One Million More Is Not Just a Dream

BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On November 7-8, 430 teachers, students, corporate and college leaders met at the 18^th annual College for Every Student (CFES) conference to inspire, learn and strategize together about the most effective ways to assure more low-income youth attend and complete college. 

"This was our best annual conference yet," exclaimed Rick Dalton, CFES president and CEO. "Attending college is now a reality for tens of thousands of America's most economically challenged students and the proof is in their stories!  'Inspiring' doesn't quite describe how wonderful it was to hear personally from students as well as their mentors about the winning combination we've created through the CFES program.  It's clear why 96% of the kids working with us have successfully gone on to college."

Plenary, workshop and concurrent sessions ran for two days covering topics that ranged from: proven methods to develop leadership skills in elementary-age students and school/college partnerships to the most promising and effective ways to help high school students navigate standardized tests and financial aid paperwork.  Special guests attending the conference were the New York Times' David Brooks, Judge Glenda Hatchett,  Ivory Tower's Andrew Rossi and the provost of Trinity College-Dublin. 

Highlights of the conference included:

• Discussions led by STEM education experts detailing strategies and best practices to move low-income students toward STEM programs and careers.
• Workshops given by Education Advisory Board's David Attis and GE Foundation's Kelli Wells shed light on America's widening skills gap problem as well as possible solutions through degree attainment.  
• Students took part in sessions to learn leadership and other skills that help them get to and through college, and to take lessons learned at the conference back home to promote a college-going culture in their schools.

Dalton concluded, "Thanks to the students and our invaluable partners, we're achieving our mission to help low-income students from rural and urban communities get on the track to college, and we're doing it extraordinarily well.  We're now poised to help many more to set the goal, make the transition successfully and become the best leaders of their time. We're looking forward to helping make this happen."

College For Every Student (CFES) is a global leader in helping low-income students get to and through college, ready to enter the workforce.  CFES currently supports 20,000 students through partnerships with 200 rural and urban K-12 schools and districts in 27 states and Ireland.  www.cfes.org

Contact: Aubrey Bresett, aubrey@collegefes.org
(518) 963-4500 www.cfes.org
@CollegeFES and #1MilMore

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SOURCE College For Every Student