Kaplan Educational Foundation Celebrates 2011 Leadership Program Graduates and New Scholarship Recipients at NYC Ceremony

Unique Program Helps Community College Students Transfer and Earn Four-Year Degrees from Top Colleges and Universities

NEW YORK, May 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Kaplan Educational Foundation's Leadership Program celebrates the graduation of its latest cohort of program scholars at a ceremony to be held this evening at  Kaplan, Inc.'s corporate offices in New York City. The seven  students—three women and four men from New York-area community colleges—comprise the Program's fifth cohort of scholarship recipients, who are all high-potential,  underrepresented young people  from low-income households with aspirations to graduate from a top four-year degree program and fulfill previously hard-to-attain career ambitions.  

These KEF Scholars will be joined by the newest cohort of community college students accepted in the scholarship and mentoring program designed to help each student succeed at their current two-year college and prepare to successfully matriculate into a four-year college of their choosing.  Cohort 6 includes seven students, who are currently enrolled in the following area community colleges: Borough of Manhattan Community College, Kingsborough Community College, Bronx Community College, and Hostos Community College.

Also attending tonight's graduation ceremony are students from earlier cohorts, who are celebrating the successful completion of their four-year degrees.  These students have earned bachelor's degrees from institutions such as Cornell University, New York University, Smith College, Syracuse University and Emerson College.

Among these newly-minted college grads, one will begin a technology management position at a major New York financial institution; another will pursue graduate studies in social work.  The others will embark on their chosen careers, in such fields as government policy and film and TV production.

Established five years ago, the Kaplan Leadership Program is unique in that it focuses specifically on helping community college students complete their associate's degree and successfully transfer and go on to earn a four-year bachelor's degree. In addition to scholarships (up to as much as $20,000 per year), the Program provides stipends for living expenses, comprehensive tutoring and academic advisement services, and leadership and career training.

"The Program's unique model allows us to identify and address our individual scholars' needs—a process often absent from many scholarship programs," says Jennifer Benn, Executive Director of the Kaplan Educational Foundation. "Our goal is to remove barriers while exposing each student to a broad range of academic, career, and leadership opportunities which allow them to find their true life's work.  Stipends and tuition dollars are only a part of the formula that we know is necessary for success."

Since the Program's inception, 86 percent of those selected have completed or remain active in the Kaplan Leadership Program.  Of those who have transferred to a four-year school, 100 percent went on to complete their bachelor's degrees.

The newly accepted 2011 Kaplan Educational Foundation Leadership Program scholars are:

• Shara Concepcion, Borough of Manhattan Community College
• Shakayla Lawrence, Kingsborough Community College
• Leonardo Minier, Bronx Community College
• Mariana Rivera, Hostos Community College
• Enoch Sowah, Hostos Community
• Abdoulazakou Traore, Bronx Community College
• Ayania Wellington, Borough of Manhattan Community College

Those that just completed their Program and are transferring on to four-year colleges and universities are:

• Wilson A. Acuna, A.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences, Borough of Manhattan Community College
• Alexis Dyer, A.A. in Liberal Arts, Kingsborough Community College
• Rosa Frias, A.A. in Liberal Arts, Kingsborough Community College
• Qudus Lawal, A.S. in Chemical Engineering, Hostos Community College
• Mame Sourang, A.A. in Liberal Arts, Kingsborough Community College
• David Thelemaque, A.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences,  Borough of Manhattan Community College
• Lavar Thomas, A.A. in Liberal Arts, Kingsborough Community College

Those completing the Kaplan Leadership Program and earning bachelor's degrees this year are:

• Nolvia Delgado, B.A. in Government, Smith College '11 and Borough of Manhattan Community College '09
• Boumiyaminou Gbadamassi, B.S. in Applied Economics & Management, Cornell University '11 and Bronx Community College '09
• Aaron Hudson, B.S. in Information Management & Technology, Syracuse University '11 and LaGuardia Community College '08
• Andrew Santiago, B.A. in Writing for Film and Television, Emerson College '11; Borough of Manhattan Community College '08
• Norberto Taveras, Bachelor's in Social Work, New York University '11 and Hostos Community College '08

About the Kaplan Educational Foundation
The Kaplan Educational Foundation (www.kaplanedfoundation.org) was founded by Kaplan, Inc., a global leader in education and career services.  The Foundation provides high-potential, low-income students with academic and financial support, and leadership training to raise their expectations for success and open doors to opportunities that will change their lives and their communities.  Follow KEF at www.facebook.com/KaplanScholars.

About Kaplan
Kaplan, Inc. (www.kaplan.com) is a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses.  Kaplan serves students of all ages through a wide array of offerings including higher education, test preparation, professional training and programs for kids in grades K through 12.  Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO) and is its largest and fastest-growing division.

SOURCE Kaplan Educational Foundation