ideapodTHE PITTSBURGH PROMISE ’S

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“What schoolsare eligible for The PittsburghPromise scholar-ship?” Find out atwww.pittsburghpromise.org/schoollist.html

You Can’t Change nothin’in this World by saleem ghubril

THAT IS WHAT OLD CYNICS SAY and what jaded people believe. I disagree. Infact, I know they are wrong because I spent the last 30 years of my life with tensof thousands of young people who absolutely believe that their lives matter andtheir choices make a difference. And I have seen them live lives and make choicesthat cause this world to be changed, one life and one choice at a time.

At The Pittsburgh Promise, we are on a mission to transform Pittsburgh’sfuture and alter the trajectory that so many believe is unavoidable.

In my lifetime, the City of Pittsburgh has lost over half of its population, and our schools have lost over half of their students. In 1950, Pittsburgh had a population of over 675,000 people. Today, we’re close to 300,000. We have seen a similar decline in student enrollment from more than 50,000 to around 26,000. Those who study trends and population shifts tell us that we should expect Pittsburgh and its public schools to continue to decline.

We’re not buying it. We don’t think decline is inevitable. We are hopeful that you, our young people and emerging leaders, will reverse our city’s trends and our region’s fortunes.

At The Pittsburgh Promise, we have three goals:1. Reverse population and enrollment

declines.2. Grow high school as well as college

graduation rates.3. Deploy a diverse and well-prepared

workforce.If we are able to add 16,500 new college graduates to Pittsburgh’s

population, we believe that will introduce more than $1.5 billion to the local economy every year. We already have 1,500 students in college today receiving a Promise scholarship from the graduatingclasses of 2008 and 2009 alone.

Furthermore, Pittsburgh is likely to experience significant retirements from its current workforce in the next decade. This creates room and opportunities for you to come back to Pittsburgh, get a decent job, and be a part of an exciting new economy.

Pittsburgh needs you. You are Pittsburgh’s promise. Our common future lies in your head, heart, and hands. We’re counting on you. We believe in you.We’re here for you. We’re hopeful that your life and your choices will tell those who say you can’t change nothin’ in this world “Watch me.”

iPod©, noun [ ī päd ] “internet” “pod” (portable open database).

At The Pittsburgh Promise, we’re offering up our own“i”Pod—the idea pod—a place where ideas can growby providing students access to information and exposure to all of the opportunities available through

Saleem GhubrilExecutive DirectorThe Pittsburgh Promise

Franco Harris, ChairmanNFL Hall of FameOwner, Super Bakery, Inc.

Candi Castleberry-SingletonChief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, UPMC

Mark LaskowManaging Director and CEO,Greycourt & Co.

Pamela Little-PooleDirector of Parent Education Beginning With Books

Luke RavenstahlMayor, City of Pittsburgh

Mark RooseveltSuperintendent, Pittsburgh Public Schools

THE PITTSBURGH PROMISEBOARD OF DIRECTORS

2 What Do I Need to Be Eligible For The Pittsburgh Promise?

6 Ask the President11 What Type of School Suits You Best? 13 Dreaming Big and Working Hard16 The 70-10-10-10 Principle18 Ask the Collegiate20 Saving For Your Child’s College Promise 23 College Decisions Go Well Beyond

Picking a Major24 Hard Work Can Change Lives30 Inside PPS: Pittsburgh Perry High School31 Inside PPS: Pittsburgh CAPA 6–1232 Inside PPS: Pittsburgh Allderdice High School

Edith Shapira, MDPsychiatrist, Private Practice

Kiya TomlinParent Volunteer, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Olga Welch, EdD Dean, School of Education Duquesne University

Demetri ZervoudisSenior Vice President, Bayer Material Science

Grant Oliphant, Ex-OfficioPresident and CEO,The Pittsburgh Foundation

Saleem GhubrilExecutive Director The Pittsburgh Promise

.

The Pittsburgh Promise is a501(c)(3) nonprofit corporationand is an affiliate of ThePittsburgh Foundation.

topics

The Pittsburgh Promise is a partnership between Pittsburgh Public Schools, the City of Pittsburgh, UPMC (University ofPittsburgh Medical Center), and other key funders.

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Enrollment Requirement:A student needs to be continuously enrolled in thePittsburgh Public Schools, or one of four high schoolschartered by PPS, since at least the first day of 9thgrade, and maintain continuous residency in the Cityof Pittsburgh. Award levels are:

WHAT DO I NEED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PITTSBURGH PROMISE?

Grade Point Average Requirement:Graduate with a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 2.50.

