2009-2010

ANNUAL REPORT
2

table of
contents
HELLO FROM OUR FOUNDER ..............................................................................3
OUR MISSION .............................................................................................................4
A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ..............................................6
STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS ...................................................................................7
A YEAR IN REVIEW ....................................................................................................8
THE SOCIAL MEDIA SC AVENGER HUNT ...........................................................9
STUDENT PROFILE: NICK ......................................................................................11
STUDENT PROFILE: ALEXIS ..................................................................................13
STUDENT PROFILE: HEB A & POIVEN ................................................................15
CORE-STEM ...............................................................................................................17
THE S2P2 INITIATIVE ..............................................................................................18
PARTNER COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES ...............................................................19
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ................................................................................20
SCHOLARSHIP DATA ..............................................................................................21
CORE BOARD & STAFF ...........................................................................................27
 A Dear Friends, fabric of the city and in the lives
of those who need it most.
By expanding and expounding
this cultural model of success –
With more than 60% of CORE reaching their goals and
SPECIAL It seems that no matter how awards granted to first-
challenging the times, there will generation college students,
realizing their dreams will only
become more tangible for our
HELLO always be those who and 85% of them being young people.
dare to dream. In 2003, I had a graduates of the Philadelphia
FROM OUR vision for making college more Public School District, one can Because after all, despite life's
accessible for our young people imagine how proud we are to
FOUNDER in the city of Philadelphia. That be able to share our successes
challenges, given a little push in
the right direction with some
vision was realized through the with the national college access financial, academic and social
Philadelphia College community today. support, we can propel our
Opportunity Resources for youth to not only obtain a
Education nonprofit Without “creaming from the college degree but to build
organization, affectionately top,” CORE has succeeded meaningful futures with fewer
known throughout the city as where many have feared to limitations and a myriad of
"CORE Philly." tread. Our graduation rates for possibilities.
students from the most
To this day, CORE remains a challenging zip codes with
place where every graduating regard to crime, dropout rates,
high school student - no matter and income level speak
how tough the neighborhood volumes about these kids.
they come from or what their
high school grades were - can Along with the remarkable feats Congressman Chaka Fattah,
receive a college scholarship our students have Founder
along with an opportunity to get accomplished, CORE has
one step closer to realizing their etched in stone a notable track
own dreams. Here we are record of success.
seven years later, and I could
not be more proud. I invite you to take a moment to
connect with CORE, applaud its
CORE has provided college students and support its
access "final mile" scholarships mission for today and ultimately
of about $27 million to nearly its vision for tomorrow.
17,000 students. Without a
doubt, CORE has made a
Congressman tremendous impact on the
Chaka Fattah
 our
MISSION
College Opportunity Resources for Education (CORE) is
designed to provide scholarships and college prep assistance
to high school students.

CORE is a nonprofit initiative designed to unite communities

around the goal of ensuring that all of our children have
access to college. CORE was formed in September 2003
under the leadership of U.S. Congressman Chaka Fattah.

Our premier program is the first of its kind in the nation to

offer all high school seniors in Philadelphia a unique
opportunity to attend select Pennsylvania colleges and
universities. From 2004 to 2010, CORE has awarded nearly
17,000 Philadelphia students a total of more than $27 million
dollars.

4
 “
“ Success means having the freedom to
realize who you are as an individual and
what your purpose is in life.

- Farwa Ahmadi
CORE Class of 2010, Temple University

“
Success means achieving my goals, bettering
myself and reaching for my dreams while
maintaining integrity and self-respect.

