Alvernia And Santander Offer Programs To Help Prepare Students For College
BOSTON and READING, Pa., May 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Alvernia University and Santander Bank, N.A. announced today a philanthropic agreement where the Bank's Santander Universities will support three academic programs at the university. The programs are focused on preparing high school students and incoming freshmen for college and offering scholarships to students who participate in a college readiness curriculum.
"Education is a powerful tool that enables students to succeed in the classroom and in their future endeavors," said John A. Allen, Santander region president for Western Pennsylvania. "By investing in these programs at Alvernia, we can play a meaningful role in contributing to the academic achievements of the students who participate in them."
Santander will fund the Summer Bridge program that supports Reading, PA students who have recently been accepted into the Reading Collegiate Scholars program at Alvernia. During the Summer Bridge program, students will come together to prepare for the start of their college career. They will participate in team building exercises and leadership training, and will also have access to self-assessment tests to help ensure they are ready for a rewarding college experience.
The College Readiness and Success Program is designed to prepare more than 100 high school students for college each year. With support from Santander, tutors from Alvernia will work with students to help improve their grades. In addition to academics, tutors will assist students with their college searches, campus visits, and the college application process. All participants who graduate from high school and successfully complete the program are guaranteed admission to Alvernia.
Santander will also support the Reading Collegiate Scholars program launched by Alvernia last year. Up to 20 full-tuition scholarships will be awarded annually to students who successfully complete the College Readiness and Success program.
"Put simply, we want these young people to succeed, and we aim to make this happen, through partnerships with organizations like Santander," said Alvernia President Thomas F. Flynn. "We believe that the Reading Collegiate Scholars program can become a national model for how mid-sized cities can foster college success for local lower income students through the combined efforts of higher education, business and civic leaders, and youth services organizations. The commitment is large but the potential to change lives is even greater. And the return on investment for our community is unmatchable."
About Us
ALVERNIA is a thriving university that empowers students through real-world learning to discover their passion for life, while providing the education to turn what they love into lifetimes of career success and personal fulfillment, helping them make the world a better place. Situated on a scenic 121-acre suburban campus in historic Berks County, Pa., the university of more than 3,000 students is conveniently located near Philadelphia (60 miles) and within an easy drive of New York, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. With a College of Arts and Sciences and College of Professional Studies, Alvernia today offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and minors and a range of graduate programs at the master's and doctoral levels through its School of Graduate and Adult Education. Satellite sites are located in Philadelphia and Schuylkill County. As one of only 22 Franciscan institutions in the country, Alvernia's focus on caring for each other, the environment and the community are joined with a challenging educational experience to provide an unparalleled environment to grow, develop and mature as a person and professional.
Santander Bank, N.A. is one of the largest retail banks in the United States by deposits. Its main corporate offices are in Boston and it operates principally in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Santander's 9,703 employees serve its 1.8 million customers through the Bank's 703 branches, 2,092 ATMs, call centers, website and mobile app. Supervised by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Santander in the United States is a wholly-owned, financially autonomous subsidiary of Banco Santander (NYSE: SAN), a global commercial and retail bank. For more information about Santander, visit www.santanderbank.com or call 877-768-2265.
Santander Universities was founded in 1996 to advance the Santander Group's commitment to its communities by supporting higher education. It provides funding for teaching and research, international cooperation, knowledge and technology transfer, entrepreneurial initiatives, student exchange and innovation. It maintains more than 1,100 agreements with universities and research centers worldwide, including 35 in the United States through Santander Bank. Since 1996, Santander Universities has provided funding for 4,100 university projects globally. Every year in the United States, Santander Universities funds more than 1,000 scholarships and supports over 70 initiatives. For more information about Santander Universities, visit www.santanderbank.com/us/universities.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Carey Manzolillo
Alvernia University Associate Director of Communications
[email protected]
610.796.8281
Nancy Orlando
Santander Media Relations Manager
[email protected]
617.757.5765
SOURCE Santander Bank, N.A.
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