Read comments from the 2011 College Match graduates

College Match featured in La Opinion

A Wonderful Message from a College Match Latina who is now a College Junior ...

“There really is no other reason I’m writing to you today other than to thank you.
"When people ask me how I’ve made it this far I always have to include you. When you first interviewed me for College Match, I thought it would be just another group that tries to help students but nothing ever happens. Forgive my pessimism, but with all the things I had gone through before College Match I felt I had no other choice than to view the world so negatively. Many things had gone so wrong that there was just a point in my life that I gave up hope and my dreams. I did, however, have to give College Match a chance; it never hurts to be open to new things I always say.
“It was after the East Coast trip that I realized that maybe, just maybe, going to college was a true possibility. You and everyone involved with College Match were able to instill a hope in me I hadn’t seen before.
“THANK YOU BIG TIME.
“I can’t wait to see how you’re doing and how all the other College Match students are doing as well. I hope everything in your life is going well. Hopefully, I’ll get to see you this summer.”

From Ted Fiske ...

"Wow! Congratulations. If there were a Nobel Prize for college admissions, you'd be a shoo-in."
--Ted Fiske, Former Education Editor of The New York Times and Author of The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
Note:  This comment was made by Mr. Fiske after he reviewed the college acceptances for the 2010 College Match graduates.

HOW COLLEGE MATCH HELPS STUDENTS

College Match was established in 2002 to assist high achieving low-income and minority high school students in Los Angeles to attend outstanding colleges. We work hard to provide these worthy students with the same support and assistance that they would receive if they had affluent parents and attended elite private schools. 

A very nice message from a senior at Johns Hopkins (Class of 2013) ...

"I've been meaning to email you let you know that I'm currently teaching at Maryland's State Correctional facility for men. I am teaching a pre-algebra course to 22 inmates through the Goucher Prison Project. It's been a very positive and rewarding experience. I'm still teaching 6th grade math during the day! I'm also happy to announce that I will be graduating this May from Johns Hopkins! All this was made possible because you saw something in me that I didn't know was there! Thanks. "

A lovely message from a College Match 2006 graduate and a 2010 Yale graduate ...

"Greetings from Beijing! This semester in China has had both its ups and downs, but this nonetheless, is exactly what I had hoped to be doing my first year out of college. I feel I've experienced so much since I first stepped onto Yale's campus more than four years ago as a Freshman. My undergraduate experience has made me more capable, more knowledgeable and more confident. Still, who I am today and my future aspirations have a lot to do with my experience with College Match. I'm sure you hear this often, but it can't be said enough--Thank you and College Match for helping ordinary kids realize their extraordinary potential. "I wish you and your family a happy Holiday Season and a wonderful New Year!"

And a very nice message from a College Match 2009 graduate, written while a sophomore at Princeton ...

"It was so great to be able to see some of my College Match peers again so thank you for that get-together. I hope you had a great Holiday Season and during this time of reflection of the past year I know that I am very thankful for College Match. If it wasn't for CM I would never have had the guts to leave California and explore new things. I also would have never thought that I had a shot at a school like Princeton, but here I am. So thank you for your wonderful generosity and your wonderful program."
-----A 2009 College Match graduate whom we saw at our Annual Xmas Break Reunion

Read comments and see photos from the College Match East Coast Trip— 2010

Read recent emails from College Match graduates currently enrolled in three of our nation's finest colleges--Yale, Claremont McKenna and Grinnell. One of them might bring tears to your eyes.  And, newly posted - Email from a student at Tuskegee College

• Read the College Match 2010 Graduation Comments. See photos from the 2010 East Coast Trip.

• Read the College Match 2009 Graduation Comments. See photos from the 2009 East Coast Trip.

• Read the College Match 2008 Graduation Comments

• Read the College Match 2007 Graduation Comments

News Flash ---  College Match Student Receives a $100,000 Ronald McDonald Scholarship ....College Match Sara Rodriguez of Jordan High School was one of four students NATIONWIDE to receive a $100,000 scholarship from Ronald McDonald's Charities. She was surprised with this award at her high school graduation ceremony. Click here for Ms. Rodriguez' comment to College Match

In the Media ---  College Match has been featured in Business Week Magazine .... The Los Angeles Times (a front page story) ... KPPC radio, broadcast on National Public Radio..  The Associated Press ....   Privilege Magazine.... National CrossTalk, a publication of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education...

Honored  ---  The Mexican American Bar Foundation presented College Match Founder and Executive Director, Harley Frankel, with their 2007 Community Service Award on June 9, 2007 at a wonderful dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Betsy Perez, a College Match graduate attending Trinity College, was the hit of the evening with a beautiful introduction of Mr. Frankel. Ms. Perez had been featured in a front-page Los Angeles Times article in August 2006. Approximately 20 College Match graduates currently in colleges throughout the United States attended the event.

 --- Mr. Frankel (at the request of the Board) provided the Los Angeles Unified School Board with a "Moment of Inspiration" describing the success of College Match and making recommendations to the Board for improving college access for all low-income students in Los Angeles. This presentation took place at the Board's on May 8, 2007 meeting. After the presentation, the LAUSD Board gave Awards to five College Match students from Jordan High School in Watts and then gave Mr. Frankel a Resolution of Appreciation to College Match expressing "their sincere appreciation to College Match for our commitment to academic excellence and our dedication to the students and families of LAUSD." ...

Read about the College Match  logo....

• Read about College Match's accomplishments.

• Read the College Match Graduation Comments

• See photos and read comments from the College Match East Coast Trip— 2010

• See photos and read comments from the College Match East Coast Trip— 2009

• See photos and read comments from the College Match East Coast Trip— 2007

• See photos and read comments from the College Match East Coast Trip—March 12-19, 2005

• See photos and read comments from the College Match East Coast Trip—April 2-10, 2004

>More About College Match
>Our Leadership
>Our Students
>What People Are Saying about College Match
>Supporters and Partners
>How You Can Help

"It is clear that you are doing extremely important work to enable these young people to realize their potential. Nothing could be more important. Keep it going."

-- Bill George, Former CEO of Medtronic (when they went from $1B to $60B in market capitalization)
and the author of the best selling book, True North, which focuses on outstanding leadership.

"College Match is doing the work that is so essential to youngsters with talent who need a staircase more than a step to reach their educational goals."

-Shirley M. Hufstedler, Former U. S. Secretary of Education

“I want to commend you on the work you are doing with students in the Los Angeles area. It is work that is definitely needed.”

-Mike Krzyzewski, Head Basketball Coach at Duke University and U. S. Olympic Coach

"College Match is discovering accomplished high school students from some of Los Angeles' lowest-income neighborhoods and helping to open doors for them at the best colleges in the country. I am pleased and proud to be a partner with College Match by providing a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges to each student in this valuable program."

-Edward B. Fiske, Former Education Editor of the New York Times
and author of the best college guide, The Fiske Guide to Colleges

“Exceptionally Impressive”

-Former United States Congressman Mel Levine made this comment in reference
to the success of the program in helping our students get into top-ranked colleges.

“Just spectacular. So many people we know are talk, talk, talking. You are doing. What a powerful impact you are having-changing the lives of so many young people. Just think where most of them would be were it not for you and your work.”

-Arnie Miller, Former Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office

New Photos ---  Click here to view more photos from the 2007 East Coast Trip ....

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College Match
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