Attendance Requirement: (not including excused absences for illness)Graduate with an attendance record of 90%.

What does The Promise pay for?The Promise Scholarship pays for the total costof attendance (tuition, fees, books, room, andboard) after government grants and other schol-arships have been deducted, up to the student’smaximum award amount as outlined at left, foreach of four years of education.

How do I apply?Complete The Pittsburgh Promise application,available on-line at www.pittsburghpromise.org orfrom high school guidance counselors.

Complete the FAFSA application (Free Applicationfor Federal Student Aid) which can be found atwww.fafsa.ed.gov.

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Kindergarten 100% $5,000 $10,000

1st-5th Grade 95% $4,750 $9,500

6th-8th Grade 85% $4,250 $8,500

9th Grade 75% $3,750 $7,500

10th-12th Grade 0% $0 $0

Annual cash award is UP TO a maximum of:(class of 2012 and beyond)

Annual cash award is UP TO a maximum of:(class of 2010–2011)

For links to Financial AidFAFSA:www.fafsa.ed.gov

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What do I have to do to keep the scholarship once I begin school?Maintain a minimum cumulative grade pointaverage of 2.0 and carry a normal full-timecourse load as defined by the school, usually 12to 16 credits at most colleges and universities.Transcripts will be reviewed annually at the con-clusion of the school year.

How long do I have to use my scholarship?The Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship must beused within five years of graduation. In otherwords, students may defer for one year.Deferments for military service are available.

How does my school get the scholarship?Promise-eligible schools invoice The PittsburghPromise for the scholarship funds. Checks aresent directly to the school.

How can I contact The Pittsburgh Promise?1901 Centre AvenueSuite 204Pittsburgh, PA 15219telephone: (412) 281-7605 fax: (412) 281-7638 info@pittsburghpromise.org

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JARED L. COHON CARNEGIE MELLONUNIVERSITYWhen asked why I think a youngperson would choose CarnegieMellon University, I prefer to sharethose reasons for selecting our uni-versity that I hear from our students.They are the “experts” in theCarnegie Mellon experience.Our students tell me that one of

the best things about Carnegie Mellon is the opportunity to fol-low your dreams and meet your potential. Carnegie Mellon ishome to innovations that have shaped business, the arts,computer science, engineering and robotics. Many of thesebreakthroughs occurred because this university provides oppor-tunities to merge technology and the arts in ways that enablestudents to explore new boundaries. When we say, “chooseyour program; change the world,” we mean it.

Here you experience the benefits of a top global universityright in Pittsburgh—on one of the world’s greenest campuses.Students tell me that while our programs are rigorous, classesare small and taught by expert faculty who are accessible andsupportive.

Our students and alumni are recruited by the world’s bestcompanies, and land jobs even in difficult times. In fact, Disney,Google, Apple and Intel established offices on our Pittsburghcampus to be closer to our faculty and students.

When making the important decision about which universityto attend, I hope you will consider Carnegie Mellon. Together, let’screate the most promising future imaginable.

GRAHAM SPANIERPENN STATE UNIVERSITYPenn State is one of America’s lead-ing universities…and one of the mostpopular too. Last year we received arecord setting 109,000 applicationsfrom new students asking to be partof the Penn State family.

Our University is known notonly for the high-quality educationwe offer, but also for its diverse learn-ing environment where leading-edge research and scholarly activ-ity thrive, along with inter-collegiate athletics, the performing artsand other cultural opportunities. In addition, Penn State offersopportunities for community involvement, building lastingfriendships and making a genuine difference in the world.

With 20 undergraduate campuses and hundreds of studentorganizations to cultivate interests that extend beyond theclassroom, Penn State has what you need to create a full, richcollege experience. Penn State students come from every cor-ner of Pennsylvania, the country and the world.

The bonds you form at Penn State—bonds with studentsand faculty members alike—will be with you throughout yourlife; you will be a part of a loyal network of half-million PennState alumni who proudly say, “We are…… Penn State.”

ask thepresidentWe asked nine Presidents of Promise-eligible schools this question, “WHAT ARE THE REASONS THATWOULD COMPEL ME, A SENIOR AT PITTSBURGHPUBLIC SCHOOLS, TO CHOOSE YOUR SCHOOL?”

