FSD3 Cohort and Emerging Leaders Registration

The Background of Our Program

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We are a Community-based Organization, based in Marietta, Georgia partnering with schools, school districts, and faith- and other community-based organizations throughout the United States. We also partner with colleges and programs like QuestBridge, LEDA, Posse, and The Gates Scholarship Program. Our foundation was founded by Mychal and Nina Wynn to provide college planning guidance and support for expanding college access and minimizing student loan debt for any student, but particularly for students from lower income families and those who will be the first in their family to attend college. In 2020, our partnership with Guilford County Schools (NC), focused on first generation, lower income, and refugee students received the 2020 Magna Award from the the National School Boards Association.

In the summer of 2014, we began our partnership with Florence School District 3 through a collaboration with Ms. Yvonne Scott, Director of College and Career Readiness, with the introduction of our College Planning Boot Camp for rising high school seniors. Students in the district’s first cohort were responsible for many firsts, including the district’s first Gates Millennium Scholar; first UMBC – Meyerhoff Scholar; and first student to be offered admission to Wake Forest University.

Most of the students participating in that first cohort have received their college degrees and are pursuing careers in such fields as the military, cybersecurity, healthcare, entrepreneurship, research, and education.

What makes our program unique is that our focus is not simply expanding college awareness but guiding students in developing a holistic set of strategies throughout their 7-year middle school through high school progression across such areas as choosing their high schools and programs; course taking; pursuing leadership and service; developing their gifts and talents; and setting goals to make themselves competitive applicants for being offered admission to selective colleges and being awarded competitive scholarships. While less than 2% of all students are attending college on a full scholarship (Source: ThinkImpact), the strategic planning engaged in by students in our program has resulted in unparalleled success with nearly 50% of participating students being offered full scholarships each year. In our Class of 2023, students were offered full scholarships to Benedict College, Brown University, Claflin University, Tuskegee University, University of South Carolina – Columbia, Vassar College, Williams College, Winthrop University, and Xavier University of Louisiana.

Now, in our 7th year, our FSD3 program has expanded to not only provide college planning guidance, but to cover such topics as learning styles, personality types, multiple intelligences, temperament, mindset, and grit. However, like our college planning program, our goal is not to simply introduce students to these topics, but to guide students in developing strategies that are implemented through learning style, time management, and study skills plans.

Mikayla – Gates Millennium Scholar

Mikayla Hannah, a member of the 2015 Cohort, was the first or two Florence School District 3 Gates Millennium Scholars (Rebeca Pacheco ‘2016), both of whom participated in the cohort and received invaluable assistance in writing the 8 1,000-word essays required as part of the GMS applications.

Mikayla was also selected as the first student in South Carolina to be offered admission to the University of Maryland – Baltimore County’s prestigious Meyerhoff Scholar Program. Click onto the photograph to be linked to the WBMF News Story.

Damian – Northeastern University Torch Scholar