- Mary Kathleen Allison

CORE Class of 2010, Penn State University
“
5
Dear Friends, Day in and day out we
focus on the bottom lines:
graduating high school
seniors, CORE embarks on
how many of our awardees new paths while continuing
2009, the year that was. are actually graduating from its tradition of service into
2010, the year that is. Have college? Are we doing the its seventh year.
you ever had a moment best that we can do to
where someone, or serve our constituent young Be encouraged by our
something fell into your life, people? Your survey continuity under such dire
seemingly out of the blue? responses tell us economic realities for
anecdotally that we help, college funding and family
For me, that moment but that there is so much incomes alike. Be inspired
happened in 2009 when I work yet to be done. by our students' successes
was asked to assist with a as we share a few glimpses
complete financial and What I do know for sure is within these pages.
programmatic audit of that the young people of
Philadelphia College the city of Philadelphia have But most of all, be ignited
Opportunity Resources for an indomitable spirit, to engage, partner, and
Education. Out of that work strength, and final mile support this exciting model
sprang the seeds of new scholarship dollars, which of public-private
beginnings. Goodbye are getting them to college. partnership for college
CORE Philly; hello CORE But this is not enough access.
Scholars! because it is not getting
them through college.
In the blink of an eye, our There is still much work to Donyale Y. H. Reavis, Esq.
young people’s hopes, be done.
dreams, and passions for a
better life became my own. Between these pages I
invite you to discover what Donyale Y.H. Reavis, Esq.,
The urgency of facilitating today makes CORE such a Executive Director A
college education for unique and special
Philadelphia’s young people organization in the larger MESSAGE
has become an ever-
present daily fuel for
landscape of college
access. With a $27 million
FROM OUR
CORE’s work. dollar track record of EXECUTIVE
scholarships awarded to
nearly 17,000 Philadelphia DIRECTOR
 An Inside
Look at this 39%
of the CORE Class
Year’s Class of of 2009-10 are
male students
CORE SCHOLARS

student 61%
DEMOGRAPHICS of the CORE Class
of 2009-10 are
Black/African-American female students
Hispanic/Latino (Non-Caucasian)
Latino
Caucasian
Native American/Alaska Native
Asian/Asian American
Other
51%
are the first from
Declined to State
their family to
attend college
2.7%
6.3%
20.2% 0.3%

13.2%

36% 10% 54%

3.4% commute from home live in off-campus live in on-campus
52.5%
1.6% housing housing

7
ayearinreview
September 2009: CORE
Management and Board
success happensMarch 2010: CORE application revised to June 2010: CORE Scholars Game Night; Summer Sendoff
Transition
October 2009: CORE Philly
becomes CORE Scholars
November 2009: CORE awards
more than $600,000 to nearly
2,000 incoming freshman
students at 21 colleges and
universities across Pennsylvania
survey interest in summer bridge and
STEM programs to better assess future
program expansion efforts
May 2010: Launch of revamped website
with improved site design, content and free online 11-week SAT prep course and college/career
student-focused blog; Workshops &
presentations at Philadelphia Home/
School Council and College Prep
Roundtable
Conference where 75 students participated in workshops led
by six financial aid and college prep counselors
July 2010: CORE begins negotiations to offer Naviance
college prep software and internet-based support, including
planning tools for all future awardees
August 2010: Launch of Success Happens Newsletter;
Social Media Scavenger Hunt; CORE awards $500 to 80
former recipients enrolled as full-time students for Fall 2010
 The SOCIAL MEDIA SCAVENGER HUNT SOCIAL MEDIA 
Over the summer, students became “fans” of With over 3.5 million
CORE on Facebook to view posted scavenger college students &
hunt clues leading them to prize tickets scattered over 8 million high
around the city. Once tickets were found, school students
students posted pics of the ticket on the CORE nationwide, Facebook
Scholars Facebook wall to redeem their prize. has become one of
the most useful ways
to reach students.
Philadelphia was
recently ranked 5th
for the fastest
growing Facebook
network among US
cities. We’ve decided
to leverage this
opportunity by
exposing students to
information on
college admissions,
financial aid
resources, campus
life, additional
scholarship
opportunities & more
via Facebook, Twitter
and our blog site.
57%
OUR SCHOLARS
were not sure that they would have
been able to attend college full-time if it
weren’t for them receiving their CORE
Scholarship
85%
said that their desire to attend college
has increased as a result of their
participation in the CORE Scholars
Program
90%
believe that after becoming a CORE
Scholar, they understand what they
need to do to succeed in college
10
 NICK JENKINS
CORE CLASS of 2010, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
“Finding out that I won the
CORE Scholarship was a
wonderful surprise. When we
arrived at the school for the
scholarship announcement
ceremony, my mom was given a
program” remembers Nick
Jenkins. Nick is a 2010 CORE
Scholarship recipient and is
currently a freshman at Temple
University.
“When she was escorted to
her seat, and began to read the
program she saw the fantastic
news! She called everyone she
could think of from her cell
phone & didn't tell me because
she wanted to see my face when
they announced my name. When
they finally called my name - I
was probably smiling so hard
you could see my teeth all the
way to the back of the
auditorium.”
Nick’s mother, Jacqueline,
played a very active role during
her son’s college admissions
process. “It was as if she made
this her second job. My mom
and I worked closely to complete
all of those applications. We
worked until the early hours of
the morning, sometimes on the
weekends, and late into the
evening. It actually brought us
closer together,” says Nick.
Needless to say, Nick has
worked hard to make his parents
proud. Nick recalls the day he
graduated from high school and
the excitement he and his family
both shared.
“The feeling is indescribable!
When you receive your cap and
gown on graduation day and see
your friends who've worked just
as hard standing there right
beside you ready to march, your
heart skips a beat.
Then your mind goes back to
all of those times you and your
parents sat at the dinner table
working on homework and
studying for tests and you learn
to appreciate them for all of their
hard work. The only pay-off they
wanted was to see this day
come, and they look forward to
experiencing it again when
you're done college.”
“ Success means to have accomplished goals
you’ve set for yourself throughout life. To be
satisfied with what you've done. It shows you’ve
learned something new in life and can teach
someone else how to get to that point.
“
- Shekinah Adams
CORE Class of 2010, Community College of Philadelphia
12