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RAYMOND ANGELILACKAWANNA COLLEGEStudents participating in the PittsburghPromise will find an academicallychallenging, student-centered, afford-able learning environment atLackawanna College. Through stateand institutional aid, we are commit-ted to helping students achieve afully-funded college experience thatprepares them to achieve their own

personal goals. Our curriculum is designed to seamlessly trans-fer to four-year schools, which is especially advantageous to ourstudent-athletes, who regularly advance with athletic scholar-ship opportunities at Division I and Division II programs.Through other, unique, two-year Associate Degree programs,Lackawanna also prepares students to directly enter the work-force. Those graduates find immediate employment in highdemand careers requiring the specific degrees and skill setsthat we offer. Our range of support services and student-cen-tered approach to learning help us meet the needs of each stu-dent. With a small faculty-to-student ratio, we ensure that eachstudent receives the individualized attention that he or sheneeds to excel.

GREG DELL’OMOROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITYWhy study at Robert MorrisUniversity? That’s simple. Becausewe promise that the experiences youhave outside the classroom at RMUwill be as meaningful to your educa-tion and your career as what youlearn inside it—whether it’s starringin a Colonial Theatre production,producing a newscast for RMU-TV,building a house with Habitat for Humanity, or taking a studytrip to Ireland. That’s why we are the only university in westernPennsylvania to offer the Student Engagement Transcript, whichallows you to formally document your participation in studentorganizations, athletics, study abroad, arts and cultural activitiesand community service—to name a few. The StudentEngagement Transcript is something that you can show employ-ers along with your academic transcript to demonstrate that younot only have the knowledge to succeed, but the character,teamwork and leadership skills as well. It’s one of the reasonsthat 92 percent of RMU graduates have jobs or are enrolled ingraduate school within six months of graduation. That’s whatwe mean when we say that at RMU, we are in the business ofchanging lives.

JOANNE BOYLESETON HILL UNIVERSITYI am delighted that you are consid-ering Seton Hill University as youplan for your future.

You are weighing the value ofattending a small liberal arts univer-sity with a strong academic reputa-tion. This means that while you mayseek a major which leads directly toemployment after you graduate, at

Seton Hill you will also receive a broad foundation in manyfields of knowledge—to prepare you for any direction youchoose to take, in your career, and in your life.

Most important in many ways, you are considering a uni-versity with a rich spiritual heritage, a Catholic institution thatembraces students of all faiths, where teaching occurs in themidst of concern about values, your growth, and your personaldevelopment.

Much will happen here to change and shape your life. Youwill make new friends, find inspiration, study widely and, in theprocess, acquire an education that will fit you for the future andthe world.

I look forward to seeing you at Seton Hill. If you have ques-tions please do not hesitate to be in touch.

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TIMOTHY R. THYREENWAYNESBURG UNIVERSITYWith 160 years of tradition, Waynesburg University is a place where students are nurtured and chal-lenged to positively affect their world through faith, learning and serving. As service is the very hallmarkof this great institution, the University is continually being recognized here and throughout the world forthe many creative and practical ways in which it responds to the needs of people.

Through study abroad, mission trips and experiential learning opportunities,Waynesburg University’sacademic programs and extracurricular activities are designed to give every student a strong sense of theinternational and multicultural aspect of their studies. Through these opportunities, students learn toappreciate God’s unique design for the world and every person’s place in it. You will find that the peo-ple at Waynesburg University care for one another like family. Waynesburg takes sound measures toensure reasonable tuition costs, making it one of the best values in Pennsylvania. Consider joining ourstrong tradition of students who are making a difference with their lives.

DENNIS WILKEROSEDALE TECHNICALINSTITUTEThe most important thing for youngpeople to consider is to identify acareer that they will enjoy. There arelots of good schools to choose from,but it has to be the right fit for thestudent. At Rosedale Tech, our stu-dents are generally people who like

to work with their hands, enjoy the opportunity to fix or buildsomething and who want the satisfaction and job security thatcareers in the trades can provide. Education at Rosedale isexciting and interactive. Our students work on real live vehiclesand electrical projects. We believe that a live project providesa better learning experience than training boards. Since wework on real vehicles here as part of the training, our studentscan even get their own cars fixed during the school day. Plus,our electrical students work on real projects inside the buildingsuch as installing new panel boxes or lights. At Rosedale, wekeep it real, because that’s the best way to learn.

HUNTER H. HOPKINSKAPLAN CAREER INSTITUTEAt Kaplan Career Institute, we under-stand you’re going to college for aneducation that will propel you into asuccessful career. Kaplan offerscareer-focused education in some ofthe most in-demand employmentfields. Our programs are designed toprepare you to enter the workforce

quickly and with confidence.Our unique approach combines classroom learning with

hands-on training utilizing materials and equipment you arelikely to encounter on the job. Interested in criminal justice? At Kaplan, students have the opportunity to train on our FireArms Training Simulator. Thinking about health care? Studentspractice taking vitals and drawing blood. Drawn to fashion? Ourstudents participate in an annual fashion show at Macy’sdepartment store. Many of our programs include an externship,providing students with on-the-job experience.

