Step Up: College Going Summit‏

Two hundred Phoenix Union sophomores and their parents or mentors, and community and business leaders will attend Step Up: College Going Summit, Saturday, October 17 at Phoenix College, an event designed to prepare students in high school for success in college.

The full-day summit will include student workshops on habits of a successful college-bound student, elevating expectations and academic rigor, as well as parent workshops on a parent's role in college preparation, how to pay for college, and how to help their student build an academic portfolio. The summit is co-sponsored by ASU Vice President of Education Partnerships, the City of Phoenix, Phoenix College, Phoenix Union High School District and funded through a grant from America's Promise Alliance, which is holding 56 such events concentrating on urban schools across the country this year.

America’s Promise Alliance, founded in 1997 with General Colin Powell as its chairman, is a partnership of more than 300 corporations, nonprofits and advocacy groups whose top priority is ensuring young people graduate from high school, ready for college and life.

Besides individual workshops for parents and students, a community and business breakout session will include a call to action on how this segment can help with the mission followed by an action planning session focusing on ensuring schools, parents and community keep students on track toward post-secondary education.

Other community organizations include Be A Leader Foundation, Aguila Youth Leadership Institute, Helios Foundation, College Depot, Wells Fargo, ASU Undergraduate Admissions and Phoenix Union Foundation for Education. Phoenix Union teachers and counselors, ASU and Phoenix College staff will facilitate the workshops.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon; Phoenix College President Dr. Anna Solley and PUHSD Superintendent Dr. Kent Scribner will participate, with keynote presentations by Chrystal Morris, America’s Promise Alliance Vice President of Community Summits, and Dr. Deborah Gonzalez, PUHSD Asst. Superintendent.

The event is 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Lunch will include a college and community resource fair for participants.

Source: Phoenix Union High School Districts