Announcements and Other Business:
Stir it Up – November 4th @ Elkhorn Area High School
Rotary’s Stir it Up Organizational Committee will meet on Tuesday at the High School @ 3:30. Committee Members are needed to begin the logistical planning. Contact Tom if interested.
Congratulations to the Club Members: Rotary International has awarded our club the Citation Award for our many hands completing many hours of volunteer work
Final Flea Market Parking will be: Sunday, September 30th
We need two more people for second shift. New information will be available at our meeting next week regarding parking procedures.
Upcoming Presenters:
October 3rd John Giese - VFW
Rotary Exchange Information –
On 9/18 we had an event at the high school from 2:45 – 3:30 to discuss future outbound opportunities for either the summer exchange or the year long program. We had over 16 students and 3 parents in attendance. Parents cover the $6800 cost for their child for the year long program. AJ Sanchez, our Rotary student in Sweden, has communicated with John Henderson. He shared that he arrived on August 1st. He has been enjoying a vacation with his host family, including cliff jumping. He attended a language camp with other exchange students. He has also visited local cities, as well as Norway and Finland. Thus far, it has been a wonderful experience.
Today’s Program: The Gateway Promise Program
Our Presenter: Jennifer Charpentier
The Gateway Promise Program addresses the ongoing concern of post secondary education, “Can students afford to go on to college?” We know that funding the costs of college is something many students and families worry greatly about when considering options after high school.
Today Jennifer Charpentier, an Executive Director with the Gateway Technical College Foundation in Kenosha, shared on overview of the Gateway Promise Program. Essentially, the Gateway Promise ensures that Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth County high school graduates, who meet program eligibility requirements, can attend college tuition-free. It is a vision for families that students will have access to a college education. In Racine, Kenosha and Walworth County the reality is that at times 50% of our high school students are receiving Free / Reduced Lunch. Many entering Gateway receive financial assistance. Studies have also found that 45% of students enrolling directly in Gateway are underprepared. This program also addresses preparing our students for future opportunities.
To be eligible for this program, students must: graduate on time, be a resident of a Gateway District, apply by March 1st prior to graduation, submit the FAFSA, carry a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and earn an ACT score of 16.
Once accepted into the program, students then begin the “bridge” program in the summer prior to their first semester. This program assists them in becoming familiar with all the Gateway campus can offer. During the school year, students must also attend workshops on site and are expected to pursue other career related activities including involvement in student clubs.
The first Gateway Promise co-hort group has started with 15 students from EAHS. This program is funded through the generosity of Gateway Foundation donors. Students pursing this program will leave with much less debt than the average student enrolled in a post secondary program. Jennifer Chapentier stated that this program is helping our young adults envision a life for themselves. This can be a stepping stone into a four year institute or right into a career field.