North Springs hosts Senior Push Program
By staff reports
February 23, 2011

Nearly 60 North Springs Charter High School seniors with no post-graduation plans recently kicked off the third annual Senior Push Program .

The special program, conceived by magnet counselor Ariel Petro in partnership with the nonprofit Sandy Springs Education Force, is designed to give students the extra push and support they need to apply to college. Inspired and helped by the program last year, Mohammed Abdullah, a current student at Georgia Perimeter College, was the keynote speaker. He was preceded by Kevin Taylor, the director of the school’s Jobs for Georgia Graduates program and a 2010 Claes Nobel Distinguished Educator.

The nonprofit committed $2,500 to pay the college application fees for the students. Trained parents and nonprofit volunteers will work individually with students over a period of weeks to help them make plans and apply to college. Students successfully completing the program will attend a graduation party later this spring.

“The students are very excited and appreciative of this opportunity and the volunteers really love working with our students in this way,” Petro said in a statement. “It’s very gratifying for all involved.”