We’re celebrating College Application Month

After winning generous innovation grant from New Castle County, TeenSHARP doubles down on
pandemic resources

Wilmington, Del.—In partnership with New Castle County, TeenSHARP is kicking off a first-of-its-kind initiative today to celebrate College Application Month and help students navigate the application process during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re grateful to New Castle County for recognizing the urgent need for college advising supports during an especially unusual, complicated time,” said Tatiana Poladko, co-founder of TeenSHARP, a leadership development and college access program founded 11 years ago to connect low-income, Black and Latino students to elite universities.

With the launch of its “New Castle County Goes to College” initiative, TeenSHARP aims to reach upward of 1,000 high school students over the next few months to ensure they have the information and support to get into college. The initiative is made possible thanks to a $245,000 CARES Act innovation grant from New Castle County, and will include: 

• The College Knowledge Help Desk:  a free text message and email help desk resource in English and Spanish for students and parents across Delaware to get their college application questions answered by TeenSHARP’s team of trained student and parent advisors.

• College Knowledge Nudges: High school seniors and parents who sign up will get text message “nudges” during the college admissions process with reminders about key deadlines and to dos.

• A free digital toolkit that will be released in December with materials students can use to plan everything from personal statement essays to financial aid applications.

• Virtual college tours to schools across the country that meet students financial need, including Wesleyan University, Princeton University, and Swarthmore College, and workshops in English and Spanish on the college admissions process.

• A multimedia college awareness campaign to help students and their families better understand available college options during the application process.

• College Knowledge Facebook Live series: In partnership with DETV, TeenSHARP will host a weekly show on Comcast Channel 28 and Facebook Live that walks families through the admissions process and responds to questions live.

High school juniors, seniors, and their parents/guardians are encouraged to sign up for our College Knowledge Nudge messages at the following link: teensharp.org/collegeknowledge

Students and parents can text (302) 581-8114 or email collegeknowlege@teensharp.org to have their college admissions questions answered. 

“We are resilient in crisis and will continue to work to change our present and future, even through crisis,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “We are proud to partner with TeenSHARP, and this innovative program will help students make informed decisions and build the future of their dreams.

TeenSHARP Co-founder Atnre Alleyne had this to say:

“The campaign is timely given that families are having to make important higher education decisions when the entire education system is in flux due to the pandemic. TeenSHARP has had to adapt, innovate, and do so much more to meet the increased need of students and families during these unprecedented times. It is exciting to be able to partner with New Castle County to reach thousands of students and support the work our schools are doing to help students access higher education.” 
 

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About TeenSHARP: TeenSHARP is a regional organization headquartered in Wilmington, Del., that is on a mission to prepare talented low-income, African American, and Latino students to attend and thrive at the nation’s top colleges. This mission is in service of a bold vision that one day the diversity of those occupying our nation’s highly-skilled jobs and highest leadership positions will be as rich as the diversity of our population. Founded in 2009, TeenSHARP has evolved into a leading provider of innovative, at-scale college access and success support in the Delaware Valley region (including Delaware, Philadelphia, and southern New Jersey). TeenSHARP has achieved incredible results over the last ten years: 100 percent of TeenSHARP scholars successfully pursue a 4-year college education, with 95 percent of the scholars being admitted to selective colleges and universities every year.