The Academy launches a College Transition Program for alumni

In October, the Smith Leadership Academy Charter Public School welcomed some 50 graduates back to the Fields Corner middle school for the kick-off session of the Academy's new College Transition Program, the first of a four-part series made possible through a generous grant from the Boston Foundation. The event's featured speaker was Judy Zodda, a college coach and owner of Zodda College Services who outlined the many steps in the college application process.

Subsequent working sessions which took place at the school dealt with SAT/ACT test preparation, writing the college essay and searching for colleges to fit each student's needs. On January 14, 2010, the Academy will sponsor a financial aid workshop with an executive from Massachusetts Educational Finance Authority (MEFA) for the school's alumni and their parents.

"We are thrilled to partner with the Boston Foundation on this innovative project," said Academy Head of School Karmala Sherwood. "These juniors and seniors who attended this college transition session are a living testimony of the Academy's vision to prepare its students for success in college and the world beyond."

Since many of the Academy's alumni will be the first in their families to apply for and attend college, the college mentors are a key component in this innovative program. Drawn from a pool of college interns and tutors associated with the Academy, these mentors interact frequently with the school's alumni to provide support and assistance in the various stages of the college preparation process. They will contact students assigned to them via telephone, email and the Academy's Facebook page.