We know one-on-one attention and student support isimportant to your success. We understand our students jugglefamily and work responsibilities while pursuing their education.We offer flexible schedules, tutoring and a student servicesdepartment. Our career services department works with stu-dents and graduates to assist them in their job search.

At Kaplan Career Institute, we want our students to have afun, positive and productive education experience that leads toa career. We’re building futures, one success story at a time.We hope you’ll join us.

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GREGORY DEFEOPITTSBURGH TECHNICALINSTITUTEStudents attend college for differentreasons. In the end, it’s a personaldecision. As I talk with many of the1200+new students on PTI’s cam-pus every year, I discover commonthreads I can share with you. Asfirst-time visitors, students and par-ents like the friendly, inclusive

atmosphere and openness of our buildings and campus.As students, they appreciate that 50% of our classrooms

are hands-on labs where they can create computer animation,edit video, design buildings, practice injections, build networks,recover data, manage a hotel, evaluate a crime scene, build arobot, or install a security system.

Students quickly learn faculty care about them. Full-timeinstructors are here all day, every day, which means students canget help when they need it without waiting for posted office hours.

When graduates return to visit, their perspective haswidened. Although they miss hanging out in the café, studentlounge, residence halls, and ball fields, they realize the addedvalue of career services from landing internships to securingcareer employment.

Ultimately, you will choose the path that is right for you; itmay or may not be PTI. You owe it to yourself to consider allyour options. We hope PTI, a unique two-year career collegeright in your backyard, is one of them.

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JANAYHALLWhen I graduated from Perry HighSchool, I wanted a school that was smalland was close to home. I also wanted afour-year college, so Chatham Universitywas the best choice for me. To go to tradeschool, you have to know exactly whatyou want to do. A four-year school letsme explore what I might want to do. Iwas always good at math and I love it,but I’m considering a major in businessand accounting.

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What type of school suits you best?by Christine o’toole

You want to continue your education after high school.But you’re not sure whether you want to learn a trade, earn a two-year degree, orenroll in a four-year college.Here’s a guide to the manychoices you have.

technical institute?

trade union?

art school?community college?

four-year college or university?graduate school?

GRADUATES OF THE PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS may usetheir Promise scholarships at more than 240 private and public insti-tutions all across Pennsylvania, and each one offers dozens of cours-es of study. (You can see the full list at www.pittsburghpromise.org.)Choosing among so many possibilities is a little like choosing aniPhone app— there are lots of options to consider, so take your time.You’ll begin to find out which ones will work best for you.

As we learn, we change. So don’t be worried that your choice ispermanent. As you discover new interests, you can change what youstudy, or even change schools. The Pittsburgh Promise guaranteesthat it will give scholarships for up to four years of study to all stu-dents who maintain a 2.0 grade point average while in college.

Here is an introduction to the kinds of institutions that areincluded in The Pittsburgh Promise.Technical institutes teach career skills that can lead to full-time

jobs. They offer practical courses in fields like computer program-ming, web design, or surgical technology. Students who completetwo-year programs earn associate degrees, like those offered atcommunity colleges. Many technical institutes help graduates findlocal jobs in their chosen field.

If you want to train for a well-paying career as a skilled electri-cal worker, ironworker, or automotive technician, you’ll apply forapprenticeship programs offered by local trade unions. Many ofthese programs are now taught at community colleges and lead toassociate degrees.

Surprise! Art schools and art institutes aren’t just for peoplewho like to draw. They offer associate degrees and bachelor’s

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degrees in creative programs ranging from computer anima-tion and filmmaking to interior design and even cooking(culinary studies).Community colleges award associate degrees. These

programs, usually two years of full-time course work, giveyou several options. They allow you to gain practical train-ing that quickly leads to full-time employment. They alsomake a good bridge between high school and a four-yearcollege: when you complete an associate degree, you willhave the option to transfer to a college or university to con-tinue your studies.Four-year colleges and universities offer bachelor’s

degrees to students who have completed a series of coursesconcentrated in one subject. Private colleges and universi-ties are not operated by the state of Pennsylvania; publicones are. Your Promise scholarship is accepted at bothtypes of schools.

It takes most students about four years to complete allthe courses required in their “major,” or major field of study,if they are enrolled full-time. Even full-time students getsome vacations, usually around the holidays in Decemberand during the summer. Many colleges offer students a briefwork experience in their chosen career through internships,which also earn college credits.

