New Jersey SEEDS News - January 2015 eSeedlings

In this issue of eSeedlings: SEEDS' All Star Spotlight on Ced Moise, a feature on SEEDS' Annual CPP Homecoming and an Early Decision Admissions overview.

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January 2015

SEEDS' All Stars

Ced Moise
Young Scholars Program '09,
Church Farm
School '15,
Princeton University '19

Ced is a senior at Church Farm School (CFS) and was recently accepted to Princeton University through QuestBridge, a program with a highly selective application process that matches top colleges with low-income students.

Congratulations on your acceptance to Princeton! Tell us a little about your plans.
I like how Princeton University encourages its students to pursue service and understand cultures. Although I haven't officially declared a major, I plan on studying English and psychology.

Why was it important for you to apply to SEEDS while still in elementary school?
For me, applying to SEEDS was like applying to college. SEEDS opened a whole new world of possibilities that I would not have seen otherwise. It was because of SEEDS that I had the ability to pursue a better education, and ultimately, find beauty in that freedom.

How did SEEDS prepare you for Church Farm School?
SEEDS challenged me to go above and beyond the norms of my local elementary school. At first, I didn't appreciate having to go to classes on Saturday or during the summer, but during that time, SEEDS taught me the importance of being independent and taking the responsibility to further my learning. Today at CFS, I am the Senior Editor of the Yearbook Club and with CFS Interact, I participate in community service initiatives and fundraising efforts.

What are your goals for the future?
Since I was young, I have been interested in legal studies. I want to take the skills I've learned and refine them through Princeton's rigorous courses. I hope to become a lawyer.

Your sister, Katiannah, is also a SEEDS grad (Scholars '10, Westtown School '14, Pomona College '18). What impact has SEEDS had on your family?
SEEDS has had a large impact on my family. My father feared we would not have the opportunities to pursue higher level educations because of the options available to us because of our financial situation. SEEDS relieved my father of those worries and has become a building block of the foundation my sister and I have created.

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Volunteers Needed!
SEEDS is looking for volunteers to assist in interviewing Scholars (7th grade students) and Young Scholars (4th and 5th grade students) candidates for the Class of 2016.

All interviews will be conducted on Saturday, March 21 at Newark Academy (Livingston) or The Pingry School (Basking Ridge). Volunteers may choose to sign up for half day (morning or afternoon) or full day shifts.

To reserve your spot, please contact Parinaz Cole at 862.227.9142.

Parents Program Update

The next Parents Committee meeting will be held on Friday, February 20 at the SEEDS office. Contact Jamie McClintock, Development Officer, Parents Program, for more information.

Save the date for the Annual Parents Luncheon! The event will be held Saturday, March 14 at the Newark Club. Formal invitation to follow.

CPP Alumni Participate in 2nd Annual
Homecoming Event

On Saturday, January 3, SEEDS hosted its 2nd Annual CPP Homecoming at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Nearly 30 College Preparatory Program (CPP) graduates representing more than a dozen colleges and universities across the country met with current CPP scholars for a day filled with panel discussions (check out photos from the event). CPP alumni led conversations focusing on: (1) finding the best college fit; (2) choosing a college major/minor; (3) navigating resources on campus; and (4) Greek life - deciphering purpose. Thanks to all of the graduates who came out to share their experiences!

CPP seniors continued to work on their college applications and participated in financial aid workshops with their families on January 6 and January 10. CPP students were able to learn more about Hobart and William Smith Colleges following a visit from an admissions representative on January 10. On January 22, CPP families in Trenton met at Christina Seix Academy (photos here) to discuss different elements of the college search and application process.

In the coming weeks, an artist from The Institute of Music for Children will visit CPP scholars to present an art and music workshop. Stay tuned for an event recap and photos!

Congratulations to SEEDS' Early Decision Acceptances!
SEEDS' Early Decision Admissions deadline closed on December 12, 2014. More than 500 applications were submitted in time for the deadline, and from those candidates, more than 250 students' applications were reviewed as semi-finalists.

