Widener Summer Program Aims to Prepare Local High School Students for College

This summer, 30 Chester High School students in Pennsylvania will get a significant jump-start to pursuing a college education thanks to a collaborative effort between Widener University, the Chester Upland School District, and the Chester Education Foundation.

The three organizations developed the Junior-Senior Summer Challenge to provide rising 10th and 11th grade students with academic and social enrichment during a five-week program from July 7 to Aug. 8.

According to Dr. Joyce Wells, assistant superintendent of the Chester Upland School District, the program was born from meetings between Widener University President James T. Harris the III and Chester Upland School District Superintendent Gregory E. Thornton. It became an initiative of the Chester Higher Education Council, a group of college and university presidents in Delaware County that focuses on utilizing the combined resources of their respective institutions to strengthen education in the city of Chester.

Widener University will offer courses to enhance writing, math, and technology skills in addition to PSAT and SAT preparation sessions. Students will also have the opportunity to visit area colleges and universities including Delaware County Community College, Lincoln University and Neumann College.

"This program is designed to focus on the skills that students need to be successful in college and beyond," Dr. Thornton said. "More then 3 times the number of students in the Class of 2008 will be attending college. With the support of partnerships such Widener University, we hope to raise the number to 70 percent next year and we won't stop until all students have the skills and opportunities to attend higher education programs."

"Initiatives like this are important to the future of students in the Chester Upland School District and they are important to the continued revitalization of the city of Chester," Dr. Harris said. "Our hope is that these students succeed in college, return to Chester and become the next generation of business and civic leaders in the city."

To learn more about Widener, visit the university website, www.widener.edu