600 Seniors Marched College Applications to Post Offices Across NYC

Citywide, NY, December 13, 2013 /3BL Media/ - More than 600 seniors from NYC Outward Bound Schools’ five-borough network of public schools marched from their respective campuses to their local post offices or mail trucks to submit their college applications, exhibiting  the organization’s commitment to college preparation and access for all. More than 3500 fellow students, teachers, family, business members and local elected officials cheered them on, including 60 volunteers from the College March sponsor Capital One Bank. All schools marched carrying giant banners, college pennants, school buttons and student-made signs.

Across the school network, 72% of students are eligible for free/reduced lunch and 69% enter school behind grade level in English. Despite this reality, 94% of the network’s 2013 graduates were accepted to colleges including Cornell, Bard, NYU and Wesleyan. “We are proud of our seniors not only for getting their college applications in for early consideration, but also for setting a powerful example for the younger students who look up to them,” said Richard Stopol, President of NYC Outward Bound Schools. “Today, they are bringing to life the character traits that we strive to develop in our students – traits like leadership, perseverance and self-reliance.”

One student who marched was Francisco Cortijo, who walked alongside his twin sister and best friend Crystal at the James Baldwin School’s march in Chelsea. Cortijo, who experienced much academic transition in his life prior to finding the James Baldwin School, has thrived with a 90 GPA and a number of hobbies like playing guitar and skateboarding. “I want to have my mind blown by college!" he said.

The College March originated in 2011 at the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS), which is part of the NYC Outward Bound Schools network. The idea spread across the entire network in 2012 and now serves as an annual ritual that helps foster a college-going school culture for all students who attend an NYC Outward Bound School. “The concept for the College March is to shine a spotlight on our students and to show what is possible,” said Brett Kimmel, founding and current principal at WHEELS. “We are proud of not only the WHEELS Class of 2014 but of all of the seniors in the NYC Outward Bound Schools network, who have taken the literal and figurative next steps toward academic success today.”

The eight schools that participated in the NYC Outward Bound Schools 5-Borough College Application March were:

Manhattan:

• Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS) (511 West 182nd St.)

• Joined by Konrad Schwarz, Senior Vice President, Capital One Bank and an NYC Outward Bound Schools Board Member
• Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez addressed the students
• Corporate partner & college march sponsor Capital One Bank had 20 volunteers on site
• WHEELS launched the inaugural college application march in 2011

• James Baldwin School (351 West 18th St.)

• Joined by NYC Outward Bound Schools Board Members Robert Miller, Lisa Moran, Truda Jewett, Seth Wilson and Jane Greenman

Queens:

• Channel View School for Research (100-00 Beach Channel Dr, Queens, NY)

• Corporate partner & college march sponsor Capital One Bank had 20 volunteers on site

Brooklyn:

• Expeditionary Learning School for Community Leaders (2630 Benson Ave. in Bensonhurt)

• Joined by Colleen Taylor, Brooklyn/Queens Market President, Capital One Bank
• Council Member Mark Treyger addressed the students
• Corporate partner & college march sponsor Capital One Bank had 20 volunteers on site

• Kurt Hahn Expeditionary Learning School (5800 Tilden Avenue in East Flatbush)

• Joined by Councilman Jumaane Williams

Staten Island:

• Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School (100 Essex Drive in New Springville)

• Joined by NYC Outward Bound Schools Board Member Jonathan Miller, husband of education reformer and the school’s late namesake Gaynor McCown

Bronx:

• Validus Preparatory Academy (1595 Bathgate Ave. in South Bronx)

• Joined by State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson

Other Happenings

• Brooklyn School for Collaborative Studies (610 Henry Street in Cobble Hill). BCS hosted its “100% College Bound" celebration in the school’s auditorium following its “online cybermarch,” where students submitted their applications digitally

About NYC Outward Bound Schools (www.nycoutwardbound.org)
NYC Outward Bound Schools has been transforming the City’s public schools and changing students’ lives for over 25 years. We have a growing network of Expeditionary Learning schools, which are in all five boroughs of the City, and provide educational programs for other public schools across NYC. Both our schools and our programs teach the central lesson of NYC Outward Bound Schools: That all of us are capable of more than we think possible. 72% of students in our schools qualify for free/reduced lunch, and yet our network-wide graduation rate outpaces the City average by more than 10%. 100% of our schools received the highest or second-highest rating on their Quality Reviews, compared to just 58% citywide and 94% of our 2013 grads were accepted to college. NYC Outward Bound Schools has served over 60,000 young people since 1987.