🎉 Some projects stay with you the moment you hear about them — this is one of those.
I am truly excited to see West Chester University receive this historic $10.26 million federal GEAR UP grant, the largest grant in the university’s history.
What makes this especially meaningful to me is the long arc of the work: supporting 1,833 students from the Coatesville, Chester, and William Penn School Districts beginning in middle school and walking alongside them on the path to college completion. That kind of sustained investment in young people, families, schools, and communities is exactly where real transformation happens.
As an evaluator, I always say the most powerful work is not just about measuring outcomes — it is about honoring journeys, documenting growth, and helping strong programs become even stronger over time.
MN Associates, Inc. is proud to serve as the external evaluator for this seven-year initiative, and I personally look forward to learning from the students, educators, families, and partners who will shape this work. There is something deeply inspiring about being invited into a project at the very beginning and helping tell its story as it unfolds over years.
A heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Brandon Mitchell, the Center for STEM Inclusion, and the entire WCU partnership team for building such a bold and community-centered vision.
Here’s to futures being shaped, doors being opened, and students being reminded — early and often — that college completion is absolutely within reach.
