The UC Berkeley Cal Scholars program has announced that ten Berkeley High African American seniors in the program have been admitted to Cal, Harvard, Yale and other universities.
Cal Scholars begin working with BUSD students at the middle school level, and currently ten Berkeley Black & Latino middle school students are reporting a 4.0 GPA.
For eight years, black and Latino students have come to summer, after-school and Saturday academies, bonded with black & Latino UC Berkeley mentors, and become part of an extended Cal family.
Join Chancellor Birgeneau, Senator Hancock, Mayor Bates, Superintendent Huyett to celebrate these students on Thursday, April 19, 2012 – 5:30-6:30 at the Alumni House, U.C. Berkeley.
Expectations and Opportunities for Students in the Program
- High potential Black and Latino students, 2/3 boys
- Close collaboration with the City, School District and University
- Cal Black and Latino mentors, leadership and culture
- Eight year commitment from students and families
- 250 hours of direct service per student per year
Results
- 100% UC, CSU, private colleges
- 3.3 GPA (vs. 2.27 for control group)
- 80% SAT above the 50th percentile (higher than whites nationally)
“I want to thank you again for being the best thing to ever happen for Ben! You’ve given him self-esteem, self-awareness, self-pride, purpose, confidence, opportunity. His past does not dictate his future. He is in charge and can navigate his life in a way his brothers never knew possible. I thank you for being a positive African-American male role model for Ben, when he could not find any in his own family. You, and Berkeley Scholars, extended his family. You gave him a sense of belonging”.-Dori Johnson, Scholar’s Mom