The following article was originally sourced from the piece “Community Investment” on Kellogg’s News & Events page.
Paige Ponder is a Kellogg School of Management alum and CEO of One Million Degrees, a Chicago nonprofit that provides financial, academic, personal and professional support to highly motivated low-income community college students. Starting with just a handful of students in 2006 and is now serving 130 students this school year, Ponder’s nonprofit has plans to continually grow over the next five years.
Known as scholars, the programs participants receive multi-pronged support to help break through those barriers, including “last-dollar scholarships” after state and federal aid and a stipend to help defray the cost of books, transportation, child care and other expenses.
Scholars work with a program assistant who provides accountability, guidance and mentoring, as well as with expert tutors and coaches who are volunteer professionals. Scholars commit to participating in monthly workshops about life skills such as managing money, dressing “for success” and interviewing.
“We have very high expectations and a lot of accountability built in,” says Ponder.
And it’s working. Scholars are graduating at a rate of 70 percent – at least three times the state’s average – and 94 percent are working, continuing their education or both.
Ponder’s vision for the organization includes growing the program in Chicago, expanding the model into other cities, and acting as a thought leader and advocate for community college students.
“This is not just about our scholars finding a job,” says Ponder. “This population should be a key player in the talent pipeline. This should be a pivot point for them to enter the middle class.”