Ohio State to expand college access initiative

Ohio State's new Blueprint: College program will double in size in the spring, thanks to a $108,000 grant. The grant comes from TG's Public Benefit Grant Program, the philanthropic arm of TG, a a Texas-based, non-profit corporation that provides federal student loan guarantees to help ensure access to higher education for millions of students across the country each year.
Blueprint: College, which began as a pilot program last spring, assists elementary school families from Columbus City Schools to create "blueprint plans" to help set the right path toward academic and college success. The families are low-income and have little college experience. In this six week long program, parents learn about the benefits and requirements of going to college. They create academic plans for their students, fill out sample college admissions and financial aid applications and learn to use college scholarship resources. While parents participate in the workshops, children attend age-appropriate "College Camp" sessions led by Ohio State undergraduate students.

The grant will expand the program from 5 to 11 underserved schools, and benefit more than 100 new families and 250 elementary school students.

This spring, Blueprint: College will serve Africentric, Douglas, Eastgate, Easthaven, Fair, Leawood, Livingston, Liberty, Maybury, Ohio and Scottwood elementary schools.

Ohio State is one of just 49 organizations nationwide to receive an award from TG through its Public Benefit Grant Program, the company's philanthropic initiative.

In receiving the award, Blueprint: College was recognized as a program "to improve access to, or participation in postsecondary education, college retention, and student success, with a special emphasis on the project's benefit to students who are from low- to moderate-income families."

"We are excited to work with TG to expand this initiative," said Mabel Freeman, Ohio State's assistant vice president of undergraduate admissions and first year experience. "This grant will allow us to directly benefit more than 100 new families in the Columbus City Schools district. The pilot program generated a lot of interest and we consider Blueprint: College to be an unqualified success."

"Our nation's future depends on our ability to inspire students to achieve all that they're capable of accomplishing," said Sue McMillin, president and CEO of TG. "By providing funds for Blueprint: College, we're pleased that TG can help change the future for individual students, families, and society as a whole."
Blueprint: College is one of 53 projects selected for funding in 2008-2009. Seven other Ohio programs were also awarded grants.

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About TG:
TG is a public, nonprofit corporation that helps create access to higher education for millions of families and students through its role as an administrator of the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). Its vision is to be the premier source of information, financing, and assistance to help all families and students realize their educational and career dreams. Additional information about TG can be found online at tgslc.org.