If you are thinking of becoming a lawyer or doctor orwant to pursue another profession, you must first earn abachelor’s degree. Graduate schools require several moreyears of intense study and are offered at a select number ofuniversities. Generally speaking, a university offers bothundergraduate and graduate degrees, while a college offersonly undergraduate degrees.

Pennsylvania has two kinds of public universities,which are supported by taxpayers and generally chargelower tuition to Pennsylvania residents. The state system of

RAYSTEWARTI was in Brashear High School’s computerscience magnet, so I already had four yearsof programming—Visual, BASIC, Java—and lots of computer parts lying around thehouse. At Pittsburgh Technical Institute, Iam halfway through a two-year program ininformation technology with a concentra-tion in network administration. The schoolis very tuned in to what industry needs.The job prospects are really exciting.

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higher education includes fourteen universities. None ofthese are in the city of Pittsburgh, but several are within anhour’s drive. (See the full list at www.passhe.edu.) Anotherfour schools are called state-related universities. Theyinclude the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University,Lincoln University, and Pennsylvania State University.These large schools offer many different majors and haveslightly higher tuition than the state universities.

You may hear people say “liberal arts college” todescribe some four-year institutions. They are privateschools that usually have a smaller number of students,and smaller class sizes, than universities. Generally speak-ing, liberal arts colleges ask students to develop their mindsby reading and analyzing many subjects, rather thanpreparing for a specific technical subject (such as engineer-ing or computer science).

What path will you choose? The decision’s up to you, butpeople who know you and your talents can help you decide.Talk to your parents, older friends and teachers. And be con-fident. As Promise scholar Janay Hall says, “You know yourown abilities. If you think you can do it, do it.”

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Christine O’Toole

Pittsburgh Perry High School

dreamand working hard to achieve success

by Mark roosevelt

14 fall 2009

PITTSBURGH IS A CITY rich with tradition and a proud his-tory of influencing the world. Our city was not built by smallthinkers—it was built by people who dreamed big andworked hard. It’s that same ethic—to dream big and workhard—that I challenge you to demonstrate, as you preparefor success in a rapidly changing world.

The Pittsburgh Public Schools embrace the challengesof a changing world, and are working hard on behalf of themany children that we are privileged to serve. Over the pastthree years, we have seen substantial gains in studentachievement, and for the first time ever the District madethe national standard for improvement: Adequate YearlyProgress (AYP). Your achievement, and that of your friendsand classmates, provides evidence that everyone’s hardwork is taking hold.

But our ambitions are much higher, for we know thattoday more than ever, education defines life opportunity. Itused to be that a high school education could provide youaccess to good paying jobs with benefits. In the 21st cen-tury, however, a college degree or workforce certification isrequired to access those same jobs. The completion of notjust high school, but education beyond high school is thenew standard of attainment for every student. We want youto be Promise-Ready and to pursue education after highschool with a scholarship from The Pittsburgh Promise.

ing bigDreaming big and working hard to achieve success

means setting a vision for your future and practicing the day-to-day work habits that promote success. We want you torealize that your hard work and effort will produce success.Attendance, good behavior, and the completion of home-work are all work habits that will pay-off for your future.

This year, you are hearing more about Pathways to thePromise, the steps we are taking to build a culture of excel-lence through programs and initiatives that reinforce highexpectations. Pursuing excellence is essential, becausetoday’s students are the leaders of tomorrow. Your generationwill discover a cure for cancer, invent the next iPod, start thenext Google, and take us to new frontiers in space travel.

As you explore the articles and information in this mag-azine, think about your big dream and how The PittsburghPromise opens the door to opportunity. Your potential islimitless. From here you can go anywhere.

Mark RooseveltSuperintendentPittsburgh Public Schools

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the 70-10-10-10PrinCiPleWhat if your money was a pie?All of it. One, lovely money pie.Now, think of how you would slice that pie. Would youslice the pie at all?

A lot of high school students (and far too manygrownups!) seldom divide their money into deliberate piecesand almost always eat up all of it too soon. There are fourbasic things you can do with your money—spend it, save it,invest it, and share it. Most of us spend, spend, spend, but,really, we should only use about 70% of our money onwants and needs like food, fun, and cell phone bills.

So, what about the other $30 out of every $100?That’s where we get into slicing the pie into smallerpieces, each around 10%:

SAVE some of your money for emergencies or formore expensive things you want down the road like thosenew kicks.

