Students celebrate completion of Rising 9th Grader Program at AIC
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SPRINGFIELD--After spending the last month at American International College, more than 80 Springfield 9th graders celebrated the successful completion of the Rising 9th Grader Program. Students, parents and teachers gathered for a picnic at AIC, Wednesday, Aug. 1, to recognize outstanding student achievements. The event was held in front of the AIC Dining Commons.
The Rising 9th Grader Program is a collaborative between the Springfield Public Schools and American International College.
Thanks to the volunteer efforts of AIC staff and faculty, students were able to take advantage of the program, which featured academics, as well as enrichment sessions in a variety of areas, including student activities and career services.
In addition, AIC will offer a scholarship in the amount of $5,000 per year for a total of four years to those students who stay fully involved with the program through their years in high school. These scholarships will be offered to those students who enroll as full time, day division undergraduates.
Cindy Littlefield, coordinator of AIC's community service learning program and professor of human resource development at AIC, said it's a great opportunity for young students to get a look at college and discover the possibilities that exist for them.
"We want them to experience what college life is about so they can see for themselves that college can be part of their future," Littlefield said.
"A lot of the credit has to go to the AIC faculty who volunteered their service free of charge," she said. The program is in its third year at AIC, operating as a collaboration of the college and the Springfield School Department's school-to-work program.
Mary Kay Brown, administrator for school-to-work, said the city, which has offered the program for 14 years, has found the AIC collaboration to be a perfect fit.
"It's coordinated, it's organized and it gives our students the ability to spend time on a college campus, and to see the opportunities that are in front of them," Brown said.
American International College
1000 State Street
Springfield MA 01109
(800) 242-3142
inquiry@aic.edu