ALEXIS HOLMES
CORE CLASS of 2010, PENN STATE ABINGTON
Alexis Holmes, a recent CORE
recipient now attending Penn State
Abington, is no stranger to keeping
busy - both inside and outside of
the classroom. In high school,
Alexis was a member of the soccer
team, the bowling team and also
ran cross-country on the track
team.
“My biggest challenge in high
school was to remain positive in
negative situations and not let them
get the best of me,” says Alexis.
However, Alexis was too focused
on crafting her own success story
to be distracted from her education.
Not only was Alexis heavily
involved in sports but she was also
a member of the National Honor
Society, was involved in the student
government and was actively
engaged in community service.
Even more, Alexis knew that it
was just as important to excel
within the classroom. “Graduating
from high school was a very
exciting moment for me,” recalls
Alexis. “I was the first out of my
family to graduate and go off to
college.” With three younger
siblings, Alexis wanted to be sure to
set a good example for them to
eventually follow.
“When I found out that I was
accepted to the CORE Scholars
program, I was very excited
because it provided a financial
opportunity for me to be able to pay
for my college expenses. My
parents and I were very grateful
because my mom didn’t have any
financial income and my dad barely
worked.”
“CORE has benefited me
because I can go to school to
receive a degree and not have to
stress out and worry about not
having enough money to afford
college.”
“CORE has also prepared me
for the future by keeping me up to
date with available information and
resources that will help me excel
even further in college.”
“
Success is getting up every morning and starting a
new day. It’s accomplishing every goal I set for
myself, whether it's an educational, personal, or
family goal. Success isn't about how much money
you earn, it's about doing what you love and being
happy with what that is.
“
- Ghadeer Abdel Jalil
CORE Class of 2010, Temple University
14
 “My biggest challenge
during high school was to
communicate with others
because my English wasn’t
amazing,” recalls Poiven, a
recent CORE recipient.
“However, I had to
overcome that obstacle to
reach my goals so I tried
really hard to practice my
English speaking and
writing skills.”
Despite the language
barrier, Poiven never let it
impede on his own
success story and was
highly involved during his
high school years as a
member of the National
Honor Society and the
boy’s volleyball team.
Poiven was also elected as
student council president
and graduated as the
Salutatorian of his class.
“Graduating from high
school is just the beginning
for me because I still want
to continue my education
to reach my long-term
goals,” says Poiven. “This
CORE Scholarship will truly
help with my financial
needs especially because
my parents are unable to
fully assist me with my
college expenses.
“I want to be
successful. I also want my
life to be useful and helpful.
The CORE Scholars
Program has prepared me
and motivated me to do
just that.”

POIVENG SUON
CORE CLASS of 2010, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY

HEBA ELABED
CORE CLASS of 2010, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

“When I first found Given all Heba’s “Now that I’m not in
out, I could feel the hard work & discipline, high school anymore, I
pressure being relieved her accomplishments feel that I have my life
from my back,” says in creating her own in my own hands and
Heba as she relives the story of success are am capable of shaping
moment she found out well deserved. She it the way I want.”
she was accepted to was a member of the “CORE not only
the CORE Scholars National Honor Society gave me money to pay
Program. and also was the for my tuition and my
“When my mother Salutatorian of her books, but they gave
first told me, the smile class. me a head-start on
on her face was so big Despite all her pursuing college and
and beautiful that I success in high school, continuing my
couldn’t help feeling she has her eyes set education.”
very excited.” on the future. 15
“ Success is a stepping stone to a better life. A
life where the impossible is possible. Life is only
easier when you work your hardest and try your
best at everything you do. You’re never on top
until you realize that you are in complete control
of your life. By the time you’ve realized this -
you’ve already made it.
“
- Jovan Adkins
CORE Class of 2010, Cheyney University
16
ScienceTechnologyEngineeringMath