INVEST some of your money today so that there’smore of it tomorrow. That’s a big, hairy word—“invest”—but it can be as simple as regularly putting $10 into astudent savings account so that next year that money isworth much more because it has collected interest.

SHARE some of your money for the common good.Your money and time can make a difference to people inneed, the environment, or other important causes.

Call it the 70-10-10-10 Principle! It’s a simple enoughconcept to start with, but one that so many teenagers getwrong as they head into college and adulthood. Spendless money than you make and then save for rainy days,invest so that it multiplies into more when you are older,and share because the world is bigger than us alone.

Now, it’s time to get cooking. Make that pie just right.4

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by Felix lloyd

16 fall 2009

Felix Lloyd

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As a young African American male growing up in publichousing, life had been very difficult for me. When I was achild, school was my main focus, but as I grew older andbegan to understand the environment around me, manyother options presented themselves. I was one of eight sib-lings raised by a single mother, so when money became anissue I had to try my hardest to do the right things. I did notallow myself to become a negative product of my environ-ment, but instead I looked into job opportunities.

When I was 14 years old, I secured a position as a youthcounselor at Bethany House Academy, which is an afterschool program designed to help children maintain focusand succeed in school. This position helped me to under-stand that while everyone has a chance to do well, it’s thedesire and will power that a person applies that will producesuccess.

However, as my freshman year in high school pro-gressed, I gradually lost the desire and will to maintain myvision. I became more involved with the negative aspects ofmy environment, which led to a serious decline with mygrades and my motivation. Not making it to my first periodclass on a weekly basis and skipping other classes furtherdiminished my effectiveness within school. This continueduntil my senior year, when I finally turned on the light.

ask the

I am 19 years old, and I am a Business Managementsophomore at Robert Morris University. As soon as I gothere I immediately got involved in college life: I am theBlack Student Union Treasurer, the Vice President ofLeadership Development in the Pittsburgh Promise (RMUChapter), and first runner up in the Miss RMU Pageant2009. I am also going to Australia in the spring of 2011.

In college you meet tons of people, learn all about dif-ferent cultures and backgrounds, and get a lot of expo-sure to multiple career opportunities. You also developpeople skills as well as text book skills; it is truly a greatexperience that you cannot miss out on.

Whether you believe it or not, your mind is the mostpowerful tool in your possession; use it to your advan-tage, especially with a Pittsburgh Promise scholarshipwaiting for you at graduation.

You may think that it’s too early to start thinkingabout college, but it’s never too early to plan for yourfuture. It is your future after all. Don’t just let life drag youalong and take you to negative and destructive places. It’sup to each and every one of you to do better, to put anend to dropping out, and to make a change happen. Youowe it to yourself, family, and community to be part of thesolution, not the problem.

Focus on your education throughout high school, cre-ate your ultimate plan, and whatever you do let nothingstand in the way of your dreams!

JAHMIAHGUILLORY

CIERA WILSON

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College is very different than high school. There is a lotmore freedom and fun during college than there is duringhigh school. However, with that freedom comes moreresponsibility and more work. I had it a little bit easier thanmost because I had four weeks of football to help me easeinto the transition of waking up on time, setting aside timefor work, and also setting aside time for some fun. I thinkthat is the biggest change that faces most college fresh-men. Time management is extremely crucial for maintain-ing the workload assigned. If you wait too long, your over-all grade will suffer. If you plan ahead, then there is noproblem. As a habitual procrastinator throughout highschool, I know how strong the appeal is to have fun ratherthan work. But it pays dividends to do all the work first.That way you can have fun afterwards and not worry aboutwhat assignments you are forced to do tomorrow. Collegeis fun, and it is an opportunity of a lifetime, but managingeverything and organizing it is crucial in achieving thatdiploma. It did not take me long to learn that!

collegiateAs I entered my senior year, many people encouraged me

to look deep within myself and unleash the potential that Itruly possessed. I also understood the severity of my situa-tion. I was at a point where I had one last chance to increasemy grades so that I could enter college.

The Pittsburgh Promise was a new scholarship programthat gave public school students up to $5,000 a year fortuition to post-secondary schools. My grade point average atthe beginning of my senior year wasn’t strong enough to getthe scholarship. But, I learned that if I worked hard and gotstraight A’s all four grading quarters, I would be able to getmy GPA up to the required minimum. Throughout my wholesenior year, I regained my vision of what was at stake andfocused on school. I worked very hard and in the end, I didwhat was needed to receive the scholarship.

Bottom line: stay focused, do the right thing, and workhard. It really does pay off in the end.

