CCSU Leads Nationwide Effort to Create Early College Awareness

NEW BRITAIN, CT- Central Connecticut State University will welcome approximately 600 students from the Dwight Elementary School in Hartford, Connecticut on Friday, April 30. They will spend the morning meeting with college students and professors and engaging in hands-on activities designed to inspire them to pursue higher education. The event is a national kick-off for College Awareness Week, a key part of the Foundation for Excellent Schools' Century Program. The Century Program is a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting partnerships between 100 universities and 100 elementary schools to create the early college awareness that can help students succeed in school and thrive in college.

“Early college awareness is a key step to raising aspirations,” said Rick Dalton, president of FES. “It helps young students see possibilities in their future and, most important, it helps them understand how to access those opportunities. We are grateful to Central Connecticut State University for their visionary national leadership in helping to launch College Awareness Week.”

Joined by Dwight Elementary Principal Kathy Greider, Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Robert Henry, Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez, and Travelers Foundation President John Motley, the students (grades K-5) will tour the campus and attend special sessions featuring age-appropriate activities in geography, physics, robotics, music, dance, and story telling. Also participating will be Karen Judge, program director at the Foundation for Excellent Schools (FES), which is coordinating the event.

CCSU President Richard L. Judd noted that the event is a “wonderful opportunity for Hartford’s children to learn more about higher education. We hope the visit will inspire the students to work harder in school so that they too have the chance to realize their dreams and aspirations. CCSU is proud to be working in partnership with FES, the Kellogg Foundation, and the Travelers Foundation. And I want to single out for my special thanks the Traveler’s exceptional generosity in supporting this effort.”

Dean of the School of Education Ellen Whitford said “Since its founding in 1849, CCSU has a strong commitment to the education of all children and to preparing teachers to work with diverse populations. This program is just one example of the work CCSU does with public schools through our network of Professional Development Schools.”

CCSU and Dwight Elementary are partners in The Century Program, a nationwide FES initiative that is matching 100 colleges with 100 schools to promote personal and academic achievement for underserved youth. CCSU students and administrators will help Dwight students understand how to access higher education, and to encourage them to achieve the academic excellence that is vital for reaching college and for thriving on its educational opportunities and challenges. The visit is part of a comprehensive early college awareness program Dwight School has developed in partnership with CCSU, with support from FES, the Kellogg Foundation, and the Travelers Foundation.

Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez said “The Century Program is an important strategy for helping Hartford reach its goal that 25 percent more students will attend college.”

For information: Mark McLaughlin, Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications at CCSU, 860-832-0065 (mclaughlinm@ccsu.edu).

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