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Chester County High School Students Get Plugged into Their Futures

July 29, 2005

A group of 151 disadvantaged Chester County high school students won’t be kidding around when they brag about being “plugged into their futures” this school year. They’re revving up for the fall semester with an all day kick-off event this month set up by their parent organization, Chester County Futures, Inc. The kick-ff event, set for August 3, just happens to be sponsored by a rather powerful duo: Peco, the region’s most prominent supplier of electricity; and Exelon Generation, one of the world’s largest energy producers.

A partnership between Peco, Exelon, and CCF students seems like a natural fit. The two energy-related companies were looking for ways to lend a hand to the communities they serve. CCF needed outside help to energize the program it runs for low-income students whose socio-economic plight places them at risk of dropping out of high school. As a tribute to its two corporate sponsors, CCF adopted “plugged into our futures” as the kick-off theme. But the words are fitting in other ways. Chester County Futures is a nine-year-old non-profit academic, mentoring and scholarship organization serving students from Coatesville Area, Kennett Consolidated, Oxford Area and Phoenixville Area school districts. Students accepted into the program take part in before and after-school academic enrichment sessions held right in their schools and led by CCF staff. The goal is to arm them with the tools they need to succeed academically and economically on a par with more advantaged students.

“These are bright kids nominated by their school counselors,” said CCF executive director Catherine Mesaros. “If their personal circumstances were different, they could easily earn a diploma. Instead, through no fault of their own, they face an unfair share of roadblocks.”

With the help of Peco and Exelon, the “Plugged into our Futures” kick-off event is one way CCF aims to help remove those roadblocks. The event takes place at the Downingtown campus of Delaware County Community College. Students will travel to the site on chartered buses courtesy of Peco and Exelon. Each student will also get a t-shirt bearing the “Plugged into Our Futures” theme. The kick-off event lineup includes workshops, team building exercises and a multi-cultural musical program.

Along with academic help, CCF provides mentoring and scholarship services to its students. Once they earn their high school diploma, CCF students are given college scholarships. Despite the odds, Mesaros said that 100 percent of Futures students successfully earn their high school diplomas; and 83 percent head on to college or other post-secondary education.

In addition to the 151 high school students, CCF has 48 students attending college this year. The organization relies on private and corporate donations to help cover the $3,000 to $4,500 it invests per student each school year. To learn more about Chester County Futures call 610-458-9976, or log on to www.ccfutures.org.