Alex Knight, 18, is a first-generation college student who thought it was an impossible dream to attend college, until ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ made the commitment to provide four years of tuition and one year of room and meals for I Promise scholars. It made the dream possible, but he still had to see it to believe it.
The Lebron James Family Foundationβs I Promise program supports more than 1,500 Akron students in grades three through 10 through mentoring, college and career preparation and wrap-around family support. ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ State has hosted intensive summer programs in partnership with I Promise and Akron schools to show the I Promise students that it is possible for them to overcome obstacles to attend college and to help them reach their goals.
Knight, who is a communications major, said the transition to college coursework has been challenging, but ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ Stateβs faculty, and university programs, such as °δ΄Η³Ύ³Ύ±«±·±υ°Υ³Ϋβ―L²Ή²ϊ, have been there when he needed assistance.
CommUNITY Lab is aβ―new four-year cohort programβ―housed in Community Engaged Learning at ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ State. It offers I Promise scholars a network ofβ―careβ―andβ―resourcesβ―at ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ State β―while removing financial, academic and personalβ―barriers to success. In addition to the resources that are available at ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ State, Knight has found that the faculty and staff have offered their support and assistance.
βΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ State and the professors really care about students,β Knight said. βIβve talked to my professors and theyβve really been helpful.β
It has been particularly motivating for Knight to see his friends, who also attend ΜμΜμ³ΤΉΟ State, doing well in their classes. His parents, who both started college many years ago, have inspired him to continue until he earns his degree. His mom is preparing to take college classes once again.
βIβve learned that I canβt let what is stopping me mentally from doing what I need to do,β he said. βThis is a real big deal for me. I want to make my family proud.β