Countdown to College continues to welcome students

Countdown to College (C2C) students are on campus through Aug. 2. On July 19, C2C welcomed a new cohort of  incoming freshmen, and on July 20 returning sophomores joined them. These two cohorts will study on campus through Aug. 2.

This two-week program for students from under-resourced communities is offered each summer for four years, beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until the summer before their senior year — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

The camp is free to student participants from San Miguel and Nativity middle schools and Cristo Rey and Lasallian high schools and their parents (who come the first weekend). Teachers from their schools co-teach with Saint Mary’s instructors, and help prepare Saint Mary’s instructors on how to effectively work with this growing population of students. C2C is part of the First Generation Initiative, which helps students prepare for and succeed at college.

K-16 Catholic Education Pipeline Conference July 12-14

Saint Mary’s will host the K-16 Catholic Education Pipeline Conference, “Increasing College Access and Success for Underrepresented Students,” July 12-14. About 15 guests from Lasallian schools and universities are expected to attend.

Countdown to College to welcome 86 students

Countdown to College (C2C) students are on campus through Aug. 2. The first two weeks (July 5-18), Saint Mary’s is welcoming cohorts 3 and 4 on campus. A graduation ceremony will be July 18. Parents of the seniors are invited to join the celebration.

On July 19, C2C will welcome a new cohort of  incoming freshmen, and on July 20 returning sophomores will join them. These two cohorts will study on campus through Aug. 2.

This two-week program for students from under-resourced communities is offered each summer for four years, beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until the summer before their senior year — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

The camp is free to student participants from San Miguel and Nativity middle schools and Cristo Rey and Lasallian high schools and their parents (who come the first weekend). Teachers from their schools co-teach with Saint Mary’s instructors, and help prepare Saint Mary’s instructors on how to effectively work with this growing population of students. C2C is part of the First Generation Initiative, which helps students prepare for and succeed at college.

Countdown to College to welcome 86 students

Countdown to College (C2C) students will be on campus July 5-Aug 2. The first two weeks (July 5-18), Saint Mary’s will welcome cohorts 3 and 4 on campus. A graduation ceremony will be July 18. Parents of the seniors are invited to join the celebration.

On July 19, C2C will welcome a new cohort of  incoming freshmen, and on July 20 returning sophomores will join them. These two cohorts will study on campus through Aug. 2.

This two-week program for students from under-resourced communities is offered each summer for four years, beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until the summer before their senior year — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

The camp is free to student participants from San Miguel and Nativity middle schools and Cristo Rey and Lasallian high schools, their parents (who come the first weekend), and teachers from their schools, who co-teach with Saint Mary’s instructors, and help prepare Saint Mary’s instructors on how to effectively work with this growing population of students.

C2C is part of the First-Generation Initiative, which helps students prepare for and succeed at college.

Countdown to College to welcome 92 students

Cohorts 3 and 4 of Countdown to College

Countdown to College students will continue to be on campus through Aug. 3. The first two weeks (July 6-19), SMU welcomed cohorts 3 and 4 on campus (21 incoming high school seniors and 23 incoming juniors). This summer will mark the first C2C graduation ceremony today, July 19. Parents of the seniors are invited to join the celebration.

On July 20, C2C will welcome a new cohort of  25 freshmen, and on July 21, 23 returning sophomores will join them. These two cohorts will study on campus through Aug. 3.

This two-week program for students from under-resourced communities is offered each summer for four years, beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until their senior year — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

The camp is free to student participants from San Miguel and Nativity middle schools and Cristo Rey and Lasallian high schools, their parents (who come the first weekend) and teachers from their schools, who co-teach with SMU instructors, and help prepare SMU instructors on how to effectively work with this growing population of students.

This is one portion of the First-Generation Initiative, which helps students prepare for and succeed at college.

Countdown to College to welcome 92 students

Countdown to College students will be on campus July 6-Aug 3. The first two weeks (July 6-19), SMU will welcome cohorts 3 and 4 on campus (21 incoming seniors and 23 incoming juniors). This summer will mark the first C2C graduation ceremony on July 19. Parents of the seniors are invited to join the celebration.

On July 20, C2C will welcome a new cohort of  25 incoming freshmen, and on July 21, 23 returning sophomores will join them. These two cohorts will study on campus through Aug. 3.

This two-week program for students from under-resourced communities is offered each summer for four years, beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until they reach college age — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

The camp is free to student participants from San Miguel and Nativity middle schools and Cristo Rey and Lasallian high schools, their parents (who come the first weekend) and teachers from their schools, who co-teach with SMU instructors, and help prepare SMU instructors on how to effectively work with this growing population of students.

This is one portion of the First-Generation Initiative, which helps students prepare and succeed at college.

Countdown to College welcomes 72 students

Saint Mary’s is conducting its third annual Countdown to College through Aug. 4. This two-week program for students from under-resourced communities is offered each summer for four years, beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until they reach college age — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

The camp is free to student participants from San Miguel and Nativity middle schools and Cristo Rey and Lasallian high schools, their parents (who come the first weekend) and teachers from their schools, who co-teach with SMU instructors, and help prepare SMU instructors on how to effectively work with this growing population of students. SMU welcomed back 22 participants for the third time, 24 participants for the second time, and 26 new incoming ninth-graders. Each group stays on campus for two weeks.

This is one portion of the First-Generation Initiative, which helps students prepare and succeed at college.

