Microsoft Tech Grant To Benefit Minority Students In San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Microsoft has committed to helping several hundred San Francisco high school graduates advance toward a college education, with the help of more than a half-million dollars in laptops and software.
KCBS' Tim Ryan Reports:
The goal of giving away the potentially life-changing computer gear - via the Bridge to Success summer program - is to push minority 12th graders onto a path toward higher education. That's something that might not otherwise happen.
"We find that many times, young people don't think they can be the first to go to college," reasoned San Francisco Unified School District superintendent Carlos Garcia. "If we demystify that and connect them with counselors and everybody in a good support network, they're going to be successful."
"The catch," he continued, "is the kids have to go through the entire program. We have about 250 San Francisco graduates who will be going through the City College program and the ones who get through it all will actually get themselves a nice little laptop."
The program, Garcia explained, encourages San Francisco's underrepresented youth to enroll at City College.
"If we get them going already and give them the support and then when they start in the fall they'll have that new laptop and they'll be trained on how to use it. It will be a very easy transition for these young people to be successful," Garcia reasoned.
"Kids that have been identified as the first generation that would go to college and kids who are underrepresented in college, we're hoping to open up the doors for them so they have an opportunity and some financial support."
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