President Barack Obama convened a Summit on College Opportunity at the White House Thursday, aimed at helping more students prepare for and graduate from college.
Patricia Melton, executive director of New Haven Promise, a scholarship and support program for New Haven public school students, was there.
To date, more than 500 students have enrolled in higher education in Connecticut with assistance from New Haven Promise.
Melton said a next step is to expand supports for freshman students, so they make a successful transition and stay in college. They’re enlisting the help of New Haven Promise peers, upperclassmen who are already on campus.
"They’ve been there. They know what the challenges are in freshman year," Melton said. "So we’re expanding a new peer mentoring and support program that is fueled by our scholars who are actually in college, who can help those who are coming along, to transition from high school to their freshman year, so they can get off to a very strong start."
Yale University is the primary sponsor of New Haven Promise.
High school students who graduate with a 3.0 GPA and a 90 percent attendance record, and who participate in community service, can get up to full tuition assistance for any two-or–four-year program at a public college or university in the state, or they can receive up to $2,500 dollars annually to attend a private non-profit higher education institution.
