Press-release-2 Hundreds of Delaware high school students use spring break to prepare for college

Wilmington, Del.— TeenSHARP and the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) are collaborating again on the annual Delaware Goes to College Academy (DGCA) Bootcamp to help hundreds of Delaware high schoolers learn about college readiness and admissions.

With registration still open, over 700 students have already signed up for the free, virtual DGCA Bootcamp, happening April 1st through 5th. This interactive program empowers freshmen, sophomores, and juniors across Delaware to learn how they can succeed academically in high school and gain admission into college with great financial aid.

Students have registered from a wide range of schools and districts with over 70 students registering from each of the following districts: Red Clay Consolidated School District, New Castle County Vocational and Technical School District, and Appoqunimink School District.

“We’ve seen incredible results from DGCA over the years,” says TeenSHARP Co-Founder and CEO, Atnre Alleyne. “Past participants are attending amazing colleges with fantastic financial aid packages. This includes students like Guadalupe Castaneda Hernandez (Princeton University), Amanda Eric (Pomona College), Carlos Escalante (Tufts University), Joanna and Kelly Perez (Cornell University), Hasana Parker (Pomona College), Hanifah Ouro-Sama (Yale University), and many more. We’re eager to support even more students this year.”

The DGCA Bootcamp equips students with:

  • College Admissions and Financial Aid 101: Gain a clear understanding of the application process and how to navigate financial aid opportunities.
  • Academic and Personal Assessment: Evaluate your academic standing, course rigor, and leadership potential to create a personalized plan for success.
  • Crafting Your College Path: Develop a roadmap to address any gaps and chart your course towards your dream schools.
  • College Connections: Virtually meet representatives from in-state and out-of-state colleges to explore your options.

There is also an evening session for parents to answer their questions about the college admissions process.

“These students are making a valuable investment by using their spring break to help them prepare for their post-secondary choices,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said. “With personalized support and help accessing resources, they will leave with a better understanding both of where they are now and what they need to do next to reach their goals. They also will leave with an on-going support network. We are excited to see them succeed, and we will continue to partner with them to achieve their dreams.” DGCA is completely free and open to all Delaware high school students. Students can still register up until March 30th at the Delaware Student Success DGCA page: https://delawarestudentsuccess.org/delawaregoes- to-college-academy/

About DGCA: DGCA was co-founded by the Delaware Department of Education and TeenSHARP to provide high quality college advising to high-achieving students from low-income households across the state. DGCA supports a broad group of students throughout the state of Delaware in the college application and decision process. There is no cost for students to participate.

About TeenSHARP: TeenSHARP is a Wilmington, Del.-based nonprofit that prepares Black, Latino, and low-income students to attend and thrive at America’s top colleges. Founded in 2009, TeenSHARP has evolved into a leading provider of innovative, at-scale college access and leadership development. Year after year, 100 percent of TeenSHARP scholars successfully pursue a 4-year college education, with 95 percent admitted to the most selective colleges; and the majority graduating with $15,000 or less in college debt.

Deborah Yanez

Parent Programs Manager

Deborah leads TeenSHARP’s parent empowerment work with love, conviction, and credibility. She grew up in one of America’s poorest cities (Camden, NJ), has served as an elected school board member, raised two sons who have accessed higher education successfully (one is a TeenSHARP alumnus and McCabe Scholar at Swarthmore) along with her husband, and has helped many more families prepare their children for college.

Zoha Fatima

Director of Operations & Special Projects

Zoha is driven by a deep passion for education and social justice. With over 8 years of experience in the development sector, she has made significant contributions to various education projects aimed at increasing access and equity. Zoha’s commitment to empowering learners stems from her belief that education is a fundamental right. She honed her expertise at Harvard University, earning a Master’s in Education and Technology, building upon her undergraduate studies in Public Policy.

Based in the Bay Area, Zoha loves exploring the diverse California landscape, especially through hiking. When she’s not championing educational equity, you can find her baking, hitting the trails, or enjoying the outdoor.

Sara Petty

Director of Pre-College Success

Sara Petty is TeenSHARP’s powerhouse Director of Pre-College Success, orchestrating a nationwide expansion to ensure that talented Black, Latino, and low-income students have a direct path to elite colleges. With a proven track record from her days scaling a college access program in Houston, Sara has a knack for turning educational challenges into triumphs. She thrives on transforming obstacles into opportunities and is known for her relentless drive and innovative solutions. When she’s not making waves in the world of education, you can find her brainstorming the next big idea over a cup of coffee or diving into a new book that sparks her curiosity. Sara’s mission? To make sure every student has the chance to unlock their full potential and claim their spot in the future’s top colleges.

Tamara Fentress

Chief of Staff

For over 18 years, Tamara has been a passionate advocate for educational equity, inclusion, and the overall improvement of support structures to build a solid foundation for the journey of learning. Driven by a desire to see all students and families thrive, she has successfully led major projects of varying budget sizes, while also co-creating and implementing innovative strategies at mission-driven organizations across various operational areas, from technology and project management to legal and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEIB) initiatives.

Her journey began in a large urban school district, where she spent a significant portion of her career leading the development of critical strategies that served over 86,000 students. This experience allowed her to work closely with a diverse team of over 10,000 employees, understanding and addressing needs across all levels of the organization. Her collaborative spirit extended beyond the school district, fostering strong partnerships with parent groups, community organizations, and government entities.

Tamara’s dedication to education stems from a deeply personal place. As a mother to two inspiring children, Harmony and Hudson, she sees firsthand the potential and power of having access to opportunities, caring adults, and belief in that which is greater than yourself.  This unwavering belief in the power of serving others, access, equity, and education to empower and transform lives fuels her commitment to continuous learning and creating equitable opportunities for all.

Tatiana Poladko

Co-Founder

Our “force of nature” founder came to New Jersey from Ukraine for graduate school over a decade ago and immediately put her hands to the work of community empowerment and expanding educational opportunity. She has experience managing youth programs for the UN in Ukraine (at the age of 19!), teaching at Temple University, building/managing nonprofit organizations, and supporting students to and through college. She is also a mother to three lovely kids (Zoryana, Nazariy, and Taras), plays guitar and piano, and makes amazing soups!

Atnre Alleyne

Co-Founder/CEO

As TeenSHARP’s resident historian, Atnre is quick to share stories of the organization’s humble church basement beginnings, its growing pains, and many milestones. With his background in research and evaluation, policy and advocacy, communications, technology, and instruction, he has the type of Swiss Army knife skills that are critical in a fast-paced social impact organization. He has three lovely children (Zoryana, Nazariy, and Taras), an amazing wife (TeenSHARP’s Co-Founder), and he plays bass guitar and blogs when he finds the time.