In this issue: student spotlights on two CPP Class of 2015 graduates, an overview of CPP's Commencement and a look ahead to SEEDS' summer programs.
View this email in your browser
June 2015
SEEDS' All Stars
SEEDS All Star Spotlight
Sabrina Victor
CPP '15
Barnard College '19

 
Sabrina is a member of the CPP Class of 2015 from Orange High School. In the fall, she will begin class at Barnard College.

Why did you want to participate in SEEDS?
I wanted to participate in SEEDS so that I could get that necessary advantage I needed to succeed in the college application process, including acquiring the skills and resources to do so punctually and efficiently.

What was the college application process like?
The college process was, as expected, very stressful, but I managed to get through it. The credit for that goes to SEEDS, of course. My guidance counselor and teachers were very helpful as well, however SEEDS placed me ahead of my peers. I was able to finish everything well before the deadlines. SEEDS encouraged me to apply to rigorous schools and enforced the needed work ethic upon me. 

What was your reaction after seeing your Barnard acceptance letter?
When I got my acceptance I cried and then screamed. I later told my mom and praised God for granting me this opportunity. 
SEEDS All Star Spotlight
Tanzila Mohsin
CPP '15
Dickinson College '19

 
Tanzila was this year's CPP Commencement Speaker. In the fall, she'll enroll at Dickinson College.

How did SEEDS prepare you for college?
SEEDS has prepared me for college in various ways, such as giving me time management skills, helping me stay focused and reinforcing responsibility. SEEDS also provided ACT prep, along with the college tours, and simply encouragement! My SEEDS mentor was Natasha Stephenson, and I am so grateful to have had her as my mentor. She was amazing! She guided me through the college process by helping finalize my college list and preparing me for interviews. 

What was your reaction when you saw your Dickinson acceptance letter?
I was shocked and extremely excited. I felt accomplished and honored that my hard work paid off. I can't believe I made it!

What was your overall SEEDS experience like?
The experiences I have had with SEEDS are unforgettable. There were college information sessions, field trips, and debate competitions, and of course, pizza parties. I had a blast and now look where I am! I'm going to attend one of the top liberal arts colleges without having to pay anything. To me SEEDS means hope, dedication, trust, fun, and belief! SEEDS is the sprout of a new future!
Facebook
Twitter
Google Plus
LinkedIn
YouTube
Contact Us
Support SEEDS
Share
Tweet
+1
Forward to Friend
Join New Jersey SEEDS for the 2015 Summer Spectacular!
 
SEEDS parents and alumni families are invited to join SEEDS at The Forest Lodge on Sunday, July 26 for a day of food and fun! 

From 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. enjoy unlimited food and beverages, sports and water activities, and music in a private area. 

The cost is $15 per person and includes parking. Please RSVP by Thursday, July 10. For additional information, please contact Jamie McClintock or Patricia Rodrigues.
Meet SEEDS' Newest Guidance Officer: Rachael Polton

Rachael’s passion for improving access to higher education brought her to New Jersey SEEDS. Prior to working at SEEDS, Rachael served as an Assistant Director of Admissions at her alma mater, Kenyon College. In keeping with the SEEDS' mission, Rachael is committed to promoting access and helping students find their best fit for high school and college and is eager to work closely with SEEDS’ talented scholars. 
 
SEEDS Wants Your Old Summer Photos!

This summer, SEEDS is asking alumni to submit their old summer photos. We want to look back on more than 20 years of summers with New Jersey SEEDS. Upload your photos and tag us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Google Plus. Or, email photos to Theresa Murray
Register today to join us for tennis or the cocktail portion of the 21st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic!
Congratulations to the CPP Class of 2015!
 
Earlier this month, New Jersey SEEDS celebrated the accomplishments of seniors in the College Preparatory Program (CPP) Class of 2015. On Monday, June 8, these scholars were joined by their families, mentors, CPP alumni and SEEDS donors at The Newark Club for the annual Commencement Ceremony. (Photos from the event are now available online.)

Guests heard from Tanzila Mohsin (CPP '15, Dickinson College '19) and Tempestt Williams (CPP '11, Denison University '15) before graduates received their SEEDS diplomas. The 19 students in the Class of 2015 received 115 acceptances from more than 50 colleges and universities across the country. (View the Class of 2015's college decisions.)

