A Kaplan Educational Foundation program designed to help urban community college students is having a profound effect on low-income, high achieving students. While the U.S. Department of Education reports that only one in four community college students manages to graduate from school, four community college students selected as Kaplan Scholars recently graduated from their community college program and have now gone on to four-year colleges.

The program provides intensive support to high-achieving community college students who have a desire to attend a four-year institution. The Foundation selects a cohort of five Scholars and provides scholarships for tuition, other educational expenses; funds for tutoring, SAT preparation and academic counseling; stipends to help cover living costs; and placement in part-time jobs.

The scholars also receive assistance with applications for transfer and admissions into four-year programs. Jennifer Benn, Director of the Kaplan Educational Foundation, notes, "We help our students navigate the often complicated application process for these competitive programs, including arranging and taking the students on college tours and preparing them for admissions interviews."

The four Kaplan Scholars to distinguish themselves recently include Hamissou Samari, now enrolled in the Honors Program at American University in Washington, D.C., Keisha Carrington at Goucher College in Baltimore, Bolaji James at Morehouse College in Atlanta; and Martha Santos who is attending New York University.

Once a student is accepted into the program the Foundation provides assistance for the duration of the student's undergraduate degree program.