DATE: Monday, September 29, 1997            TAG: 9709270016

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Editorial 

                                            LENGTH:   70 lines

EDUCATION ACCESS: FUNDING STUDENTS' DREAMS MANY STUDENTS HAVVE NO IDEA HOW TO ACHIEVE THE CAREERS THEY WANT

Students in Norfolk and Portsmouth high schools are guaranteed enough money for college if they participate in ACCESS, a privately funded program.

Designed to assist students of average ability and limited finances, the program puts the dream of a college education within each student's reach, no matter how poor the family - if the students do their part.

Since beginning in Norfolk in 1988 and in Portsmouth in 1990, ACCESS has helped 5,968 students in those two cities receive $32,883,339 in federal, state and college financial aid to continue their educations. That's an average of $5,510 per student. ACCESS has financial advisers in each of the two cities' eight high schools to help students obtain the aid in the form of scholarships, grants and low-interest loans due only after graduation.

In addition, ACCESS has awarded $1,112,798 ``Last Dollar Awards'' to 1,217 students. Those are special grants, directly from ACCESS, of up to $1,000 for the first year of college and $500 for each of four years more. They go to students who signed up for the program as high school freshmen, maintained at least C plus averages, had good attendance records and refrained from using drugs. The ``Last Dollar Awards'' are intended to fill in the last gap, if other sources do not meet a student's college needs.

This year, 58 percent of freshmen in the eight high schools signed up to participate in the ``Last Dollar'' program. Other students, when they are seniors, still will be helped to obtain college financial aid. In fact, for all high school seniors, now is the time to be begin seeking college aid for next year.

Most of ACCESS students are at or below the federal poverty level. Many come from families that never have had a member attend college, so part of ACCESS advisers' work is to demonstrate to students that college is within their reach. If necessary, the program also pays the fees for the students' college applications, need analyses and tests.

In a new step this year, ACCESS has set up a mentoring program in the eight high schools using students from Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University and Virginia Wesleyan College. Too many students had signed on to the ACCESS program as freshman but later dropped out. The mentors are expected to reduce the number of dropouts by keeping students enthused about college all through high school.

The mentors, along with the ACCESS advisers, meet with students one day a week after school for 90 minutes. Half of each session is spent on tutoring, the other half on a curriculum that includes learning such skills such as goal setting and time management. Many of the skills taught have to do with everyday living. They include budgeting money, resolving conflict and preparing a resume. Careers are discussed, and students learn the advantages of continuing their educations. Many high school students know which careers they want, but have no idea how to achieve them. The students also take field trips, sometimes to college campuses.

In a promotional tape for ACCESS, Tamika Baskerville, a student at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, says, ``College is the door to everything I want to achieve.''

In the same tape, Stacey Mazurek, a student at Maury High School in Norfolk, says, ``High school is your little world. There's a whole huge world out there, and I want to be a part of it. I want to get from college the tools to help me live in life.''

Those two students know how the world works.

ACCESS is sponsored by Tidewater Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit organization. An anonymous donor has promised the foundation $1 million if it can raise an equal amount by mid-January. The foundation has raised $460,000 so far. With more money, ACCESS could expand the ``Last Dollar'' amounts. If you are interested in contributing or being a mentor or helping in some other way, call the foundation at 441-2867.

Everybody benefits when high school students dream high and have the financial means to makes those dreams come true.

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