Countdown to College ends Aug. 6

Students in the second-year cohort of Countdown to College got out on the Mississippi River while enjoying a day at SMU's Prairie Island Field Station.

Saint Mary’s will say goodbye to the students participating in Countdown to College on Aug. 6. This two-week program for students from under-resourced communities is offered to students each year for four years, beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until they reach college age — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

Countdown to College runs through Aug. 6

Saint Mary’s is conducting its second annual Countdown to College through Aug. 6. This two-week program for students from under-resourced communities will be offered to students each year for four years, beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until they reach college age — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

The camp is completely free to student participants from San Miguel and Nativity Schools, their parents (who come the first weekend) and teachers from their schools, who co-teach with SMU instructors, and help prepare SMU instructors on how to effectively work with this growing population of students. Twenty-five students participated last summer. In addition to welcoming back these 25 participants, SMU also welcomes 25 new incoming ninth-graders. Each group of 25 is here for two weeks, and they overlap on campus one week.

This is one portion of Saint Mary’s First-Generation Initiative, a program designed to offer academic, financial and personal support to first-generation students as they transition into higher education.

Countdown to College runs July 16-Aug. 6

Saint Mary’s will conduct its second annual Countdown to College July 16-Aug. 6 on its Winona campus. This two-week program for students from under-resourced communities will be offered to students each year for four years, beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until they reach college age — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

The camp is completely free to student participants from San Miguel and Nativity Schools, their parents (who come the first weekend) and teachers from their schools, who co-teach with SMU instructors, and help prepare SMU instructors on how to effectively work with this growing population of students. Twenty-five students participated last summer. In addition to welcoming back these 25 participants, SMU also welcomes 25 new incoming ninth graders. Each group of 25 is here for two weeks, and they overlap on campus one week.

This is one portion of Saint Mary’s First-Generation Initiative, a program designed to offer academic, financial and personal support to first-generation students as they transition into higher education.

Countdown to College blog details program’s success

Dr. Jane Anderson, Brother Ed Siderewicz and Edith Galvez pose with two of this summer's Countdown to College participants.

Saint Mary’s hosted its first Countdown to College July 24-Aug. 7 in Winona. To view photos and read articles written by students and educators of the Countdown to College program, go to http://countdown-to-college.blogspot.com.

Countdown to College, a two-week program for students from economically underprivileged communities, will be offered to students each year for four years — beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until they reach college age — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

The 25 participants in Countdown to College attend schools in the Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago and Tucson metropolitan areas. Preference is given to graduates of Saint Mary’s middle school partners in the NativityMiguel Network of Jesuit and Christian Brothers’ schools, which are located in these cities.

First Countdown to College set for July 24-Aug. 7

Saint Mary’s will host its first Countdown to College July 24-Aug. 7 in Winona. This two-week program for students from economically underprivileged communities will be offered to students each year for four years — beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until they reach college age — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

The 25 participants in Countdown to College attend schools in the Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago and Tucson metropolitan areas. Preference is given to graduates of Saint Mary’s middle school partners in the NativityMiguel Network of Jesuit and Christian Brothers’ schools, which are located in these cities.

Countdown to College is funded for 2010-2013 by a generous donation from Jack and Mary Ann Remick of Rochester, Minn. Mary Ann is also the chairwoman of the SMU First-Generation Advisory Board.

The camp is completely free to student participants, their parents (who come the first weekend) and teachers from their schools, who co-teach with SMU instructors, and help prepare SMU instructors on how to effectively work with this growing population of students.

Daily schedules will mix college orientation with academic classes, sports, recreation, supervised study halls, academic contests, movies with a message, game room and celebrations. Academic classes will include reading, writing, math, and grammar/vocabulary. Weekends will feature field trips as well as academic and social/recreational activities.

The camp is the foundation portion of Saint Mary’s First-Generation Initiative, a program designed to offer academic and personal support to first-generation students as they transition into higher education. It is the hope that through the FGI program, up to 15 students will be eligible to receive full SMU scholarships each year for the next four years, starting this fall. The level will eventually be maintained at 60 qualifying students. Additionally, SMU First-Generation students will be supported through College Colleagues, a campus mentoring program that pairs students with a support team to help them through college life.

First Countdown to College set for July 24-Aug. 7

Saint Mary’s will host its first Countdown to College July 24-Aug. 7 in Winona. This two-week program for students from economically underprivileged communities will be offered to students each year for four years — beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until they reach college age — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

Preference is given to graduates of Lasallian San Miguel and Nativity schools in Chicago, Milwaukee, Racine, and Minneapolis.

The camp is completely free to student participants, their parents (who come the first weekend) and teachers from their schools, who co-teach with SMU instructors, and help prepare SMU instructors on how to effectively work with this growing population of students. Twenty-five students from the Twin Cities, Milwaukee, Chicago and Tucson areas will participate this summer.

Daily schedules will mix academic classes, sports, recreation, supervised study halls, academic contests, movies with a message, game room and celebrations. Academic classes will include reading, writing, math, and grammar/vocabulary. Weekends will feature field trips as well as academic and social/recreational activities.

The camp is one portion of Saint Mary’s First-Generation Initiative, a program designed to offer academic and personal support to first-generation students as they transition into higher education. Through the FGI program, a maximum of 15 students will receive full SMU scholarships each year for the next four years, starting this fall. By 2013, the level will be maintained at 60 qualifying students. Additionally, SMU First-Generation students will be supported through College Colleagues, a campus mentoring program that pairs students with a support team to help them through college life.