Category Archives: EMERGE

Class of 2015 beats previous year’s scholarship offers by $10 million

Several HISD schools saw significant increases in the amount of scholarship and financial aid offers their seniors received this year. Recent HAIS graduates Karina Barbosa (left) and Rynique Lucas received more than $1.7M between them.

Several HISD schools saw significant increases in the amount of scholarship and financial aid offers their seniors received this year. Recent HAIS graduates Karina Barbosa (left) and Rynique Lucas received more than $1.7M in scholarship and financial aid offers between them.

The numbers are in, and HISD’s Class of 2015 has received almost $265 million in scholarship and financial aid offers.

At $10 million more than the Class of 2014, Director of College Readiness David Johnston called the figure “a testament to the district’s college readiness efforts.” A handful of campuses have also seen significant increases in the amount of money their seniors have been offered from last year to this one.

College Success Manager Pamela Joyce Williams attributes Washington High School’s jump from about $2,360,000 in 2014 to more than $7,223,000 in 2015 to a year-long outreach campaign, in which she sent students and their parents regular progress reports and email reminders about deadlines through Naviance. Continue reading →

California trip provides EMERGE students glimpse of tier-one college life

Rising juniors from schools throughout HISD tour seven colleges in five days

More than 75 rising juniors from high schools throughout HISD traveled to California during the week of June 15 to tour several tier-one colleges and universities, and learn more about the college application process. The group of students from HISD’s EMERGE program toured seven colleges in five days including the University of Southern California, Occidental College, and the Claremont Consortium, which is a cluster of private colleges that specializes in liberal arts, sciences, and engineering. Read below to learn more from several EMERGE students who were on the trip.

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Summer Bridge program preparing Futures Academy students for success

Rising sophomores get tips from former Futures Academy students and EMERGE fellows

The journey from high school to college to a career can be challenging, but HISD’s Futures Academy is helping students develop the skills they’ll need to get there.

The Summer Bridge Program is arming rising high school sophomores with critical knowledge in the areas of time management, team building, communication, and money management. Four sessions are scheduled for June and feature classes taught by Futures Academy and EMERGE alumni.

“One way we thought this message would resonate with students is by having former HISD Futures Academy and EMERGE students returning from their first year in college lead the sessions,” said Michael Love, assistant superintendent of the Futures Academy. “This allows the students to learn directly from peers who recently walked the same hallways as them.”

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HISD highlighted in Politico Magazine’s ‘What Works’ series

HISD is known for being one of the most innovative school districts in the country—and that visionary spirit is what has earned it a feature in an edition of Politico Magazine.

The district is the subject of a May 21 article in the magazine’s “What Works” series, which is designed to highlight innovative practices and how they spread across America.  Continue reading →

Upcoming EMERGE college tours include Brandeis, Claremont colleges

In the next few months, some of HISD’s brightest young scholars will be visiting the nation’s top colleges and universities as part of the EMERGE program’s summer college tours. The EMERGE program was designed to help low-income, first-generation minority students get into top-notch colleges. Last year, EMERGE helped launch 99 scholars from 24 high schools to colleges and universities such as Stanford, Harvard, and MIT. Five were accepted to Yale University, while three chose to attend Tufts. This summer, students will get to participate in discussions, tour the campuses, and check out dorm rooms and cafeterias as part of the following EMERGE tours:

  • Brandeis College tour (78 students)
  • Claremont College tour (76 students)

Graduating EMERGE scholars have been awarded more than $20 million in scholarships and financial aid this past year, with the majority of students receiving individual financial packages totaling upwards of $40,000 per year.

College-bound seniors celebrate at Academic Signing Day

Nearly 200 graduating seniors from HISD — many wearing college T-shirts — signed certificates of intent to attend various colleges on May 21, while their proud parents cheered them on. Pennants, pompoms, and other college paraphernalia at each table marked the students’ school preferences during the third annual Academic Signing Day event, which took place at the Region 4 Service Center.

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Four college-bound ambassadors from each HISD high school were recognized during the event for their academic excellence, school and community involvement, and ability to overcome personal obstacles. Many of the students will be the first in their families to attend college. Continue reading →

HISD recognizes 99 seniors headed to nation’s top-tier colleges and universities

EMERGE Class of 2015 awarded more than $20 million in scholarships, collectively

HISD paid tribute to 99 graduating scholars from 24 high schools during the second annual EMERGE Senior Awards Ceremony on April 28.

Through EMERGE, these scholars have earned the distinction of being accepted into colleges and universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, Princeton, Rice, Smith, Stanford, Tufts, and Yale. As a whole, the group has been awarded more than $20 million in scholarships and financial aid, with the majority of students receiving individual financial packages totaling upwards of $40,000 per year.

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Scholars Banquet recognizes 90-plus high school seniors at top of their class

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The Houston Independent School District paid tribute to the top students from each high school’s graduating class during the annual Scholars Banquet on April 7.

In addition to their outstanding academic achievements, these 96 valedictorians and salutatorians have garnered more than $2 million year-to-date in scholarship and financial aid offers.

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HISD Board of Education votes to accept $8.5 million in grants for college readiness programs

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted Thursday to formally accept $8.5 million in grants for programs designed to help high school students get into and graduate from college.

The Houston Endowment awarded the district with two separate grants — $5.5 million and $3 million — in February. The $5.5 million grant will be used to expand the district’s successful EMERGE program to all high schools, while the $3 million matching grant will be used to deploy 28 new college success advisors to campuses across the district.

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