Duncan Launches Program To Help Students Reach Their Potential

st/rft.pr 97-190 Contact: Nancy Pond, 301-217-2734

DUNCAN LAUNCHES PROGRAM
TO HELP AVERAGE STUDENTS For Immediate Release (June 17, 1997)

County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today joined school officials at Parkland
Middle School in Rockville to launch a new youth program in Montgomery County that will
encourage "average" middle school students to reach their full potential through academic and
career choices.
Reach for Tomorrow, Inc. is a non-profit program that was founded in 1993 to
initially help "at risk" inner city youth. It has since helped more than 500 students across the
country, affecting their motivation, grades and accomplishments. The program is being
implemented in Montgomery County as part of a collaborative effort between the County's
Interagency Coordinating Board (ICB) for Community Use of Public Facilities, the
Montgomery County Public Schools and the business community. The program helps
students establish academic and career goals before they enter high school, and it uses
successful role models to aid in character development and mentors to provide motivation and
advice.
"Reach for Tomorrow targets a segment of our youth that is often overlooked," said
Duncan. "These are average students who just need a little push to realize that they can set
challenging goals and can succeed."
(more)

DUNCAN LAUNCHES YOUTH PROGRAM 2-2-2-2

Sixty students from five of the County's middle schools -- Parkland, Eastern, White
Oak, Wood and Poolesville -- were selected to participate in the program this year. The
participants are all eighth graders with a "C" or better grade average. In addition, the
participants are all required to complete 15 hours of community service in order to attend the
summer portion of the program -- a one-week trip to San Diego, California that leaves June
23.
The summer program gives participants an opportunity to spend five days on the
Marine Corps Recruiting Base in San Diego. There, they will work on computers in the U.S.
Space Agency lab, fly in helicopters, and participate in a Marine Corps obstacle confidence
course. Volunteer chaperones from each school will accompany the students. When they
return home, mentors from the five schools will continue to assist the students in working
toward their academic and career goals.
The County's Interagency Coordinating Board identified the middle schools that were
interested in participating in the Reach for Tomorrow program, and then worked with the
schools to develop guidelines and recruit students. The ICB also provided funding for a staff
representative at each school to coordinate and monitor community service projects. In
addition, businesses such as GE Information Services, Vitro, Lockheed Martin and Fusion
Systems Corporation have contributed volunteer leadership and financial resources to the
program.
For more information, call Coleen Carone at 301-217-2706.
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