Young Women Leaders Embark on College Tour
Kira Mangum, a junior at Chicago's Young Women's Leadership Charter School (YWLCS) spoke with bright-eyed amazement about the eight-city college tour she was about to embark upon along with other classmates at Chicago's only all-girls school.
"I want to be a pediatric or neonatal nurse," said Mangum, an advanced placement student who said she was excited to be leaving April 14 to tour colleges on the East Coast. "I think it's a great experience for juniors to see that you don't have to go to colleges in the area you live or are familiar, you can venture out."
Fifty YWLCS high school juniors and chaperones are currently on the college tour scheduled to return this weekend.
"In many cases, this will be the first trip outside of Chicago for many of our juniors," said Deniece Fields, YWLCS school director.
The group will visit and tour six colleges of varying sizes, specialties and influences, including College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA); Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA); Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD); Hood College (Frederick, MD); University of Delaware (Newark, DE); and Barnard College (New York, NY).
The students will also enjoy a tour of the United Nations, the Bronx, and Times Square.
Administrators at the Young Women's Leadership Charter School and Fifth Third Bank who sponsored the trip, surprised the teens with a party including balloons, backpacks stuffed with goodies, and a six- foot long "Cake Boss" inspired cake that looks like the bus they are traveling on.
Tours are planned as a way to help acclimate the students into the college application process and to make them aware of what to look for in a college. It also makes them aware of the appropriate questions they should ask college recruiters because some of the girls are the first in their family to attend college.
"We're so proud to sponsor your field trip," said Melissa Overton, a vice president at Fifth Third Bank during the event. "I remember how exciting these trips can be."
Ashley Allen was to say the least, excited about the college visits.
"I plan to study medicine and biology. I'm going on the trip with an open mind."
Fields and educators at YWLCS know all too well the importance of these trips, especially for empowering and inspiring students who live in communities that constantly struggle with crime.
"Consider Kira Mangum's experience." Fields explained, "She lives near 80th & Houston Streets where gun violence is rampant. She can't leave her home alone and travels at least one hour to get to and from school."
One hundred percent of the 2013 class has been accepted to college and have been awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships.
A majority of the traveling juniors are from the south and west sides of Chicago and 75% of them will be first generation college students.
Each year, YWLCS, a lottery-based enrollment school, enrolls nearly 350 girls grade 7-12 and prepares them with the tools to graduate high school, continue through post-secondary education, and go on to lead fulfilling and productive lives.
By Deborah Bayliss
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