Public Relations

Step By Step Graduation July 26

BENTONVILLE (Tuesday, July 24, 2007) – Graduation for 25 students completing the “Step-By-Step” summer program is 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 26, in the Student Center multi-purpose room at NorthWest Arkansas Community College.

            College President Dr. Becky Paneitz will give a welcome. NWACC Board of Trustees member Alex Vasquez will deliver a keynote address. A slide show on the Step By Step program will be presented.

            Entertainment will be provided by Ritmo Latino and Gerardo Ochoa on the guitar.

            The ceremony marks the completion of a 5 week program by local high school ESL students who in May completed their junior or senior years.

            During the summer program students received academic instruction to help elevate their English and Math levels.

            Also, students participated in special college prep seminars dealing with financial aid, study skills, college research, career and degree exploration, 4-year-degree transfer options and cultural diversity.  

            Students participated in a 2-day team building exercise on NWACC’s ropes course.

            The Summer Bridge Program is part of the Step by Step program funded through a grant which was renewed for its second year by the local Care Foundation, Inc.  The initial grant, awarded in March 2006, was for $71,500.

            This program targets local high school language minorities and has established the following goals:

• Provide support services and other incentives that will enable minority students to successfully complete their educational objectives
• Offer leadership opportunities to minority students who are enrolled in college and to encourage their involvement in the community
• Increase parental involvement in their children’s education and to facilitate family awareness with respect to college life, students’ aspirations, and financial and academic planning
• Increase progress toward high school graduation, college attendance, degree completion and transfer to four year colleges/universities where applicable.

            In addition to the summer program, the Step by Step program also has a mentor program that pairs up ESL students at Springdale High School with current NWACC students in a one-on-one setting. This encourages students to set and meet personal, academic and career goals.  

            This past year, mentors worked with more than 200 high school students. This number does not include the students that this program served though various additional events such as the an ESL Field Day, Path to Scholarship financial aid seminars, campus visits and talks in local area high school ESL classrooms.  

For more information on Step By Step, contact

            Shawn E. Zimbrunes

            Director of Community Outreach

            Northwest Arkansas Community College

            One College Drive

            Bentonville, AR 72712

            Phone:  479-619-4163

For questions/comments on this content, please contact Jim Hall jhall@nwacc.edu

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