The Children's Aid Society

JP Morgan Volunteers Help Teens Get Ready for College

Recently, teens from several Children’s Aid programs and locations traveled to the “top of the city” to attend a College Preparation Seminar designed to give them a headstart to the rigorous college selection process.

Sponsored by JP Morgan Chase and held on the top floor of their Wall Street offices, over sixty 11th and 12th graders met with volunteers from Chase and the Ron Brown Scholar Program to begin creating an action plan for each student as they begin applying for local and nationwide colleges and universities.

After being welcomed by JP Morgan Chase and dining on an executive style buffet lunch, students listened intently as several speakers, including CAS Assistant Division Director, Michael Roberts & Ron Brown Assistant Executive Director, Vanessa Evans spoke about the importance of receiving a college education and the impact it has on one’s future. Students heard presentations about researching and applying for scholarships throughout their college years and learned about several available scholarships from both JP Morgan Chase and the Ron Brown Program.

Afterwards, volunteers working in one-on-one and small groups shared personal experiences on selecting a college and offered first-hand knowledge about a variety of topics including, choosing the right major, balancing school and work, and obtaining your first job after graduation. The day culminated with several students sharing what they had learned with the entire audience before leaving with a personalized checklist with what they needed to accomplish before graduating high school and information about numerous resources, including our Excel College Program, they can access as they prepare to take this important next step in their educational development.