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October 11, 1999
For Immediate Release
Contact: Peter Bailley
George Washington Gale Scholars Program Wins
State Praise as an Exemplary "Best Practice"The George Washington Gale Scholars Program-a joint initiative of Carl Sandburg College, the Galesburg School District and Knox College-has been recognized by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) as one of six exemplary "Best Practices" highlighted at the recent IBHE annual meeting in Chicago. The program provides free, full-tuition college scholarships, academic support and mentoring for talented Galesburg public school students with financial need.
After evaluating approximately 100 programs, IBHE staff invited Galesburg School Superintendent Ron Cope, Carl Sandburg College President Don Crist, and Knox College President Richard Millman to make a presentation about the Gale Scholars Program to the IBHE meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at Northeastern Illinois University.
Cope, Crist and Millman gave a progress report on the program, created by their three educational institutions in 1997. There are 33 students in the program, with the first group of Gale Scholars planned to enter Carl Sandburg College in the fall of 2001, and Knox College in the fall of 2003.
While in high school, Gale Scholars receive academic tutoring from CSC and Knox College students, take college-level classes, participate in activities on the Knox and Carl Sandburg campuses, and volunteer for community service projects. Knox and Carl Sandburg colleges will each provide two years of free tuition for students who complete the high school component.
The Gale Scholars-12 freshmen, 12 sophomores and nine juniors-meet daily at GHS with their adviser, Terry Merrill. Activities at the high school include visiting speakers, group exercises and peer tutoring.
Public colleges in Illinois are required to submit annual "Best Practice" reports to the IBHE, describing their efforts toward the "Illinois Commitment" - state-wide goals in six areas: economic development, pre-school through college linkages, affordability, efficiency, and access and diversity. The Gale Scholars Program was selected as an exemplary program in the "P-16" category for projects that link pre-school through college experiences. Best Practice reports were submitted by twelve public universities and approximately 40 community collegesÑalong with about 50 private colleges for whom reporting is optional.
The Gale Scholars Program is named after George Washington Gale, the leader of the group that founded Galesburg and Knox College in 1837. Operated by Carl Sandburg College, Knox College and Community Unit School District 205, the program selects a new cohort of Gale Scholars each spring, as the students are completing 8th grade, prior to their entry into Galesburg High School.
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