FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
$1.4 Million Scholarship Program to Benefit City Heights Students Intent on SDSU Goal is to Increase Admissions and Graduation Rates at SDSU
CONTACT: Jack Beresford, (619) 594-5204, jack.beresford@sdsu.edu
SAN DIEGO, Wednesday May 31,2000 - Hoover and Crawford High School students will benefit from a new scholarship program aimed at increasing the number of enrollees and improving retention and graduation rates for those going on to San Diego State University (SDSU).
The Joe and Dorothy Goldberg and Stephen Effron Scholars Program offers qualified students from the two schools $6,000 per year, use of a laptop computer and special mentoring while at SDSU. In return, the scholars will be required to maintain a 2.5 grade point average, perform an average of eight hours per week of community service in City Heights and graduate within five years of enrollment. The names of 20 fall 2000 enrollees who will receive scholarships during year one of the five-year program will be announced in early June.
"We must ensure that students begin the university experience on a competitive basis with all students - regardless of socio-economic factors and/or under-representation," said Ethan Singer, SDSU associate vice president of academic affairs.
"We believe this program moves us significantly in that direction, and by providing students with additional support and follow-through at SDSU, the graduation rate of these students will greatly exceed past performance."
The idea for the scholars program came from Sol Price and his son Robert Price, both well-known local philanthropists who initiated a public-private partnership to revitalize City Heights six years ago. The scholarship funds are named for Joe and Dorothy Goldberg, two long-time friends and associates of Sol Price, and Stephen Effron, a former Hoover student and cousin of Robert Price. Both the Goldbergs and Effron are deceased. A total of $860,000 in scholarship support will be available during the five-year program. The total program cost, including counseling services, laptop computers and other costs is estimated at nearly $1.4 million. Price Charities is the advisor to the funds, which are established at The San Diego Foundation.
The program will be coordinated by the City Heights K-16 Educational Pilot, a six-year effort initiated in 1997 to improve and innovate education in City Heights through the collaboration of SDSU, the San Diego Unified School District, the San Diego Educational Association and Price Charities. The San Diego Foundation, through the Weingart-Price Advised Fund is providing an $18 million grant as start-up funding for the pilot and continues to be a major supporter. Participating schools include Rosa Parks Elementary, Monroe Clark Middle School and Hoover High School.
"This supports our City Heights Pilot by creating another concrete link between going to school in City Heights and going to college," said Ian Pumpian, executive director of the City Heights K-16 Educational Pilot. "The intent is to connect scholarships and college support to service back to the community."
In addition to the scholars attending SDSU, 11th and 12th graders at at Hoover and Crawford will be eligible to apply for standing as a scholar candidate. Those who qualify will receive special counseling and a $750 yearly stipend for educational and living purposes. Scholar candidates will also be required to contribute at least four hours every two weeks assisting students at Rosa Parks and Monroe Clark. Pumpian says the hope is that many of the scholar candidates will go on to become scholars and attend SDSU. A total of 65 scholarships are to be awarded during the five-year program. Twenty scholar candidates will be named each year during the next three school years.
"As a public university, our responsibility to the community must extend beyond the campus limits," said Stephen L. Weber, president of SDSU. "We want young people growing up in City Heights to know that a university degree is an attainable objective and that we are committed to providing them with the support they need to be successful at SDSU."
Of the $115,000 available during the first year of the program, 65 percent of the scholarships will be available to Hoover students and graduates through the Stephen Effron Fund and 35 percent directed to Crawford students and graduates through the Joe and Dorothy Goldberg Fund. Of the $6,000 in scholarship funding available to each student, SDSU will provide $1,000 toward scholars' fees.
San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, it has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 76 areas, master's degrees in 59 areas and doctorates in 13. Students participate in academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with professors and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, log onto www.sdsu.edu.
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