Admission Possible ReceiveS $75,000 FROM GREAT LAKES

Grant Enables Program Expansion to Coon Rapids Public High School

For Immediate Release: Sept. 23, 2009

Contact: Emily Jacobs or Marie DeMars 651.917.3525

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Admission Possible recently received $75,000 from Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation to expand its award-winning program to Coon Rapids Public High School. This fall, nearly 40 low-income Coon Rapids began the two-year college prep program, joining Admission Possible’s largest cohort yet, more than 1,400 students at 19 high schools.

Photo of the check presentation ceremony available at the bottom of this page. Student and staff interviews available by request.

Admission Possible works to help promising low-income young people prepare for and earn admission to college by providing students with four critical after-school services: (1) ACT and SAT test preparation; (2) intensive guidance in preparing college applications; (3) help in obtaining financial aid; and (4) guidance in transition to college.  The vast majority of students in the Admission Possible program would be the first generation in their family to attend college.

“So many promising low-income high school students lack the resources to effectively compete for admission to colleges and universities,” said Jim McCorkell, founder and CEO of Admission Possible. “Great Lakes’ investment in our program allows us the incredible opportunity to take Admission Possible to a new community and serve more students than ever before.”                     

Great Lakes’ support of Admission Possible’s programming began with an $80,000 grant in 2008 for expanding programming for students at Como Park High School and Community of Peace Academy, both in Saint Paul.  Great Lakes also provided important founding support for Admission Possible’s launch into Milwaukee, Wis., in 2008.

Ms. La Toya Sykes, Director of Outreach and Access Awareness for Great Lakes said, “We are proud to support programs such as Admission Possible that are helping future generations reach their full potential. Admission Possible has been very effective in achieving a shared goal and that is to help build strong communities by investing in our future.  A college education is key to ending the cycle of poverty for a student and for building an educated workforce in our communities.”

A check ceremony was held on August 31 at Admission Possible headquarters in Saint Paul, where Sykes and Hannah Chen, both of Great Lakes, presented the organization’s gift to McCorkell.  Admission Possible coach Ben Pierson and two Admission Possible program graduates joined in the ceremony and site visit

About Admission Possible

Admission Possible is a nonprofit organization founded in Minnesota in 2000 and dedicated to helping promising low-income high school students prepare for and earn admission to college by providing ACT/SAT test preparation, admissions and financial aid consulting and guidance in the transition to college. The program operates in two metro areas – the Greater Twin Cities and Greater Milwaukee.  In 2009-10, 1,540 low-income high school students participate in Admission Possible in 23 high schools across the two metro areas.  Admission Possible’s college program team is dedicated to supporting Admission Possible’s 2,200 high school program graduates.  The 12-member team provides both group and one-on-one assisstance to students as they transition to college and pursue a degree.  Since 2000, 98 percent of Admission Possible students have been admitted to college. For more information, go to www.AdmissionPossible.org.

About Great Lakes

Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation and Affiliates works with schools, lenders, and community organizations to change lives for the better through higher education. Great Lakes supports these partners with financial, educational, and operational resources that help students and families pay for college and build brighter futures. Great Lakes is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, with operating centers in South Dakota, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. For additional information, visit mygreatlakes.org.

Image Gallery: Great Lakes Grant Ceremony