Asbury Park High School students will have the opportunity to earn "last-dollar" scholarships good for up to 64 credits toward a Brookdale Community College degree.
ASBURY PARK - Asbury Park High School students will have the opportunity to earn additional scholarship funding toward an associate degree from Brookdale Community College through a recently announced program.
The Asbury Park School District, Brookdale Community College and the Jules L. Plangere, Jr. Family Foundation announced the launch the "Asbury Park College Promise", a program that offers college scholarships to eligible Asbury Park High School students who complete a comprehensive college readiness program beginning in the 11th grade.
The "last-dollar" scholarships, good for up to 64 credits toward a Brookdale associate degree or certificate, will fund any tuition and fees that are not covered by Pell Grants, state assistance funds or other scholarships.
The program, which requires parents to attend orientation sessions, will also offer the students a variety of academic enrichment courses, career workshops, college preparatory courses and mentorship opportunities aimed at helping them succeed at the college level and beyond.
The Asbury Promise program is scheduled to begin in September and is funded for the next three years through a $240,000 grant that the Jules L. Plangere, Jr., Family Foundation made to the Brookdale Community College Foundation.
The foundation was established by Jules and Jane Plangere in 1997 and supports education, medicine and healthcare, culture, human needs, public policy and the environment.
"This program is about hope and opportunity, and supports our vision of 'Building A Brighter Future' for our students and community," Asbury Park School District Superintendent Lamont Repollet said in a release. "We are eternally grateful to the Plangere Foundation for selecting the Asbury Park School District to be the recipient of their generosity."
State, county and local officials joined officials from the college and the school district to publicly announce the program at Asbury Park High School on June 9.
"For many of today's students, the path to a better life starts with a college education," Brookdale President Maureen Murphy said in a release. "This unique program will help local students earn a college degree quicker and more affordably than ever before, and provide them with the tools and confidence they need to continue that success at a four-year college and in their future careers."
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