Wisconsin’s College Access Challenge Grant will Fund Similar Pre-College Program on Another Wisconsin Campus

GREEN BAY – First Lady Jessica Doyle joined UW-Green Bay Chancellor Dr. David Ward to announce today that as part of the state’s College Access Challenge Grant program, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has been selected to replicate their successful pre-college access program, Phuture Phoenix, at another college campus in Wisconsin.

“Replicating the Phuture Phoenix program will help Wisconsin reach our goal of opening doors to higher education to all hardworking students,” First Lady Doyle said. “Expanding this program will advance the goal of the College Access Challenge Grant, turning every student's college dream into a reality.”

Education remains a top priority of Governor Doyle, who is on pace to triple financial aid since he came into office. The College Access Challenge Grant, a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, is being administered by Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation (Great Lakes) on behalf of the State of Wisconsin. In addition to serving as the grant administrator, Great Lakes will contribute an additional $911,000 in matching funds over the two-year grant period.

Started in 2003, the Phuture Phoenix program has helped more than 5,000 school children from low-income elementary schools in the Green Bay area understand the importance of education as a path to a brighter future. The program’s signature event is an annual tour for 1,500 fifth-graders from elementary schools with sizeable poverty rates. As the children visit the UW-Green Bay campus and are exposed to the college experience, they are encouraged to be excited about education, eventual high school graduation, and the possibilities for college, university or technical college careers.

About $125,000 of the grant will be shared between UW-Green Bay and another Wisconsin college or university to duplicate the success of Phuture Phoenix, including the promotion of academic achievement and the program’s mission to help every child pursue higher education.

“We are thrilled with the opportunity to replicate our program on another campus,” said Phuture Phoenix Director Kim Desotell. “We look forward to furthering the Phuture Phoenix mission to make college admission a reality for low-income students who may have never been encouraged to think about higher education.”

The Phuture Phoenix program was chosen for replication from a competition of top pre-college programs from across the State. With the selection process complete, Great Lakes is now working with the public, private, and technical college and university systems to identify the campus on which to replicate the Phuture Phoenix program. A decision is expected by June 2009.