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News Release

Office of News and Information
Johns Hopkins University
3003 N. Charles Street, Suite 100
Baltimore, Maryland 21218-3843
Phone: (410) 516-7160 | Fax (410) 516-5251

May 9, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Leslie Rice
lnr@jhu.edu


Teen Role Models to Be Honored
Maryland's Tomorrow: Drop-out Prevention That Works

Maryland's Tomorrow, a statewide dropout prevention program, will honor a group of Maryland students who turned their lives from being students at risk of dropping out of high school to becoming motivated role models with exciting futures.

The 2000 Bright Stars Award program will be held Tuesday, May 16, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Martin's West, 6817 Dogwood Road in Baltimore. A total of 24 students, one from every school jurisdiction in the state, will be honored during the ceremony. This year, the program will also recognize 11 adults who have made tremendous contributions to the program and the students it serves. Nancy Grasmick, state superintendent of schools, and Maryland's Tomorrow director Marion Pines host the evening that draws about 250 people.

During Andrea Kelley's eighth grade year, she had a 1.5 GPA, was absent 49 days and became pregnant. She became a Maryland's Tomorrow student upon entering Parkside High School in Salisbury. This June she graduates from high school with a 3.28 GPA and is about to enter the military and pursue college while serving the country.

When he became a Maryland's Tomorrow student, Travis Ezi of Baltimore City was a Southwestern High School ninth grade student with a 2.3 GPA. He had already suffered the loss of his sister, grandmother and mother. He was defensive and defiant, particularly with adults. Today he is a scholar-athlete, has been offered scholarships from two universities and is being pursued by two Major League Baseball teams.

All of the Bright Star students have overcome personal obstacles, often despite overwhelming hardships. Their stories are inspiring. To learn about the Bright Star student in your area, please call Leslie Rice at 410-516-7160.

Maryland's Tomorrow, now in its 12th year, is a dropout prevention program that operates in every school jurisdiction in the state. Currently, it serves some 6,500 at-risk teenagers in 75 schools across Maryland. It is a five-year program that offers tutoring, counseling, work experiences and motivation and leadership services to students who appear to be especially at risk of dropping out of high school. Students in the Maryland's Tomorrow program have a statewide drop-out rate of 4.9 percent. Maryland's Tomorrow is sponsored by the Maryland State Department of Education, The Johns Hopkins University, local departments of education and local private industry boards.


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