Maine East Chosen For Enrichment Program

By DWIGHT ESAU Journal & Topics Reporter

Maine East High School in Park Ridge has been selected by the Schuler Foundation to participate in its prestigious and unique enrichment and scholarship program.

East is the fourth Chicago-area high school to become part of this program. It targets high potential but vulnerable students from under-served populations to receive social and academic enrichment, academic guidance, and scholarships to prepare them to succeed at selected private colleges.

The program's purpose is to expand and improve a college-going culture in high schools.

The other schools that were selected in the past 3-4 years are Waukegan High School, Round Lake High School, and Warren Township High School in Gurnee. All are located in Lake County. The program identifies incoming freshmen through an application process. Eligibility requirements include a grade point average in the top 10% of a class, a commitment to take four years of core academic classes, and enrollment in honors and advanced placement classes.

Criteria used to evaluate qualified applicants include academic ability, the need for guidance, motivation, character, educational plans, and financial need.

"The program directs students to study in private, liberal arts colleges and provides $2,500 scholarships each year up to a maximum of $10,000," said Ken Wallace, District 207 superintendent.

During a selected student's high school experience, Schuler college counselors and program staff provide extensive college counseling services to scholars and their families. Scholars typically tour selected colleges starting during their sophomore year. In the summer after their sophomore year, scholars are required to attend a 2-4-week summer program at a college.

In the summer after their freshman year, Schuler scholars participate in a summer camp in the northern woods of Wisconsin that focuses on leadership and problem-solving skills development.

Activities in this program will begin at East this fall, focusing on the incoming freshman class that will graduate in 2013.