Lafayette College, the highly rated liberal arts college in Easton, Pennsylvania, has announced a new partnership agreement with The Opportunity Network that will offer admission and financial aid support to a group of academically gifted, low-income students from the New York City public schools. African American and Hispanic students make up more than 70 percent of all the students in the city’s public schools.
The Opportunity Network was founded in 2003. Students are selected for the program during their sophomore year in high school. Participating students have weekly after-school sessions to prepare them for the college admission process, professional etiquette, and career exploration.
Lafayette College plans to offer admission to three to six Opportunity Network students each year and to provide them with full tuition scholarships. The students accepted into the program will be paired with a current Lafayette student who will act as a mentor. In addition the college will assist the students in gaining summer internships for each of the their four years at the college.
The partnership is the first such arrangement with a college or university entered into by The Opportunity Network.
Very pleased to see Lafayette partner in this way with The Opportunity Network to provide these scholarships and opportunities for disadvantaged youth. Obviously six is a small number, but it’s six more souls better advantaged than before. Lafayette’s lead is to be commended to other colleges and universities to follow their outstanding example. Compliments and appreciation to Lafayette and best wishes to the candidates for a successful future!