CORE’s most recent program expansion, the STEM Scholarship, is a competitive-based college
scholarship pipeline program for graduating 8th grade students who plan to enroll in a STEM
college major in four years.

17
 the CORE STEM
scholar pipeline project (S2P2)

The mission of the CORE-
STEM Scholar Pipeline Project
(“S2P2”) is to improve and expand
equitable access to STEM
industry careers for young people
from underserved communities.
S2P2 aims to better engage
youth in school and in their
communities through high school
graduation, and to prepare them
for post secondary opportunities
and the 21st Century Workforce.
In response to the competing
need to increase high school
graduation rates and to increase
the number of students prepared
with college degrees within STEM
majors, CORE established S2P2
with a twofold mission.
The first is to give significant
grants to support the first year of
college at any accredited four-year
academic institution located in the
United States for students with a
declared major in any science,
technology, engineering or
mathematics major available at
their respective institution.
The second is to build &
support a desktop & mobile
software application tool, which
parents, students, and
administrators may access to
support the documentation and
participation of students and
parents in a four-year effort to
nurture and sustain a real
engagement in acquiring
academic and project-based
knowledge of issues and careers
in the STEM industries.
CORE recognizes the
importance of individually &
collectively embracing a student’s
cultural curiosity & competency as
keys to developing students with
superior preparation to
competently matriculate and
graduate from college with a
STEM major undergraduate
degree.

S2P2 Partners | Glenmede Trust Solutions for Progress
Naviance The Franklin Institute
CITIZEN Schools Charlotte-Mecklenberg Schools
ACCESS Boston Communities in Schools - Boston
Boston Private Industry Council
CORE is building a network in three
additional cities over the coming year to increase
scholarship support of future STEM students.
Visit the new website at www.s2p2.org for more info!
18
PARTNER
C OLLEGES
& UNIVERSITIES
Community College of Philadelphia
Bloomsburg University
Cheyney University
Clarion University
East Stroudsburg University
Edinboro University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University
Lock Haven University Mansfield University
Millersville University
Shippensburg University
Slippery Rock University
West Chester University
Lincoln University
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Penn State University
Temple University
University of Pittsburgh
University of Pennsylvania
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

Solutions for Progress US Department of Education

The Philadelphia School District US Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ames Research Center
20
“ I want to thank all of you who work so hard to enable our children to
receive these gifts. And a special thanks to Congressman Chaka Fattah,
whom I understand is instrumental in obtaining this funding. This was a
difficult year for our family as I have incurred a large amount of out-of-
pocket medical expenses. This scholarship was a true blessing.”
- Lisa GuidiciCORE Parent

Scholarships Given by Year Year Scholars Scholarship Amount

2004 - 2005 2,032 $4,823,309.25

2973 2005 - 2006 2,268 $4,812,132.00

2589 3,000
2268 2545
2032
2,500 2006 - 2007 2,589 $5,454,976.36
1969 2,000
2007 - 2008 2,973 $5,445,591.25
1,500
1,000 2008 - 2009 2,545 $5,151,565.92
2004-05 500
2005-06
2006-07 2009 - 2010 1,969 $1,159,350.00
2007-08 0
2008-09
2009-10 Total 14,376 $26,846,924.78
Scholars

21
Expected Family Contribution Expected Family Contribution
Scale, Non-CCP Students Scale, CCP Students
EFC Range New Award Old Award EFC Range New Award Old Award
Amount Amount Amount Amount

≤ $3,000 $1,100 $1,000 ≤ $3,000 $500 $500

$3,001 - $6,000 $1,000 $700 $3,001 - $6,000 $500 $250

$6,001 - $9,000 $900 $600 $6,001 - $9,000 $500 $250

$9,000 - $12,000 $750 $500 $9,000 - $12,000 $500 $250

> $12,001 $500 $200 > $12,001 $500 $100

Awards by Academic Disciplines

Agriculture 3
Architecture & Design 20
Arts 30
Business 227
Communications 123
Computer Science 74
Education 88
Engineering 88
Health Sciences 370
Humanities 60
Law 68
Math 20
Natural Sciences 123
Social Sciences 96
Other 127
Undecided 450
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Applications by High School Type Awardees by High School Type
Private Other
3.2% 0.4%
Archdiocese
14.2%
Charter
13.6%
Public Public
67.9% 68.3%

