© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New Haven Schools Increase College Attendance Through Peer Mentors

Credit Facebook
/
Facebook
Veronica DeLandro.

New Haven's peer mentorship program has helped the public schools increase the number of graduating seniors who go to college and stay there. 

The program started in 2010, and was created by Connecticut College Summit, a local non-profit. 

Veronica DeLandro, the organization's executive director, said the program is geared to help schools that have limited resources.

“There is a school for every type of student out there, there are over 3,000 colleges and universities across the country, so what we focus on is finding the right fit for those students, versus it being a barrier,” DeLandro said.

As a senior and peer mentor at Hill Regional Career High School, Shayna Blumell helps her classmates with everything from filling out financial aide forms to writing college essays.

“It was an awesome experience for me. I think that it has helped me learn a lot about what it means to be a leader and what I’m going to experience in college,” Blumell said.

The program has helped New Haven increase the percentage of graduating seniors who go to college by eight percent in a single year, said superintendent Garth Harries.

"I think all too many kids kind of go through high school, and they go through the motions, particularly in urban communities where their parents may not have gone to college," Harries said. "We really believe we gotta build a student culture that’s focused on their future, and the peer leaders are a huge part of that."

This year, peer leaders like Blumell taught teachers and counselors how to use newly-developed computer applications that help high schoolers apply to college. The free apps are designed to help low-income students get into college and stay there.

The program is a build off of New Haven's overall commitment to send students to college through New Haven Promise, an initiative sponsored by Yale University. 

David finds and tells stories about education and learning for WNPR radio and its website. He also teaches journalism and media literacy to high school students, and he starts the year with the lesson: “Conflicts of interest: Real or perceived? Both matter.” He thinks he has a sense of humor, and he also finds writing in the third person awkward, but he does it anyway.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content