Congratulations to all of SEEDS scholars and alumni on their graduations and best of luck as you begin the next steps of your journey!
98% of SEEDS graduates placed in selective schools or colleges for Fall 2015

For the past several months, SEEDS' Placement team has been working closely with scholars from three academic programs to ensure students are prepared for the next steps of their educational journeys.

CPP seniors submitted more than 300 applications, and all 19 seniors were accepted to at least one higher education institution with enough financial aid to attend. In the fall, all CPP graduates will be heading off to college, with more than 75% attending Most, Highly or Very Competitive institutions, as ranked by Barron's.

Ninety-seven percent of Scholars and Young Scholars have received placement in selective middle schools or high schools. Scholars submitted almost 900 applications to over 100 day and boarding schools. For the first time this year, SEEDS Scholars will be heading off to Cushing Academy (Ashburnham, MA), Linsly School (Wheeling, WV) and New Hampton School (New Hampton, NH). More than 150 applications were submitted on behalf of Young Scholars to 26 day and junior boarding schools.
Program Recaps
Scholars and Young Scholars wrapped up Saturday classes in mid-May, following the Annual Arts Trip. On May 9, after a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Scholars attended Aladdin on Broadway while Young Scholars saw Matilda. Thanks to all of the volunteers who chaperoned SEEDS students!

Rising eighth graders who have recently been accepted to SEEDS began The Summer Challenge Program (SCP) at The Hill School on Sunday, June 21. Following this three-week residency, 95 of the strongest students will be invited to continue with Scholars Academy Saturdays, sponsored by The Coach Foundation. Scholars will have special guests on Saturday, July 4, welcoming their families to the annual Parent Day event at The Hill School.

Scholars in the Class of 2015 will return to The Hill School on Sunday, July 12 for the three-week Capstone Experience. Again this year, SEEDS is looking for volunteers to share career pathways with students as they prepare to enter high school. Each weekday afternoon between July 14 and July 29, SEEDS will present speakers in four areas of expertise - Business & Finance, Culture & the Arts, Law & Society and STEM - to help students consider the many career opportunities available to them. Interested in joining us on campus, or remotely via videochat? Please contact Dean of Programs Imani Gilliam.

Young Scholars in the Classes of 2015 and 2016 will begin five-week sessions at Delbarton School on Monday, June 29. This year, Young Scholars' parents are invited to a Parent Picnic on Friday, July 17. For additional information, please contact Jamie McClintock.

Scholars and Young Scholars in the Class of 2015 will celebrate their graduation from New Jersey SEEDS on Saturday, August 1 at Summit High School at 11:00 a.m. Please join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of our students. Please RSVP by Wednesday, July 29.
Rising sophomores and juniors in SEEDS' College Preparatory Program (CPP) are preparing for the CPP Summer Collegiate Experience. On Sunday, June 28, more than 50 students will travel to Hobart and William Smith Colleges for a two-week residential program. Parent meetings were held the week of June 8 to provide additional information for this year's session.

Several rising CPP seniors are participating in pre-college programs this summer. Ela Urbina attended a one-week program at Indiana University of Bloomington in mid-June for high school students interested in business.
Nehemie Etienne and Jasmine Williams will attend the five-week Washington University of St. Louis High School Summer Scholars Program beginning in mid-July.

Want to learn more learn more about SEEDS' CPP scholars? Check out this student-made video about our students' SEEDS experiences.
Congratulations to SEEDS CPP Class of 2011