Approximately 60 Scholars and Young Scholars candidates were invited to test with SEEDS and participate in interviews with their families. Thanks to the volunteers who came out in early January to meet our potential students! (Photos available online.)

SEEDS is proud to announce that 27 students have been accepted for the Young Scholars Program and Scholars Summer Challenge Program. Congratulations to all of the students who submitted applications to SEEDS on your commitment to education!

There's still time to apply to SEEDS. Our final admissions deadline is Wednesday, February 11. Be sure to request your application today if you have not done so already!

There are three steps for the February 11 deadline; please make sure your materials are submitted by the appropriate date.

Step One: Online Application and Writing Requirements - Tuesday, February 3
Step Two: Recommendations - Tuesday, February 3
Step Three: Report Cards, Test Scores and Taxes - Monday, February 9

Questions? Please contact SEEDS' Admissions office. Good luck!

Join New Jersey SEEDS at the Wednesday, February 25, NJ Devils game! SEEDS will be the designated community partner of the game, and a portion of the proceeds from each ticket will go toward SEEDS' mission. Guests purchasing multiple tickets will have the chance to win great prizes, so get your tickets today!

Program Recaps

Scholars kicked off 2015 with annual "Welcome Back" session at The Pingry School on Saturday, January 10 (photos here). It was the first time all Scholars were together since the completion of the Leadership Retreat in August.

In addition to classes each Saturday, SEEDS Young Scholars take part in a variety of cultural and social offerings. On Saturday, January 10, Young Scholars participated in the first Book Club session of 2015 with alumni and student volunteers. Young Scholar girls discussed City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau and Young Scholar boys talked about The Giver by Lois Lowry. In the coming weeks, Young Scholars will participate in the first

Brown Bag Lunch Session with SEEDS alumni. The discussion will focus on motivation and assuring a strong finish to their time with SEEDS.

Both Scholars and Young Scholars have wrapped up their applications and are now interviewing and testing with their top selective schools. Parent meetings were held in early January with both Scholars and Young Scholars families to discuss the placement process in greater detail. Best of luck to all of our students as they await their placement decisions!

Each winter, SEEDS Guidance department hosts its annual Alumni Holiday Spectacular. As an opportunity to reconnect with fellow SEEDS alumni, the event is always well-attended. This year's event -- held Saturday, Dec. 27 at the Hilton Newark -- Penn Station -- hosted more than 180 SEEDS graduates in high school, college and beyond. (Photos from the event are available online. Special thanks to Devine Photo Booths for sharing photos from the night.)

SEEDS' Young Scholar graduates in middle school attended a holiday party on January 5 at Wallington Lanes. While they were bowling with SEEDS staff, Middle School Scholars had the opportunity to catch up with friends.

In the coming weeks, SEEDS Guidance team will host the annual Spring College Tour. Running from Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 20, the tour will cover 10 colleges and universities in New England, including Bates College, Bowdoin College, Harvard University, and Tufts University. SEEDS alumni can reserve seats by RSVPing online. The Guidance department will also host a College Awareness Workshop in April for SEEDS alumni in public high schools. Check your email in the coming weeks for additional information.

Join New Jersey SEEDS on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 as SEEDS honors Bank of America and Arthur Levine as this year's Change Leaders.

Special thanks to this year's Dinner Chairs, Angelo J. Genova (Genova Burns LLC) and Claire and Phillip J. Santaniello, III.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities now available!

For additional information, contact Parinaz Cole at pcole@njseeds.org or at 862.227.9142.

Calling All SEEDS Alumni!
SEEDS is looking for student advisors to work with Scholars, Young Scholars and College Preparatory Program scholars this summer. Applications are now available online; materials are due by Monday, March 2. Good luck!

The Alumni Alliance, the official alumni association of New Jersey SEEDS, will be hosting panels with current SEEDS scholars in the coming months. Sessions will be held Saturday, February 21 at Dwight-Englewood School (Englewood); Saturday, March 14 at The Pingry School (Basking Ridge); and Saturday, April 25 at Seton Hall Preparatory School (West Orange). Interested alumni can contact SEEDS' Director of Development, Jennifer Mehr, for additional details.

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