College Possible continues helping Delco students
Graduating seniors at Penn Wood and Upper Darby high schools are proving that they are “college possible.”
Penn Wood’s Destany Fields and Fatoumata Kane and Upper Darby’s Hibah Ali and Davy-Anna Phosouvank Chamroeunphorn are on their way to a higher education thanks to their involvement in College Possible Philadelphia, the regional office of the national network that pairs firstgeneration college students from low-income families with a coach to get them ready for the next step in their academic careers.
Ali has been accepted to five regional universities, including Drexel and Widener, where she plans to major in kinesiology/exercise science. Her career aspiration is to be a physical therapist.
Chamroeunphorn also has her pick of colleges to choose from as she looks at a biochemistry major and minor in forensic science, with a career goal set for the latter field. She has ultimately chosen Pennsylvania State University-University Park.
After serving as a mentor at a local elementary school and with the borough of Darby, Fields will be attending West Chester University in the fall to pursue a degree in primary education.
Kane’s passion for the medical field has led her to Thomas Jefferson University for pre-nursing.
Since their junior years the students have been working with a coach who have helped them with many facets of the college admission process including SAT prep, applications, and financial aid. They work one-on-one two times a week at their respective schools.
The students spoke highly about the opportunities College Possible made for them.
“We started out naïve children not knowing anything about college, and with the help of College Possible, I expanded my understanding of the college application process,” said Fields about the program. “With my newfound knowledge, I was able to succeed and get into my dream school.”
Chamroeunphorn said her coach, Golda, was an important mentor for her.
“Because I am overwhelmed by balancing many rigorous courses, extracurricular activities, the college process, and home, Golda helps me take a breather,” she said. “She gives me time to express how I feel through the year and supports me on the sidelines.”
College Possible Philadelphia Executive Director Jen Weikert said this is the fourth and third years, respectively, the program has been Upper Darby and Penn Wood.
“At Penn Wood and Upper Darby high schools we’re successful because are fantastic students there,” Weikert said Monday afternoon. “We work with really capable guidance counselors and principals at both schools who very much recognize that their students are capable of going to college, but like many urban districts they may not have the capacity to work very closely or deeply with some of those students.
“They’re wonderful to partner with us and to let us come in with the expertise that we have and provide the service that not only helps students, but raises the school up as well.”
Weikert said the goal of the program is to help lowincome students persist who may otherwise may be more likely to drop out of school, not earn as much money over their lifetime and to break generational cycles poverty.