Program boosts Waianae High students

In January, a group of teachers concerned about the lack of post-secondary opportunities for students at Waianae High School launched a scholarship program and began asking for donations.

Their plan: recruit high-performing eighth-graders, hold them to rigorous standards throughout their high school careers, monitor their progress, and offer them special training on such tasks as completing college applications and writing a resume. Students who met all requirements would be rewarded with money for college.

Out of 50 applicants for the first year of the program, 15 students were chosen to participate during the fall.

One semester later, the unique initiative is showing early signs of success. The Waianae High freshmen participating have an average GPA above 3.8, collectively completed more than 150 hours of community service, and each were involved in at least one extracurricular program, with 27 percent holding leadership roles at the school.

By the time they graduate, the students each could earn up to $7,200 in scholarships.

Mark Cassidy, 24, one of the program’s founders, said often there are low expectations for Waianae High students, and that they can be overlooked by well-meaning programs centered in Hono­lulu.

He said he was inspired to do something after his first year of teaching math at Wai­anae Intermediate, in 2010, when he was floored by his students’ high ambitions.

Many said they wanted to go to college.

But by the time they get to high school, many Wai­anae students no longer see college in their future.

Less than one-third of Wai­anae High’s Class of 2011 enrolled in college. The statewide average was 53 percent.

Cassidy and the other teachers say they believe they can spur more students to plan for college — and do well once they get there.

"We envision it being a medium for change in the school," he said of the scholarship fund.

He said the fund continues to collect donations (having secured about $25,000 so far), is seeking tax-exempt status and is reaching out to community organizations for help.

Cassidy, who completed a two-year commitment through Teach for America, is now a business technology consultant in Chicago. From there, he oversees much of the scholarship program’s fundraising efforts.

There are about five teachers at Waianae High School participating in the program, along with another five at Waianae Intermediate, a handful of former Teach for America teachers and other community players.

Dane Carlson, who also helped found the program, said while it is unique that teachers would start a scholarship program, it makes perfect sense.

Teachers at Waianae High helping with the scholarship fund can continually encourage students, offer them support and monitor how they’re doing.

Many scholarship programs, he said, target students who are completing high school and have already done well.

This program wants to help kids showing promise in middle school get to graduation day and set their sights on college.

"The idea is, they just need a reason" to succeed, said Carlson, who was a Teach for America teacher at Wheeler Middle School. He recently accepted an educational research position at Kamehameha Schools.

Carlson said while he’s not in the classroom anymore, he plans to continue helping with the Waianae scholarship fund.

He is focused on making sure the program is incorporating best practices, especially around mentoring and training.

To qualify for scholarships through the program, students must earn a minimum 3.5 GPA, participate in one extracurricular activity and perform at least eight hours of community service.

They also must join a "college club" and attend sessions on topics including college applications, college entrance exams and paying for college. Students who go beyond the minimums can earn additional bonus scholarships.