Our Newest College Students

Since the opening of Oasis College Connection in April of 2009, we have worked with over 600 high school graduates and GED recipients who have the desire and motivation to continue their path of education beyond high school. Some of these young people are attending community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and large universities currently and beginning this fall.

The class of 2010 has inspired us and the youth who will follow them. This class of high school graduates were accepted at over 80 different institutions of higher education across the country. Students will be attending community colleges, state technical centers, state universities in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, and private liberal arts and sciences colleges and universities in 13 other states across the country.

OCC currently has 88 students enrolled, or accepted and intending to enroll, in a higher education institution for Fall 2010.  The 88 students have received $1,298,652  in need-based grants and private scholarships.  225 first-generation and low-income young people have been provided with direct assistance in filing financial aid forms. 

Highlighting our successes are a number of first generation and low income student accomplishments.  One young lady, achieved the extraordinary accomplishment of being admitted to Williams College, Williamstown, MA (2010 #1 US News and World Report - Best Liberal Arts College) and receiving $54,000 in grants and scholarships to attend. Two students we have assisted will be attending Wofford College, in South Carolina.  Both students received the service-learning scholarship, The Bonner Foundation Scholarship.  This scholarship covers the entire direct cost of Wofford ($40,000+).

Equally as impressive are the stories of our youth who are exiting out of foster care, attempting to be self-supporting in difficult social and economic conditions, and have made the choice to continue college into their second and third semesters. The social and emotional support we have been able to provide have made this retention a possibility.  Three students from the Oasis Center’s Transitional Living facility are currently enrolled at the local community college.

Our purpose is not to target our students to specific schools but rather to empower our students with the skills and knowledge to find the college that fits both their interest and abilities.  77% of our students are attending in-state schools.

We are working with the class of 2011 to help them prepare their last year of high school for what lies beyond. We currently have over 120 youth in this class who will work on applications, personal essays, and even begin getting financial aid information in place to make their senior years more productive.

View our most recent statistics: June 2010 Key Indicator Dashboard