Kauffman Scholars Recruiting Urban Sixth Graders in March for College Prep and Graduation Program at No Cost to Families

February 21, 2008 -- Kansas City, MO. -- Sixth graders enrolled in public schools and charter schools in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas USD #500 have a life-changing opportunity in March 2008 to apply to become a Kauffman Scholar. The Kauffman Scholars program begins working with urban students and their parents or guardians as the students enter the seventh grade to help them prepare for and become college graduates. Scholars receive an extensive array of enrichment services, at no-cost to their families, and qualified Kauffman Scholars will receive college scholarship assistance. Parents or guardians must call 816-932-1206 to reserve a space at one of the Kauffman Scholars, Inc. (KSI) Information Meetings, where application packets are available. KSI will accept approximately 300 new students into the program.

"We want the parents or guardians of every sixth grader in the eligible areas to be aware of this extraordinary opportunity," said Dr. Steve Green, Kauffman Scholars, Inc. President and CEO. "Kauffman Scholars and their families receive the benefits of our Academic Enrichment Academy, academic, life, and college coaching, summer programs, college residential institutes, and parent engagement workshops. These experiences advance Scholars toward becoming college graduates and ultimately provide a transformative element to their lives. And, when a Kauffman Scholar becomes a college graduate, he or she will do so without college debt."

"This year, in response to statistics that show a growing gender gap between the numbers of young women and young men graduating from high school and becoming college graduates, KSI is placing a special emphasis on recruiting sixth grade males," Dr. Green continued. "We want more males to become Kauffman Scholars, so they can have the assistance they need to stay in school and go to college." Kauffman Scholars will host two Information Meetings especially for males; (see the list of dates and locations) however, young men and women are welcome to attend any of the Information Meetings listed.

To become a Kauffman Scholar, students must meet the following requirements:

Enter seventh grade in Fall, 2008

Currently attend a public or charter public school in the Kansas City, Missouri or the Kansas City, Kansas USD #500 boundaries

Qualify for free or reduced lunch program

Earn a C or above in all core subjects during the first semester of the sixth grade school year

Have no more than one out-of-school suspension during the first semester of the sixth grade year

Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident (to receive college scholarship assistance)

Kauffman Scholars Information Meetings will be held at the following locations:

Kansas City, Kansas	Kansas City, Missouri
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Jack Reardon Convention Center Holiday Garden Inn, 5th & Minnesota Ave. 6:30-8:30 p.m.	Tuesday, March 4, 2008 Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center 3700 Blue Parkway 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 15, 2008 Jack Reardon Convention Center Holiday Garden Inn, 5th & Minnesota Ave. 2:00-4:00 p.m.	Thursday, March 6, 2008 Robert J. Mohart Center 3200 Wayne Avenue 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Jack Reardon Convention Center Holiday Garden Inn, 5th & Minnesota Ave. 6:30-8:30 p.m.	Thursday, March 13, 2008 - MALES ONLY Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation 4801 Rockhill Road 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 27, 2008 Wyandotte High School Auditorium 2501 Minnesota Ave. 6:30-8:30 p.m.	Saturday, March 15, 2008 Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center 3700 Blue Parkway 10:00 a.m. - noon
Thursday, March 29, 2008 - MALES ONLY Wyandotte High School Auditorium 2501 Minnesota Ave. 6:30-8:30 p.m.	Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center 3700 Blue Parkway 6:30-8:30 p.m.
	Monday, March 31, 2008 Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation 4801 Rockhill Road 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Currently, there are more than 1,000 Scholars in the KSI program. Kauffman Scholars will ultimately serve an estimated 2,300 students from the metropolitan area over a period of 19 years. The Kauffman Scholars program is funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City. For more information on Kuaffman Scholars, call 816-932-1206.