Class of 2018 Mount Vernon Star Scholars Selected

From Mount Vernon Star Scholars:

Mount Vernon Star Scholars has selected five outstanding students as its Class of 2018. Chosen as Star Scholars are Mount Vernon High School students Ruby Acquah, Peace Anaja, Stella Balbino, and Crystal McFarlane; and Thornton High School Student Carmen Alverez. They, along with the Class of 2017 Scholars, met with their mentors at a celebratory dinner on Sunday, September 25.

Mount Vernon Star Scholars (“MVSS”) is a program that assists a select group of academically-talented students from Mount Vernon’s high schools gain admission to selective colleges and universities in the United States. The star scholars will receive valuable one-on-one guidance from a volunteer mentor.

“The assistance the students will receive is invaluable in helping them navigate the complex college application process,” said Savoie. “From securing financial aid to preparing for the SAT, a mentor will be with them every step of the way.”

The program is open to all students enrolled in one of the Mount Vernon high schools who maintain a weighted-average GPA of 85 or better. Scholars are chosen in the summer between their sophomore and junior year based primarily on their academic achievement in their first two years of high school and their commitment to continuing their education at the undergraduate level upon graduation from high school. While the designation is not specifically need-based, a student’s challenges in attending a top-tier institution of higher learning, including financial challenges, are factored into the selection process.

While the program is still young, MVSS alumni can now be found on the campuses of Harvard University, Case Western Reserve University, Denison University and the University of Connecticut among others.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock