Leadership Program Helps Community College Students Transfer and Earn Four-Year Degrees From Top Colleges and Universities

The Kaplan Educational Foundation (KEF) celebrates the latest cohort of scholars selected for admission to the Kaplan Leadership Program (KLP).

Established in 2006, the Kaplan Leadership Program helps high-potential, low-income overlooked and underserved community college students complete their associate degree and successfully transfer and go on to earn a four-year bachelor's degree at the nation's most highly-selective schools. The program provides stipends for living expenses, extensive tutoring, academic advisement services, leadership and career training, and other resources and support to help them expand their personal goals, and eventually attain leadership roles in their professions and communities.

The newly accepted Kaplan Leadership Scholars for the 2024-2025 Academic Year are:

• Emily Blanco

Borough of Manhattan Community College

• Marco Alvarez

Hostos Community College

• Melanie Jerez

Queensborough Community College

• Minerva Ramirez Sencion

Hostos Community College

• William (Liam) Lotz

Kingsborough Community College

• Sabreen Qaisar

Queensborough Community College

• Samir Perez

UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ

• Shaheim Kellum

Borough of Manhattan Community College

• Joseph Sahap

Borough of Manhattan Community College

• Tymika Lawrence

Borough of Manhattan Community College

• Tabia Tarannum

LaGuardia Community College

Since KEF’s inception, Kaplan Leadership Scholars have been accepted to the country’s most competitive schools, including Yale, Stanford, Princeton, Brown, Amherst, Cornell, Mount Holyoke, Smith and many others. 92% percent of Kaplan Leadership Scholars earn a bachelor’s degree. In stark contrast, data from the Aspen Institute shows that while 80 percent of community college students dream of transferring to a four-year school, only 16 percent actually earn a bachelor’s degree – even fewer who come from low-income families.

"We had an incredibly strong applicant pool this year, which made our final selection process extremely challenging, so we’re thrilled to welcome this exceptional cohort and excited to see the impact they will make in the wider community,” says Nolvia Delgado, Executive Director of KEF. “They follow in the footsteps of KLP graduates who today are practicing law and medicine, conducting scientific research, working in business, education and engineering, and leading in government, and public and private industries.”

She notes, “Our scholars reinforce the fact that community colleges are rich with diverse, resilient, talented students with leadership potential, when given the opportunities to succeed. We remain committed to our mission to remove barriers and provide greater access to higher education for our newest cohort of talented, motivated individuals."

Earlier this year, KEF received a three-year grant from the Ichigo Foundation to fund a new Community College Bridge Program to extend its mission to a younger demographic. The Bridge Program will help high school students prepare earlier for their community college experience while positioning them for successful transfer to, and graduation from, a four-year institution.

For more information on KEF, the Kaplan Leadership Program and how to apply to be a scholar: http://www.kaplanedfoundation.org

ABOUT THE KAPLAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION:

The Kaplan Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity, was initially established and supported by a generous endowment funded by Kaplan, Inc. executives with the idea of helping a small group of students in a big way. The Foundation provides high-potential, low-income students with academic and financial support and leadership training to raise their expectations for success and open doors to opportunities that will change their lives and communities. For more information, please visit www.kaplanedfoundation.org

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

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