Monday, November 16, 2015

The UNCW Watson College of Education (WCE) is hosting the GradNation Wilmington Regional Community Summit on Dec. 1.

The summit is co-sponsored by America’s Promise Alliance as part of its GradNation campaign, designed to raise the national high school graduation rate to 90 percent by 2020 and increase postsecondary enrollment and completion. In 2016, 100 communities across the country will host similar summits to identify the most critical problems in their local area and the groups most affected.

Convened by the WCE Dropout Prevention Coalition (DPC), the event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Education Building, room 162.

Darrell Scott from Rachel’s Challenge will be the keynote speaker. Scott’s 17-year-old daughter Rachel was the first student killed at Columbine High School in 1999. He founded Rachel’s Challenge to equip students and adults to create and sustain safe and supportive learning environments for academic achievement. Schools around the world have since adopted the program.

Breakout sessions will showcase successful programs offered by area schools, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. A lunch panel will feature elected officials Susi Hamilton, Jonathan Barfield, Ron Zapple and Wilmington City Manager Sterling Cheatham.

Watson College faculty member and DPC co-coordinator Janna Siegel Robertson notes that the coalition hosts many free regional events throughout the year focusing on enhancing student success and increasing high school graduation rates.

“We are thrilled to host this summit. With the added support from GradNation and AT&T, we are able to bring in an important keynote speaker and additional presenters and community members.”

-- Caroline Cropp

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