Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth  2002

At the Class meeting over Homecoming, Tony Roisman discussed possible '60 participation in a new program, SEAD: Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth. Here now from Tony are some details on the proposal: "In 2001 Dartmouth initiated an exciting new educational program which involved Dartmouth students working as mentors with 30 9^th graders from inner-city schools who spent two weeks taking advanced high school courses at the College and meeting members of the business community in the Upper Valley. The students, selected from Philadelphia, Boston's Dorchester High School and Mascoma, N.H. Valley Regional High School, had shown promise but had yet to become motivated to strive for higher education. SEAD has been featured in mailings from James Wright to the alumni and in the local press. Dartmouth students, who participated in the program as residential counselors, mentors and teaching assistants for the courses in English, Math and Computer Science, have praised its value to them. The program also provides opportunities for alums to participate as mentors and exemplars for the students in their hometowns or to participate in the summer activities for the students while they are Dartmouth.

"The Class of '60 has made a commitment to test class interest and participation in the program for this year. We have already received $1,000 from class members plus a proposed $2,000 from the surplus remaining from our last reunion to support SEAD this summer. The out of pocket program costs are about $75,000 for 30 students which includes room, board, transportation, and some special trips. At the end of the two weeks each student receives a used computer donated by graduating seniors. For 2002 we are hoping to raise an additional $22,000 from the Class of '60 to underwrite 1/3 of the program and engage at least 10 volunteers from our class to assist students either in their home towns or at Dartmouth this summer.

"The most persuasive endorsement of the value of SEAD for Dartmouth students, comes from the students who participated in the program last summer:

Christina Picone: "SEAD has given me the opportunity to reach out beyond the Dartmouth "bubble,"….the exchanges and moments that I share with my mentee are priceless and remind me of my duty to the community -- to share the gift of education and opportunity!"

Lola Adedokun: "I was a SEAD mentor for a Philadelphia high school student….My mentee showed me as much as I hope that I showed her….Since the program ended I still biltz her and we both encourage each other to keep working hard and living purposefully….I can't thank Dartmouth, Tucker, and all of the individual organizers enough for this wake-up call."

Matt Davis: "The SEAD program was the most memorable and rewarding thing I did during my sophomore summer. I was paired with a 15 year old from Philadelphia…He is a very smart kid who….wants to attend a great college and is willing to put in the hard work it takes to get there, despite not coming from a privileged background…..I have kept in contact with him since he left Dartmouth, and I hope I have given as much to him as he has given to me."

"As you can see from the enthusiasm of the Dartmouth students who participated in SEAD, this program provides a valuable learning experience for Dartmouth students as well as a motivational experience for high school students who, but for this experience, might drift into unproductive and underachieving life experiences." Some classmates who have so far shown support for SEAD include Rog Hanlon, Urban Hirschey, Ken Reich, Rick Roesch and Jim Adler. For more information about SEAD contact: Tony Roisman at aroisman@hcsmlaw.com or at P.O. Box 909, Norwich, VT 05055. Donations can be sent directly to the Tucker Foundation, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H. 03755 noting the funds are to be used for SEAD and credited to the Class of '60.

Class President Roesch adds the following to what Tony has provided: "It's been proposed and supported by many that the class contribute $2000 toward the test of this worthy program; we will go forward funding that amount from our reunion surplus assuming no objections. Thanks - Rick."