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Galesburg School District 205, Carl Sandburg College and Knox College today (February 15, 1997) unveiled a joint program designed to improve academic skills and assist completion of a four-year college degree by high-ability, low-income students whose parents did not attend college. The George Washington Gale Scholars Program, named after the founder of Galesburg and Knox College, will provide guidance, tutoring and financial assistance, including free college tuition.
The program was announced by Ron Cope, superintendent of Galesburg School District 205, Don Crist, president of Carl Sandburg College, and Rick Nahm, president of Knox College. The announcement was made in the Educational Technology Center in Galesburg, a community-based computer facility that the three institutions established last year. The joint news conference coincided with the 160th anniversary of the founding of Knox College on February 15, 1837.
"From the very start, education has been central to Galesburg," Nahm said. "George Washington Gale was an education visionary who founded this community in 1837 expressly for the purpose of higher education. The George Washington Gale Scholarship Program hopes to remove some of the economic and social barriers that have frustrated the educational ambitions of high-ability students from disadvantaged backgrounds."
Ron Cope, superintendent of Galesburg School District 205, said "The Gale Scholarship Program will support our efforts to increase the percentage of students who graduate from Galesburg High School and to provide students with additional opportunities for success."
"The Gale Scholars Program enhances cooperation among Carl Sandburg College, Knox College and the Galesburg public school system," said Don Crist, president of Carl Sandburg College. "This initiative will help area youth who might not have pursued a college education. It's an example of what we can accomplish with collaboration and cooperation in the educational community."
Students selected for the program will receive a wide array of support services from the three educational institutions, including:
* Academic tutoring and mentoring
* Enrollment in college-level courses while in high school
* Participation in college campus activities
* Free college tuition at Carl Sandburg College and Knox College, upon completion of high school portion of the program
Starting this spring, the program will select up to 15 eighth grade students who will be entering Galesburg High School in the fall. Selection criteria include:
* Financial need as determined by federal guidelines
* "First generation college" family (neither parent holds a baccalaureate degree)
* Recommended attendance rate of 90%
* Written recommendations and interviews
Requirements for students in the program include:
* College preparatory curriculum at Galesburg High School
* Participation in community service projects
* Minimum grade point average of 2.5 in high school, 3.0 in college
Gale Scholarship program services will be provided by the staff of each institution. In addition, the institutions will seek support from grants and outside sources.
The Gale Scholars Program is the second major educational initiative in two years created through a joint effort of the Galesburg School District, Carl Sandburg College and Knox College. In 1996, the three schools teamed with the local business community to establish the Educational Technology Center. The center, in downtown Galesburg, provides computer equipment and instruction, Internet access, and satellite-based distance learning facilities for students and the general public.
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