On Track for Success’ conference encourages college, careers

December 7, 2012

What makes someone successful when they pursue education and training beyond high school? Many people would point to their parents or other family role models. However, if parents don’t necessarily have that experience, it can be hard for them to guide their son or daughter.

That’s where a recent conference, “On Track for Success,” comes in. Held in the University of Delaware’s Perkins Student Center on Dec. 1, the session provided an opportunity for high school students and their families to examine options and begin planning for the future.

Part of a global effort in more than 50 communities worldwide, this Bridge to Employment (BTE) program has operated for two decades in local communities to inspire high school students in disadvantaged communities to stay in school, excel academically, and elevate their career aspirations.

Over 40 high school students, along with their family members, were invited to gather information from college and career guidance professionals as they explore college enrollment, military service, and other career preparation options.

Melva Ware, associate director of the Delaware Center for Teacher Education in the College of Education and Human Development, serves as an adviser for Delaware’s BTE chapter. “The results of the BTE program in Delaware are promising. Six BTE students worked with ASPIRE officers this past summer to form an academic leadership group for a peer tutoring and support network that they are helping to launch at Newark High School. The high school students have taken ownership of many key behaviors and skills that support student success: time management, study strategies, and note-taking.”

Several UD student groups partnered to help make the conference successful, including the Academic Support Program Inspiring Renaissance Educators (ASPIRE), the McNair Scholars Program, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and the Student Support Services Program (SSSP).