Archdiocese Charter
14.9% 14.5%

Other Private
0.5% 2.6%

High School Type Applications Ineligible Eligible Applications Acceptance Rate

Submitted Applications Applications Awarded

Public 1,686 9 1,677 1,345 79.8%

Private 79 1 336 51 64.6%

Charter 337 1 368 286 84.9%

Archdiocese 369 3 76 280 75.9%

Other 13 0 13 7 53.9%
(non-Philly residents or unknown)

Total 2,484 14 2,470 1,969

Awards by Council District
District # Council Person Awards District # Council Person Awards

1 Frank DiCicco 104 6 Joan L. Krajewski 226

2 Anna C. Verna 203 7 Maria D. Quiñones-Sánchez 249

3 Jannie L. Blackwell 155 8 Donna R. Miller 171

4 Curtis Jones, Jr. 156 9 Marian B. Tasco 290

5 Darrell L. Clarke 136 10 Brian J. O’Neill 268

Awards by ZIP Code

ZIP Code Awards ZIP Code Awards ZIP Code Awards ZIP Code Awards

19002 1 19116 61 19131 49 19143 89

19023 3 19119 29 19132 60 19144 37

19048 1 19120 157 19133 33 19145 73

19079 2 19121 43 19134 52 19146 30

19082 2 19122 17 19135 43 19147 22

19102 1 19123 6 19136 45 19148 41

19103 2 19124 86 19137 12 19149 93

19104 26 19125 17 19138 57 19150 47

19107 11 19126 37 19139 57 19151 52

19111 108 19128 21 19140 72 19152 69

19114 42 19129 4 19141 52 19153 14

19115 50 19130 9 19142 69 19154 65

Awards by Congressional District, 2007
Congressperson Awards Amount Congressperson Awards Amount

Robert Brady 1,170 $2,270,249 Patrick J. Murphy 80 $115,375

Chaka Fattah 1,047 $1,986,801 Allison Schwartz 636 $1,009,875

Timothy Holden 2 $3,000 Joe Sestak 4 $8,000

2007 2008
Murphy
Murphy
2.54%
2.72% Fattah
Fattah 28.32%
35.62%
Holden
0.07%
Schwartz Schwartz
21.64% 23.20%

Brady
Brady
45.94%
39.81%

Sestak
0.14%

Awards by Congressional District, 2008

Congressperson Awards Amount Congressperson Awards Amount

Robert Brady 1,014 $2,137,250 Patrick J. Murphy 56 $73,000

Chaka Fattah 625 $1,943,565 Allison Schwartz 512 $910,875

Awards by Congressional District, 2009 Murphy
0.31%
Fattah
34.71%
Congressperson Awards Amount

Robert Brady 762 $475,350

Schwartz
Chaka Fattah 663 $408,900
24.82%
Patrick J. Murphy 6 $20,850

Allison Schwartz 474 $243,475 Brady

39.90%
Patrick Toomey 5 $2,775
Toomey
0.26%

corescholars
Philly Cares Day, October 2010

26
 Contact Us!
8 Penn Center | core scholars program
1628 JFK Blvd. #1975
Philadelphia, Pa. 19103
267.507.1690 (t)
board
CORE
267.507.1689 (f)
www.corescholars.org

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Donyale Y.H. Reavis, Esquire

PRESIDENT
Michael C. Tucker Vice President, Baker & Company, LLC

TREASURER
John Ronald Lay Former Dean of Students, West Philadelphia High School

SECRETARY
Joe Foster Principal, Imhotep Charter School

MEMBER
Willie Jordan Director of Operations, Office of Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Phila)

staff
CORE
Donyale Y.H. Reavis, Esquire Executive Director

Carmen LeVere Program Assistant

Nana Kwabena Tuffuor Social Media Strategist

Alex Malek IT Manager / Application Technician

Rhasaan Nichols Program Associate

THE CORE SCHOLARS
2010 ANNUAL REPORT
editor | nana kwabena tuffuor
writer
designer