As School Year Starts Some Low Income Students Will Graduate, Many Others Will Drop Out -- Summer Search Seattles Transformative Mentoring Program Making a Difference

SEATTLE, WA -- (Marketwire) -- 09/02/10 -- Summer Search supports low-income, at risk high school students through year-round mentoring, life-changing summer experiences, college advising, and a lasting support network. 97% of Summer Search students graduated last year, and all of them went on to college. Mentoring is one antidote to the nations high school drop out rate.

Currently, Summer Search -- celebrating its 20th anniversary nationally and seven years in Seattle -- is supporting 119 low-income, high potential high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Summer Search collaborates with 13 local high schools.

"As we start another year, the Seattle school system faces incredible challenges. Many students are going to fall through the cracks, unfortunately," said Deidre McCormack, Executive Director of Summer Search Seattle. "However, mentoring programs like Summer Search are reaching hundreds of students and helping them to graduate, fulfill their potential, and ultimately give back to the community."

Summer Search program staff support students through:

• Regular mentoring sessions with highly trained staff
• Close collaboration with counselors and teachers
• College advisory services throughout high school
• High-quality SAT preparation
• Academic, financial, emotional support that continues into the first two years of college
• Alumni support throughout college and beyond

Intensive summer experiential education programs in the U.S. and internationally, following students sophomore and junior years, play a pivotal role in helping students to see themselves in an entirely new light -- providing the motivation necessary to overcome difficult personal circumstances that stand in the way of their education and future success.

About Summer Search

Summer Search is a transformative leadership development program that helps young people break the cycle of poverty, make the transition into productive adulthood, and become the positive role models their communities so critically need. Students are selected for participation during their sophomore year based on financial need and potential. Summer Search has programs in the San Francisco Bay Area (where it was founded 20 years ago), New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Seattle. For additional information visit www.summersearch.org