This spring, the very first class of SEEDS' CPP graduates began to receive college degrees. Nationwide, only 39 percent of college students earn degrees within four years. SEEDS is very proud to announce that 63 percent of CPP graduates in the Class of 2011 have already earned theirs, and 27 percent more are continuing work toward degrees. Congratulations on all you have accomplished!
On Saturday, June 20, SEEDS' Guidance and Placement departments hosted SEEDS' Annual College Day at North Star Academy Preparatory High School (Newark). More than 100 of SEEDS' CPP students and alumni came out with their families to meet representatives from more than 60 colleges and universities. Students also had the opportunity to attend two of the following eight morning breakout sessions:
  • Attending a "Predominately White Institution" as a Student of Color: Navigating Engagement and Empowerment - led by Joseph Robertson (Assistant Director of Admissions at Carnegie Mellon University)
  • College Connections: Leveraging Your Networking Skills - led by Haley Burrowes (Admissions Counselor at Colby College)
  • Cracking the Code to the College Application Process - led by Lauren Christman (Admissions Counselor at Lehigh University)
  • Getting a BANG for Your Buck: Financial Aid Secrets (two sessions) - led by Tony Howell (Executive Director, Equal Opportunity Program at NJIT) and Howard Singer (Associate Director, Undergraduate Admission at Boston College)
  • Shine Bright Like a Diamond: Writing a Stellar College Essay (two sessions) - led by Linda Kay (Founder, Kay College Consulting, LLC), Melinda Bombersbach (Test Prep Facilitator at Foley Prep) and Ron Foley (Admissions Consultant at Foley Prep)
  • U.S. News and Princeton Review: Do College Rankings Matter? - led by Abby Jones (Assistant Dean of Admissions at Davidson College)
Parents also had the opportunity to attend two of the following workshops:
  • Money, Money & More Money: Conceptualizing the Financial Aid Process - led by Dorothy Gilliard (Higher Education Student Assistance Authority)
  • Mother/Father Knows Best: Providing Support and Autonomy During the Admissions Process - led by Jacqueline DeLaFuente (Associate Director of Admissions at Hobart and William Smith Colleges)
  • "X" Marks the Spot: Finding the Best Fit for Your College-Bound Student - led by E. Angela Herrera (Multicultural Coordinator at Cornell University)
View photos from the event.

SEEDS' Guidance team also has several other events planned this summer to prepare students for college. Beginning on July 14, SEEDS will offer an SAT prep class for alumni, taught by Summit Prep. In addition, Guidance's annual Summer College Tour will take place August 5 - 6. SEEDS will visit Goucher College, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University. Registration will be available online during the last week of June.

For the first time this year, SEEDS' Guidance team is hosting the SEEDS of Immediacy Leadership Summit. This event will be held July 21 - 23, 2015 in Washington, D.C. and will provide an immersive leadership experience to SEEDS alumni who are passionate about social justice, equality, equity, and social progress. Scholars will be challenged to think about their home and school communities, and the role that art, history, and politics play in creating social change within them. Students will visit museums, tour Capitol Hill, and meet with current leaders in U.S. education and politics. Thanks to a generous grant from Barclays, there will be no cost to participants. Applicants must be rising juniors in high school, have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, and demonstrate leadership experience. Interested students should submit a resume, cover letter, and one reference form by Thursday, July 2 at 5:00 p.m.  

For additional information on any of the above events, please contact the SEEDS Guidance team.

On May 29, SEEDS' Alumni team hosted a College Graduation Dinner at The Newark Club. Members of the Young Scholars Class of 2005, Scholars Class of 2007 and CPP Class of 2011 were invited to celebrate their college achievements. 

Alumni had another chance to connect at the "Welcome to NYC Networking Event for Young Professionals and Interns" on Thursday, June 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The event brought together SEEDS alumni with common interests to share advice. 

SEEDS' Alumni Alliance recently launched a fundraising campaign - The SEEDS Impact - to sponsor one student through the Scholars Program. To learn how you can get involved, or to make a donation to our alumni drive, please visit The SEEDS Impact Campaign.
Save the Date: Precious Passdowns Boutique

On Saturday, August 15, SEEDS will host its annual Precious Passdowns Back-to-School Boutique. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. SEEDS scholars and their families are invited to shop for new and gently used clothing at the SEEDS office. To RSVP, please contact Jamie McClintock.
Know a high-achieving public high school student?

SEEDS is recruiting students to enroll in its newest academic offering - the College Scholars Program. Eligible students must: 
  • Complete 10th grade by June 2015
  • Be nominated by their guidance counselor 
  • Attend one of the eligible College Scholars public high schools
  • Be enrolled in the most rigorous coursework offered, including completion of Algebra I and Geometry by the end of 10th grade
  • Be in the top 10% of their class
  • Want to attend a highly selective 4-year college or university
  • Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
  • Meet SEEDS' income requirements
Want to learn more? Visit our Admissions page to get more information about the nomination process. 
What are heads of schools reading this summer?

For the second year, SEEDS polled heads of schools from selective schools across the country to find out what books they are reading - or recommending - this summer. This year, two books were recommended often: The Road to Character (David Brooks) and Creative Schools (Ken Robinson).
Copyright © 2015 New Jersey SEEDS. All rights reserved.


Visit our website at www.njseeds.org.

unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences