Keke Palmer, Award-Winning Actress and Recording Artist, Joins Get Schooled to Recognize Top Students in the Capital One Bank NYC College Challenge
Nearly 40,000 students at more than 60 high schools participated in the Capital One Bank NYC College Challenge across the city
NEW YORK, May 21, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Get Schooled today announced the successful completion of the Capital One Bank NYC College Challenge. Throughout the 2014-2015 school year, close to 40,000 high school students across New York City competed in the Challenge, which aims to boost college- going rates among students. The friendly competition was designed to encourage high school students to explore college opportunities, apply to college and access financial aid for college. At each school, student ambassadors spearheaded the effort by mobilizing their classmates to participate in the competition, apply to college and apply for financial aid.
To celebrate the culmination of the Challenge, Get Schooled is recognizing the top 100 students at a special event with award winning actress and recording artist Keke Palmer and E! News host Alicia Quarles at Viacom’s Times Square location on Thursday, May 21st. Each student was selected because they completed the highest number of college readiness activities on the Get Schooled website during the Challenge. At the event, Alicia will moderate a Q&A with students, during which Keke will share the journey of how she became a successful singer, songwriter and actress, and the importance of education.
“I loved school as a kid, I am innately curious and learning has been so crucial to my success.
The value of a good education was instilled in me at a very young age,” said KeKePalmer. “I am excited to be here today to recognize these extraordinary efforts of students across New York City.
According to the New York City Department of Education, for the Class of 2013, only 51 percent of students in the 9th grade cohort enrolled in college in the first fall after graduation. At the same time, the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce predicts that more than two-thirds of newly created jobs over the next decade will require some postsecondary education, whether a technical certificate or two-year or four-year degree.
For many participating students, the Challenge has introduced them to the idea of attending college after graduation. Of participating students, 70 percent said that the Get Schooled Capital One Bank NYC College Challenge inspired them to graduate from high school and 61 percent of seniors were inspired to complete a FAFSA or apply for a scholarship. Additionally, over 78 percent of high school seniors plan to attend college in the fall.
For example, Brandon B., a junior at Bronx Lighthouse Academy, plans to apply to the University of Pennsylvania next year. Brandon credits the Get Schooled Capital One NYC College Challenge for providing SAT and AP exam resources for students. This year was the first year AP exams were being offered to students at Bronx Lighthouse Academy. Additionally, Brandon feels that the Challenge helped to build school spirit among students.
During Round 3, participating schools were encouraged to focus on “Decision Day” activities, from analyzing and interpreting financial aid offers for seniors, to beginning research on college and career options for underclass students.
“Throughout the past school year during the Capital One NYC College Challenge, students across the city explored college and career opportunities, applied and were accepted to colleges, and earned financial aid and scholarships to help make their dream of attending college a reality,” said Carolyn Berkowitz, Managing Vice President, Community Affairs and President of the Capital One Foundation. “Capital One is committed to investing in programs like Get Schooled that help prepare young people for future economic success.”
Throughout the Challenge, participating students visited the Get Schooled website 72,634 times, took 40,732 surveys, played 34,120 games and took more than 26,985 quizzes. Each activity or “Quest” counted towards both the students’ and each school’s ranking in the Challenge. Students at The High School of Fashion Industries in Chelsea were recognized as the winners of both Round 1 and Round 2 of the Challenge. In Round 1, the school had the highest number of students engaged in the Challenge and its seniors submitted the largest number of college applications, and in Round 2 the school achieved the highest rate of FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion among seniors.
"We have really enjoyed Capital One’s involvement in this Challenge. Capital One associates volunteered their time throughout the school year to help students navigate the college application process,” said Marie Groark, Executive Director at Get Schooled. “We have seen great results come out of the Challenge, including nearly 20,000 college applications submitted and a 13 percent increase in FAFSA completion rates across NYC high schools active in the Challenge.”
The Capital One Bank NYC College Challenge was designed and managed by Get Schooled. Partners in the Challenge include Capital One Bank, Viacom, the New York City Department of Education, The New School, the New York City College Advising Corps, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, and Make the Road New York.
To learn more about Get Schooled and see the Challenge leaderboard, go to: https://getschooled.com/challenges/capital-one-bank-nyc-college-challenge
About Get Schooled
Get Schooled is a non-profit organization that directly engages and motivates students to graduate from high school and succeed in college. Get Schooled is the premiere education brand for young people – linking students with high quality, cutting edge resources and tools they need to succeed. Get Schooled has developed a track record of success because it engages with young Americans using the media, technology and popular culture that is an integral part of their lives. Get Schooled's work is boosted by partners like Viacom, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Google. Get Schooled works in close partnership with college access organizations across the United States in an effort to encourage students to access the financial aid they need to attend college.
About Capital One
Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a financial holding company whose subsidiaries, which include Capital One, N.A., and Capital One Bank (USA), N. A., had $205.5 billion in deposits and $308.9 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2014. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One offers a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients through a variety of channels. We apply the same principles of innovation, collaboration and empowerment in our commitment to our communities across the country that we do in our business. We recognize that helping to build strong and healthy communities - good places to work, good places to do business and good places to raise families - benefits us all and we are proud to support this and other community initiatives.