JOHNTOKARSKI

What key life lessons are you learning in your first year in college?

do you have questions for our Promise scholars?

Please send your questions to:

Marsha Kolbe

The Pittsburgh Promise

1901 Centre AvenueSuite 204Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219marsha@pittsburghpromise.org

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COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL is only the first step for achild to achieve the dream of becoming a skilled tradesper-son, a doctor, or even a President. For Barack Obama, thedream of becoming President was achieved in part becauseearly in his life his mother established high educationexpectations by tutoring him daily at 4:30 a.m. What sac-rifice! Similarly, your sacrifices will help your child realizehis or her dreams.

The Pittsburgh Promise scholarship program starts tosecure the financial viability of college for your child, butyou will need to do more. The average cost of public col-lege is $14,333 per year, and increasing every year.Parents can and should ensure college affordability with savings.

Here are three parent tips for saving money for your chil-dren’s education:

1. Just Start Now—Even modest savings make a dif-ference when you start early. Investing just $25 a week for18 years will yield $48,000, assuming an 8% averageannual return.

2. Save Automatically—The best way to ensure youwill save is with an automatic deduction from your check-ing account or paycheck.

3. Find a Low Cost 529 Plan—Find a plan withlow fees that has mutual funds with a track record ofresults. Pennsylvania residents can deduct up to $13,000on their state tax return for contributions to any 529 plan.Consider Pennsylvania’s Guaranteed Savings Plan, as youcan buy future tuition credits with today’s dollars.

As exemplified by President Obama, the gift of a collegeeducation can help your child achieve his or her dreams!

SAVING FOR YOUR CHILD’S COLLEGEPROMISE by tom dickson

“I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training…every American will need to getmore than a high school diploma.” President Barack Obama

20 fall 2009

Tom DicksonCollege Savings Consultant

For more tipsplease visit:www.savingforcollegepittsburgh.org/

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22 fall 2009

HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS typically spendhundreds of hours surfing the Web and scrutinizing catalogsto figure out where they’re going to college. Yet many ofthem will base their decisions on their current circum-stances, not realizing that they are more likely to changetheir major within the first two years of enrolling, work atleast part-time while in college, and earn credit from morethan one school before earning their degree.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is doing itspart to help students make wise decisions about the path totake after high school. Within the past year, Pennsylvanialaunched a new college transfer initiative to make it easierand less costly for you to earn a college degree, and we aretaking steps to ensure the diploma seniors receive on grad-uation day truly represents preparedness to tackle the chal-lenges beyond high school.

Still, much of the college experience will be dictated bydecisions made before you ever set foot on campus as a col-lege freshman. If you are a college-bound high school student,here are some of the things you should consider:What do you really want out of college and what kind

of school can best meet those needs? Focus on where youwant to be at the conclusion of your post-secondary pro-gram, not just where you want to be next year. What areyour long-term goals? Can the schools you are consideringdeliver those results in 2, 3, 4 years or more?

Work with your parents, teachers and guidance coun-selors to set goals. And yes, having a goal of “exploring manyoptions in college” is acceptable. Just make sure you select aninstitution that has the academic and student services to sup-port “undecided” students and the expertise to assist studentswho might make a decision that requires them to transfer.

College deCisions go Well BeYond PiCKing a MaJor by gerald l. Zahorchak

Consider the pace of your postsecondary education. Thecollege experience has more variations than ever before—full-time, part-time, online, technical institute, private col-lege, public university, etc. There is a program/institutionfor just about everyone’s needs—find one that suits yours.

Don’t panic over a change of plans. These days, attend-ing more than one institution is the norm, not the excep-tion. Increasingly, students earn credit from more than onecollege, whether that involves formally transferring or pick-ing up courses at home over the summer. Finding out about transfer policies now can save headaches later. The Department of Education has a great Web site,PACollegeTransfer.com, that can be a valuable resource intoresearching options at dozens of Pennsylvania colleges anduniversities.

Remember that tuition and fees at any post-secondaryinstitution likely will increase from year to year. To get agood sense of how much your education will cost by thetime you graduate, ask about a school’s tuition changesover the past few years and assume similar increases willoccur when you enroll.

College can be a tremendous learning experience, insideand outside of the classroom, and preparing well for thatexperience will make it all the more enriching. Good luck!

Choosing a college is a detailed endeavor—and it should be, considering theimpact your college education can have on the course of your life.

