Partnership Scholars Program: Opens the Door to College




Fifteen Kranz Intermediate School seventh graders began their six year journey toward their goal of admission to a four year university as inductees into the Partnership Scholars Program (PSP). Pictured is PSP founder, Dr. Langer and his wife with some of Kranz Intermediate's very appreciative PSP scholars.
by Michele Earle

El Monte — In a special ceremony, surrounded by family and friends, a group of 15 seventh graders from Kranz Intermediate School began their six year journey toward their goal of admission to a four year university as inductees into the Partnership Scholars Program (PSP).

PSP, an all volunteer, nonprofit program made possible by private donations and business and foundation support, gives students in low income, minority communities of California a life-changing opportunity – to turn a dream of a college education into reality. The program provides ongoing financial aid in the form of mentoring and educational and cultural enrichment to needy and bright young people from the seventh grade through high school. The aim is to enable the scholars to qualify for entry into four-year universities with scholarship aid. PSP was founded by Dr. Glenn Langer, a retired UCLA medical professor and cardiovascular research lab director who 11 years ago began a personal campaign to prepare seventh graders from low income neighborhoods for college. "I wanted to pay back the kindness that was shown to me by strangers who gave me a college scholarship and helped my dream of becoming a doctor become a reality," said Langer. The scholarship outreach given to Langer launched a medical career capped with a 31-year tenure at UCLA.

There are now a total of 400 students in the PSP program, and of the 120 high school graduates, 91% of them are in four-year colleges with up to $65,000.00 in scholarship or financial aid. "Our scholars are attending schools such as Harvard, UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley, BYU, Stanford, Wellesley, Brown, Occidental, Pepperdine, Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine, UC San Diego and Loyola Marymount to name a few. We encourage all of our scholars to shoot high and aim for their dreams and we are delighted to be able to help them fulfill their dreams." said Langer. Kranz's new inductees were selected based on their grade point average, motivation for higher education, supportive home environment and financial need. The program provides the students with mentors and a monetary stipend of $9,800 to be used over the six years on educational enrichment such as extra books, computers, museum trips, concerts, plays, campus visitations, sporting events, out of state trips and other activities to help them become well rounded individuals.

The Mentors are Kranz teachers assigned to the students during their seventh and eighth grade years, and then high school teachers for the remaining four years of the program. The mentors volunteer their time to direct the students and provide counseling and encouragement of their development as they take advantage of the program.

A group of Kranz eighth graders, in their second year as PSP scholars, shared a Power Point presentation featuring the many educationally enriching and fun excursions they went on during their first year in the program. They enthusiastically shared how they made trips to the L.A. Art Museum, Griffith Park Observatory, the Sally Ride Space Festival in San Diego, and enjoyed performances of Wicked, Beauty and the Beast and the Joffrey Ballet. For eighth graders, Samandi Salazar and Amy Ta, being a PSP scholar has been an amazing experience. Both girls agree that the scholarship has made it possible for them to experience things they normally wouldn't be able to. "I got to see my first play," said Salazar. "My mentor, Ms. Whitiker took me to see Wicked at the Pantages Theatre and it was awesome." "I really like science and the Sally Ride Festival was great because we got to participate in science experiments and meet a real astronaut," said Ta.

Kranz began participating in the program in 2000 and to date, 64 current and former Kranz students are benefitting from the great opportunities PSP has to offer. Kranz teacher, Arlene Le Gaspe coordinates the program for Kranz and is thrilled that so many El Monte students and families have been positively impacted by the program. "Thanks to this program our students can go on to college and succeed. Being a Partnership Scholar brings them extraordinary opportunities that they would not otherwise have," said Le Gaspe.

Jenny Nguyen, a new inductee was so happy to be selected for the program she was yelling up and down the halls when she found out. "I'm really looking forward to the opportunities the scholarship money will bring. I want to go to the Museum of Tolerance and maybe the Getty Museum. Being in the Partnership Scholars Program will allow me to take trips and see new things and I'm really happy about that," she said.

Seventh grader, Julie Cabello plans to use part of her PSP scholarship to travel. "I would love to go to San Francisco or somewhere out of town. It's going to be great to be able to have the finances to do some educational and fun things," said Cabello who hopes to attend Stanford University in six years and study to become a surgeon.

Summing up the evening and the extreme benefits of the PSP program, Le Gaspe said, "PSP is not just about the financial assistance to pursue your dreams, but being a Scholar is a life changing experience that will bring you great joy and tremendous opportunities. All of you students are encouraged not only to dream, but to dream big." said Le Gaspe.