EducationQuest Foundation

EducationQuest Foundation Awards Over
$290,000 in Community Grants

Twenty-one Nebraska organizations benefit from
funds disbursed during 2002


(LINCOLN Neb. December 18, 2002) - In Lexington, 29 of the 89 Hispanic students enrolled in 12th grade during 1999-2000 dropped out before graduation. The Dawson County Extension Office hopes to improve those numbers through Building Community Capacity, a new program that helps Hispanic students build the self-confidence and leadership skills needed to attain their educational goals. The program was developed with the help of a $20,000 grant from EducationQuest Foundation.

Over the past year, EducationQuest has supported 21 Nebraska non-profit organizations with over $290,000 in community grant distributions. The grants were awarded to education-related programs that support EducationQuest's mission of improving access to higher education in Nebraska. Other grant recipients during 2002 include:

Irving Middle School Tutoring Program, Lincoln - $2,475
Through this program, high school students tutor Irving Middle School at-risk students four times per week.

Bright Lights Summer Enrichment Program, Lincoln - $4,975
This grant supports classroom assistant stipends, training, and development of assistant evaluation tools for this summer enrichment program.

Y's Parent Center, YWCA of Lincoln - $10,000
This program serves pregnant and parenting teenage women by helping get their lives back on track and overcoming the barriers of being a teen parent.

Cedars Youth Services, Lincoln - $4,820
Cedars will use the funds to purchase five Apple iMac computers and printers for Cedars residential youth programs.

York Alternative School, $10,000
Students in York and surrounding communities who have dropped out of high school will have the opportunity to obtain their high school diploma in this alternative setting.

Summer Exploration Enrichment Kids (S.E.E.K.), Beatrice Public Schools - $3,500
This grant will support a summer enrichment program for children in grades 1-7 including tuition free scholarships for Beatrice area students.

Summer Learning Academy, Gering Public Schools - $2,500
Gering Public Schools will use funds to purchase student supplies for a Summer Learning Academy for approximately 100 students in grades K-5.

TeamMates of Lincoln, Lincoln Public Schools Foundation - $50,000
This is a fourth year payment (of a five year grant) to support the TeamMates of Lincoln Program.

Program infrastructure and evaluation; TeamMates of Nebraska - $45,000
This funding will support existing state and regional infrastructure by providing information, materials, technical assistance, and training to local programs to ensure their quality and success.

Upward Bound Math/Science Summer Residential Program Research Component; University of Nebraska - Lincoln - $4,900
This summer program targets low-income and/or first-generation high school students from two Lincoln high schools with goals to improve access to higher education and to create life long learners.

Blackburn High School/Omaha Public Schools - $725
Funds will purchase college-planning supplies for a "College Corner" at Blackburn High School, an Omaha Public School alternative high school.

Winners Circle Educational Foundation, Omaha - $20,000
This grant will support the continued efforts of Winners Circle - a program that improves academic achievement and citizenship for underprivileged elementary school students in Omaha.

After School Academic Support, Lighthouse, Inc., Lincoln - $25,000
Funding will support an after-school program where teenagers can participate in academic support, recreational activities, field trips, evening meals, educational workshops, cultural events and interaction with peers and adult mentors.

Western Nebraska Community College/Guadalupe Outreach After-School Homework/Mentoring Club, Scottsbluff - $3,000
The After-School Homework/Mentoring Club provides students in grades 5-7 a safe, nurturing environment where they receive help with homework assignments. Funds will provide program supplies.

Youth Leadership Lincoln, Leadership Lincoln, Lincoln - $3,000
This program helps high school sophomores develop and enhance their leadership skills, improve their knowledge of the community, and increase their awareness that youth leadership can make a difference.

Building Community Capacity, Lexington - $20,000
This program helps Hispanic youth build leadership skills, enhance self-confidence, provide mentoring experiences, and provide access to college experiences and college planning services.

Specialized Academic Success Center, Workforce Development, Kearney - $20,000
Funds will equip a student-centered computer lab that offers academic training that will help participants meet higher education enrollment requirements.

The Mentor Program/Youth as Resource, Nebraska Boys Ranch, Alliance - $18,000
This program provides after-school mentoring for at-risk youth in Box Butte County. It provides activities that improve academic performance, continue in school, and prepare for college.

Education Outreach Program, Lincoln Action Program, Lincoln - $30,000
Funds will support academic support, tutoring and after-school activities for up to 150 youth. Education Outreach helps these youth build competencies in academics, leadership, and citizenship.

Lincoln Initiative for Tutoring, City of Lincoln Parks & Recreation Department - $10,000
This grant will help the Lincoln Parks & Rec Department continue its Lincoln Initiative for Tutoring program which provides one-on-one tutoring and mentoring to approximately 30-40 students.

EducationQuest Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization with a mission to improve access to higher education in Nebraska. Through a permanent endowment, EducationQuest provides free college planning services at its locations in Omaha, Lincoln and Kearney; funds need-based scholarship programs; and supports community organizations that enhance college access. For more information, call the EducationQuest Hotline at 800-666-3721 or visit www.EducationQuest.org.