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A Note from Gaston

Gaston Caperton celebrates with students from Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, D.C., one of three
recipients of the 2008 Inspiration Awards



This spring, the College Board honored three exceptional high schools with the 2008 Inspiration Awards, and I had the privilege of celebrating with the winning students, educators and parents at Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, D.C. The award recipients, Friendship, Edinburg High School in Edinburg, Texas, and Berkmar High School in Lilburn, Ga., do remarkable work in increasing college success for low-income and underrepresented minority students. I look forward to visiting the winners each year, because they dramatically and enthusiastically illustrate that it is possible to create an educational environment that taps the potential of all students and prove that background shouldn’t determine one’s chance at academic success. As varied as the winning schools have been over the years, I have observed a common thread in the optimism and confidence these schools instill in their students.

Friendship, like many high schools across the country, has been busy this month administering AP Exams to their students. As the AP Program increases its reach, the responsibility for the counselors, teachers and administrators grows as well. I want to acknowledge all of the work that goes into AP this time of year and thank all of the educators who make the program succeed.

This is also a happy and proud time of year for many families, as colleges and universities are busy with graduation ceremonies. For educators who believe in college success for all students, graduation season is a time to reflect not only on the need for better preparation and access, but also on improving troubling college retention and graduation rates in this country. The College Board published a book this month on the topic edited by Mike McPherson, president of the Spencer Foundation, and Morty Schapiro, president of Williams College entitled “College Success: What It Means and How to Make It Happen.” Increasingly, our higher education members are defining the “excellence” half of our shared mission of excellence and equity as providing students with the support they need to be successful once on campus.

This month’s issue of Connection is especially robust, as it is the last full newsletter before we resume monthly issues in early September. I hope you all have the chance to enjoy some well-deserved relaxation over the summer. The College Board will remain busy in the coming months working on our program, advocacy and membership activities. I hope you will continue to reach out to us and share your feedback on Connection or any of our efforts.

» Panel Discussion on Capitol Hill Releases New Book on College Success » Molly Broad Becomes First Woman to Lead American Council on Education

» This spring, the College Board honored three exceptional high schools with the 2008 Inspiration Awards, and I had the privilege of >>

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