The recent presidential debates have raised college affordability and fast growing student debt to the forefront of the national conversation. These debates focus on the rising cost of tuition and fees. However, students are also facing increasing out-of-pocket expenses. . According to the Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States: 2017 Trend Report, dependent full-time undergraduates from low-income families averaged more than $8,000 in unmet financial need. These … [Read more...]

CPE college student, Berniece, was awarded a $4500 CPE internship stipend over the summer. The stipend is offered to a small group of college students who secure low or unpaid internships to cover living, travel, and school expenses while interning. We believe that internships and other research and job shadowing opportunities help students build skills and connections needed for their career after college. Read about Berniece's summer internship experience below . For as long as I can … [Read more...]

CPE college student, Bianca Okhaifor, was awarded a $4500 CPE internship stipend over the summer. The stipend is offered to a small group of college students who secure low or unpaid internships to cover living, travel, and school expenses while interning. We believe that internships and other research and job shadowing opportunities help students build skills and connections needed for their career after college. Read about Bianca’s summer internship experience below. . Okhuwedẹ. I had … [Read more...]

Mentoring provides the opportunity for one to give back and to support someone in their journey to achieve success. CPE shines a spotlight on Peter Jorgensen, a mentor who is helping his mentee, Isaiah, achieve his dreams. . Why did you become a mentor? I became a mentor to both give back to my home city and because I have a passion for working with kids to achieve their goals. . How long have you been mentoring with CPE? 1 year . What is your favorite activity to … [Read more...]

Adriona is a Program Coordinator at CPE where she helps manage a caseload of student-mentor pairs for CPE’s college program. She serves as a resource and support system for CPE’s college students and their mentors to help ensure our students maintain a strong relationship with their mentor and cultivate the skills they need to get through college. Learn more about Adriona in the interview below. . What college did you attend? I went to Georgia State University for undergrad and my … [Read more...]

A CPE college student's summer internship experience by Stephanie Garcia . This summer was different. I felt crazy for enrolling myself as a full-time student for the summer term. I had to mentally prepare for the commitment of four online classes, two during Session 1 and two during Session 2. Before going back home in May for the summer break, I knew it would be difficult to also hold a summer job, as I had done in previous summers. Being that I didn’t know what to expect, I made sure to … [Read more...]

Nate Green entered CPE’s program in 2012. Now going into his senior of college at Morehouse College, he shares his journey getting to and through college as a low-income, first-generation student. . What was it like growing up low-income in a first-generation to college family? I grew up in Southeast, DC, where I saw a lot of violence and worrying about where the next meal would come from. Although my mom tried to hide the struggle from me, I still witnessed it and felt the impact. … [Read more...]

Diana Acosta grew up in Washington, DC and in Hyattsville, MD. In 2006, Diana joined CPE because she saw it as an opportunity to grow not only academically but also personally within her community. She especially appreciated the care with which the staff matched her with a mentor. What’s one memorable moment you have of you and your mentor? A memorable moment I had with my mentor was when I had a writing assignment due my senior spring year and stayed up all weekend working on it. It … [Read more...]