Gerald L. ZahorchakPA Secretary of Education

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Pittsburgh CAPA 6–12

Hard Work Can by anne W. Caffee

24 fall 2009

left to right: Guy Sanchioli, Jesse Townsend, Andrew Macurak

ATHLETIC TRAINER ANDY MACURAK would do his job forfree; that’s how much he loves it. “I have so much fun at myjob, it doesn’t ever seem like work,” he says. But he almostgave up on his dream before it started.

A native of the South Side, Andy graduated from CarrickHigh School and went on to Duquesne University. He vividlyrecalls his own doubts when he failed a chemistry test dur-ing his first year at Duquesne University. When he saw hisgrade, he was shaken. “Maybe I’m not cut out for college,”he thought. “Maybe I should just drop out and work.”Instead, Andy decided he hadn’t been studying hard enough,and he doubled his efforts—and finished the semester with a B. After graduation, he earned a master’s degree in athletictraining from California University of Pennsylvania.

Now an athletic trainer for the UPMC Center for SportsMedicine, Andy works with students to help them overcomechallenges every day—not just from injuries and physicaldisabilities, but also helping them grapple with their ownfears and doubts and personal challenges.

The rewards of Andy’s job come in many forms. As anathletic trainer at Central Catholic High School, he onceworked with a senior basketball player who injured his kneeat the beginning of the season. Working with Andy every dayfor a month, the athlete recovered in time to start in the finalplayoff game—and tip the ball at the buzzer to win the WPIALchampionship for Central Catholic.

A year later, Andy is happy with his chosen profession.“Can you imagine if I had quit?” he muses.

Athletic trainers like Andy, and his colleagues GuySanchioli and Jesse Townsend have, time and time again,seen the power of hard work change lives. Not just the livesof their student athletes, but their own.

Guy Sanchioli, an athletic trainer at Keystone Oaks HighSchool, has first-hand knowledge of the work it takes tomake a comeback. He suffered a stroke at age 13 broughton by a congenital defect. He spent six months in the hospi-tal and two more in rehabilitation where he had to re-learnhow to walk, balance, and speak.

Now, when he works with students with big challenges,especially one of his athletes who is now recovering from aspinal tumor, it’s personal. “Seeing him back on the fieldmakes my job that much more rewarding,” says Guy.

Change LivesGive your dreams all you’ve got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.

William James

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Jesse Townsend another of UPMC’s athletic trainers,faced different challenges. He grew up in Portage,Pennsylvania, a mining town about two hours east ofPittsburgh. His father worked as a coal miner and later, ina steel mill. Jesse remembers the challenges his familyfaced as these industries faltered. “He was on strike or laidoff a lot while I was growing up,” remembers Jesse.

Fortunately, Jesse pushed himself in high school, andreceived a full scholarship for his first year at Slippery RockUniversity in 1993. Jesse graduated with a degree in ath-letic training, and went on to earn a master’s degree fromthe University of Pittsburgh. He was hired by UPMC SportsMedicine as an athletic trainer at Greensburg Salem HighSchool. That’s where he met Donnie Jones, a wrestler whosustained a serious elbow injury, whom he would helprehabilitate back to health—and a state wrestling title.

Starting twelve days after Donnie’s elbow surgery, Jesseand Donnie began working together for 90 minutes everyday. Through all the pain and stiffness, they worked on. “Hecame into it knowing he needed to work hard to realize hispotential.” Within six months, Donnie was back on the mat,

and came away with the state wrestling championshiptitle that season—and the following season. “It was agreat learning experience,” recalls Jesse. “It was sorewarding to help an athlete come back to his sport notonly to play, but to win.”

“If you set goals, and work hard, you can achievethem,” he says. “I’ve seen it happen over and over.”

Through The Pittsburgh Promise, UPMC and otherfunders are helping remove the financial barriers to stu-dents pursuing their dreams. They have to add the “Giveyour dreams all you’ve got” part.

Anne W. CaffeeCommunications SpecialistUPMC Public Relations

26 fall 2009

Pittsburgh Perry High School

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28 fall 2009

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INSIDE PPS

PittsBurghPerrY

30 fall 2009

In this issue of the IdeaPod we feature the students of three of the Pittsburgh Public Schools:Pittsburgh Perry High School;Pittsburgh CAPA 6–12; andPittsburgh Allderdice High School. Photographs by Josh Franzos.

PittsBurghCaPa

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32 fall 2009

PittsBurghallderdiCe

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LIVE IN OUR CITY.

ATTENDOUR SCHOOLS.

EARN$20,000 FOR COLLEGE.

WHITNEY2009 UPMC Scholarof The Pittsburgh PromiseSlippery Rock University

1901 Centre AvenueSuite 204Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219www.pittsburghpromise.org

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