Grant Title	Dream-Catchers
Target Audience	High School and college students
Grant Recipient	Fairfax County Public Schools George Mason University
Start Date	2008
Expires	2010
Award Amount to Date	$17,000

Abstract

The Apple Federal Credit Union Education Foundation awarded the Dream-Catchers mentoring program, a partnership between George Mason University (GMU) and Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) Alternative Education Programs, a $17,000 grant for school years 2008-10 to expand program enrichment activities and increase the number of participating students by providing scholarships.

The Dream-Catchers program began in 2000 as a result of GMU Provost Dr. Peter Stearns’ vision of reaching out to at-risk high school students who could benefit from a college education. He enlisted a former Dean of the Graduate School of Education, Dr. Larry Bowen, who was also a former at-risk student, to spearhead the project. Meetings were organized with concerned FCPS alternative education teachers, counselors and principals and several equally concerned GMU faculty. Their goal was to determine how to provide opportunity for capable at-risk high school students to obtain a college education.

Program Goals

• Identifying and recruiting capable, at-risk students in alternative high schools and programs each year who, despite challenging personal circumstances and lack of financial means to extend their education beyond high school, have impressed their teachers, counselors, and principals with their academic potential, leadership capabilities and their resilient spirit.
• Matching these at-risk students with specially selected, dedicated GMU faculty and staff who serve as mentors, each of whom volunteers to provide one-on-one support, communication and encouragement prior to the student’s enrollment at GMU. These mentors continue to provide support during the student’s four to five years in college through the Dream-Catchers program.

Program Objectives

• Encourage capable alternative education students to consider higher education opportunities at GMU.
• Provide specially selected GMU faculty and staff mentors who are assigned to students beginning at least six months prior to their university enrollment and who continue through the student’s undergraduate career.

Learn More About Dream-Catchers