Two College Forward students have been invited to participate in the Beating the Odds Summit, a landmark celebration of the achievements of underserved students in higher education at the White House this week. Andrea Alegria and Ruby Rodriguez-Segoviano will travel to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday with College Forward Executive Director Austin Buchan to be recognized by First Lady Michelle Obama and our nation’s education leaders for their outstanding higher education achievements.
As part of her Reach Higher initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama will welcome more than 130 college-bound students from across the country to participate in the 2015 Beating the Odds Summit. These students are being sponsored by 70 nonprofit organizations, and represent a mix of urban, rural, foster, homeless, special needs, and underrepresented youth who have overcome substantial obstacles to persist through high school and make it to college. Building on College Forward’s commitment to help our nation reach its goal of leading the world in college attainment made at the White House College Opportunity Day of Action earlier this year, this event will focus on sharing tools and strategies students can use to successfully transition to college and the resources they will need to persist and complete the next level of their education.
The day-long event will include a panel moderated by E! News host Terrence Jenkins, which will feature First Lady Michelle Obama, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, musical artist Wale, and Manuel Contreras, a rising senior at Brown University and co-founder of 1vyG. Wale will also perform a concert for the students.
Additionally, students will participate in workshops and panels led by the U.S. Department of Education, Google’s Jaime Casap, and other leaders in K-12 and post-secondary education.
Please join us in congratulating Andrea and Ruby on this remarkable achievement.
