Kent students focus on high education in new programs

Mill Creek launches minority program

Mill Creek Middle School offers Latino students the chance to share their voices.

The Latino/Latina Education Achievement Project (LEAP) kicked off at the Kent School District this year. The mission is to improve academic achievement of Latino/Latina students.

“We want to make sure we are giving our students every opportunity to succeed in school and to feel good about their educational experience,” said Antonio Morales, principal. “This (project) allows students of similar backgrounds to come together and help each other set goals for higher education.”

LEAP teaches students to become leaders, discusses the importance of community service with them and raises college awareness. The goal is for students to graduate from high school with the skills needed to do well in postsecondary education.

LEAP meets every Wednesday from 3:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m. in the Mill Creek Middle School library, located at 620 N. Central Ave.

For more information, call 253-373-7446.

Kent students fill up scholarship conference

The Kent School District had a record number of students and families attend a scholarship conference Oct. 15.

Nearly 400 people came to the College Bound event at Green River Community College in Auburn, according to a school district media release.

“The buzz about attending college filled both of the buildings we were using for the conference,” said Randy Nunez, college liaison for the school district. “The event was as much productive as it was inspiring for all.”

College Bound helps prepare public school students for college through tutoring, mentoring and scholarship programs. The conference was created as a vehicle to sign up qualifying middle school students for the program.

There was also a college planning component to the conference for middle and high school students. A parent and guardian panel provided information to parents and families about preparing their children for higher education.