Bunker Hill Community College Offers College Preparation Program for Chelsea Students
Monday, October 15, 2012
TRIO-Talent Search, a federally funded program that supports high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds, has launched a special initiative this summer. There is currently space to accept additional students in the program from Chelsea High School.
TRIO-Talent Search was launched at Chelsea High School in May of this year. Operated by Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) in partnership with Chelsea Public Schools and Families United in Educational Leadership (FUEL), the program offers a variety of outreach, early college awareness and student support services designed to prepare Chelsea High School students for college.
This summer, TRIO is offering eligible students college visits, volunteer opportunities and workshops. Students in the program recently visited the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology where they learned about vocational programs in ophthalmology, automotive technology, architectural science and other fields. Students also practiced job and college interview skills at a workshop with volunteers from various industries. Participants in the program also sorted and packed more than 3,000 pounds of food at the Greater Boston Food Bank. Upcoming summer programs include: college visits to UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth and Salem State University, volunteer opportunities at organizations such as GreenFest and Cradles to Crayons, and workshops on study skills and essay writing.
During the school year, TRIO offers tutoring in math, science, and English, college admissions counseling, and assistance in completing college applications and financial aid forms. “I think the real value of the program is exposing students to the opportunities available,” said Program Director Austin Gilliland. “We’re helping students to succeed in high school so that they can also succeed in college.”
For more information or if interested in applying, please contact the TRIO office, located at the Chelsea High School Library (617-466-5075), or e-mail Director Austin Gilliland at agillila@bhcc.mass.edu. Se habla Español. Nou pale Kreyòl. (Spanish and Haitian Creole spoken).
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About Bunker Hill Community College
With more than 50 years of academic excellence, Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is Massachusetts' largest community college, annually welcoming a diverse community of around 16,000 students. With campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, BHCC extends its reach across several locations in Greater Boston. The College offers associate degrees and certificates, early college and dual enrollment, community education, corporate training, and industry-specific training programs. BHCC is celebrated for its diversity, boasting a student body where 65% identify as people of color and more than half are women. The College also embraces a global perspective, with over 600 international students representing 90 countries and conversing in more than 65 languages. Our commitment to diversity is further reflected in BHCC's designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).