Rose S. Prinzi
The Chautauqua Educational Opportunity (CEO) Program is a unique scholarship program for deserving Jamestown High School graduates attending Jamestown Community College or Jamestown Business College. It is designed to assist selected students who have the potential to succeed in college, but have major barriers which may prohibit them from achieving this goal.
The current CEO program is an off-shoot of a 1996 City of Jamestown Strategic Planning & Partnership Commission providing students a scholarship based on work ethic, motivation, potential for success, and being among the first generation in their family to attend college. The focus of the CEO program is being achieved by having a work-ready force of educated individuals from our community who choose to stay, live, and work here. With this education, these students have many more possibilities, providing both them and our community with much success.
The CEO Committee consists of a diverse group of community members dedicated to the cause of furthering the education of young people committed to our area. The committee monitors the success of each student. The intent is to increase the opportunities for students to succeed in college, not burden them with additional hardships. With a goal of doing “whatever it takes” to help these particular students succeed, committee members discuss how to best serve the needs of the participants.
This program offers vital, deliberate support systems to help students succeed. Over time, the expectations and supports that have been put in place at the college level have led to the program’s success. For instance, there are monthly CEO student meetings on campus, which include lunch and a guest presenter or group activity. Individual appointments with the CEO counselor are also included in the plan to allow students to become aware of upcoming deadlines, to discuss any troubles or issues they may be experiencing, and to consider options for their future success.
Funding has traditionally been an obstacle. However, since 2006, the Hundred Member Club from Jamestown High School has made grants to the CEO program, which initially happened to come on the heels of another donation from the Class of 1956. Together, these funds are matched from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. The CEO scholarship program has continued with the financial support of the two groups and other community organizations.
According to Tammy Smith, Jamestown Community College CEO Program Counselor, “Over 70 students have since entered the program, with many being the first in their families to attend college. I believe the CEO program has an immediate effect on the community, but it can also have lasting effects as we provide these students a college opportunity.” As the JCC/CEO Counselor, Ms. Smith helps the students to create a new mindset about their life and colleges, set goals, communicate, and be interdependent, not independent or dependent given their situations. Each year, ten new students enter the program. In 2009, there were five graduates, three of which were on the Dean’s List and four transferred to other institutions.
In the 2009 fall semester, ten more students will enter college; and, for the first time, two will begin at Jamestown Business College.
For additional information or to learn how you can support this program, contact the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation at 661-3390.