Helping Students Secure U.S. Scholarships
Most high school students in East Africa dream of a U.S. university education. At the same time, most coaches at U.S. universities dream of having a talented East African on their track and cross-country teams, and many have the athletic scholarship funding available. This creates a perfect opportunity to utilize sports to forever improve the lives of talented high school graduates. Student/athletes who secure scholarships abroad either return home to contribute locally or pursue careers in the US and remit significant amounts of money to their families back in East Africa.
A Running Start Foundation sponsors two scholarship clubs in Kenya that in 2009 sent over 40 high school graduates to U.S. universities, from top NCAA Division 1 schools to junior colleges. These clubs identify, coach and assist high school graduates with strong academic records and strong athletic talent. A Running Start Foundation funds free SAT prep classes for these student/athletes, including the provision of SAT study books and instructors. Given the success of these programs in Kenya, we are now launching similar efforts in Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia in 2010.
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Erick at Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey