As College Possible looks to serve an even greater number of high school and college students on their paths to and through college in the Pacific Northwest, we are pleased to announce that our Portland location has been renamed College Possible Oregon to better reflect their expanded reach. In 2018, more than 72 percent of the low-income students coached through College Possible Oregon have gone on to attend college (compared to a rate of just 28 percent for low-income students statewide).
“At a time when just 32 percent of Oregon residents have college degrees, it’s critically important that we deploy every available resource to reach our state’s goal that 40 percent of Oregonians have credentials by 2025,” said Julie Mancini, executive director, College Possible Oregon.
“This is about building on early evidence of success in Portland to reach a far more expansive population of high school and college students statewide.”
Since its 2013 launch in Oregon, College Possible has grown from serving 130 students in its first year to reaching more than 1,504 Oregon students across 14 high schools statewide: Centennial, David Douglas, Gresham, Madison, Parkrose and Reynolds high schools in the Portland metro area; McLoughlin, St. Helen’s, Umatilla, Clatskanie, Gaston, Irrigon, Rainier and Riverside junior/senior high schools across the state. In 2018, the first College Possible Oregon student earned her bachelor’s degree from Portland State University.
“In only a few years, the College Possible Oregon team has demonstrated the powerful impact of unlocking the college potential in every student,” said Ken Thrasher, retired CEO of Fred Meyer and Compli, and founding board chair of College Possible Oregon. “This further expansion marks a reflection of our growing role in high schools across the state and our vision of helping all Oregon students go as far as their talent, motivation and effort can take them.”
“As a first-generation college student, I know firsthand the challenges students face on the road to earning a degree,” College Possible CEO and founder Jim McCorkell said.
“We know that near-peer coaching works, and are enthusiastic about replicating early success with a proven model outside of Portland.”
