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For five local high school seniors, college enrollment this fall will be free of tuition and fees.  

The Asbury Park High School seniors will transfer to Brookdale Community College through the collaborative Asbury Park College Promise program, initiated this past school year.

The students were recognized on June 6 alongside seven Asbury Park High School juniors who completed their first year in the comprehensive college readiness training program. Students complete advanced courses in math, English and reading while participating in an “Achievement Motivation” seminar and preparing for the Accuplacer college entrance exam.

“If I didn’t take these classes, I would not have passed my Accuplacer [entrance exam],” said Anahi Ramirez-Meza [at right], an 18-year old pursuing a career in clinical psychology. “At the beginning of the program, we took the Accuplacer and I failed all of the sections. Now, as of today, I have passed every section. And I wouldn’t have been able to do that if it wasn’t for everyone in this room right now. I would like to say thank you to everybody here.”

The students received certificates of achievement and were recognized by a variety of college and district officials, including Matthew Reed, Brookdale vice president for learning; Brian Stokes, APHS district supervisor of college and career programs; Franklyn Rother, Brookdale dean of K-12 partnerships; and Margaret Agha, 2016-17 program manager for the College Promise initiative.

For Ramirez-Meza, the College Promise scholarship will allow her to avoid immediate student loan debt during her two years at Brookdale and the opportunity to begin saving for an advanced degree.

“I feel much more prepared to enter the college life,” Ramirez-Meza said. “I also feel a little bit nervous, because I know that I am receiving free tuition, and for myself I know that I will need to achieve good grades and high scores. I want to earn what I am being given here.”

The Asbury Park College Promise is funded by the Jules L. Plangere Jr. Family Foundation, established in 1997 by Jules L. Plangere Jr. Plangere [at right], who died in September, was the former chairman of New Jersey Press Inc, publisher of the Asbury Park Press and former senior partner of Press Communications, LLC and PMCM TV, LLC.

The $240,000 grant funding is the capstone of the College Promise program, allowing students to earn up to 64 college credits.

“We are truly in an educational renaissance here,” said APHS vice principal Angela Thomas. “There is such a great partnership going on in our community, with Brookdale Community College in particular, where everybody is pushing for you to succeed. As the first members to complete this College Promise program, you are the future. We are so proud of you all.”

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