leon Levine Foundation’s mission is to improve the human condition by creating permanent, measurable, and life-changing impact throughout the Carolinas,” according to their website. One of their focus areas is “Strengthening birth-12th grade public education & providing post-secondary access to disadvantaged & motivated individuals.”

“At The Leon Levine Foundation, we believe education is one of the keys to a thriving economy and community,” the website explains. “By investing in students from birth through post-secondary education, we are helping to end generational poverty and building a prosperous future for us all.”

Half of all Crosby Scholars in Forsyth County are from under-represented populations, and 29% of 2019 graduates are first-generation college students. The Leon Levine Foundation’s support will enable us to continue our work to assist students with post-secondary enrollment in a 2- or 4-year college or university or certificate program and be part of a holistic approach to addressing poverty in our community.

Crosby Scholars Community Partnership www.crosbyscholars.org