Eagles In Flight

Program Framework

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Services

Student Curriculum

  • Individual advising & mentoring (quarterly check-ins)
  • Student & Family Action Plans (English & Spanish)
  • College readiness curriculum (Why Try & STARS integration)
  • Tutoring/near-peer mentor support (UMW students, STARS ambassadors, CMM participants)
  • Workshops (college awareness, career readiness, time management, financial literacy)
  • Campus visits & career exploration opportunities
  • Summer programming (bootcamps, day camps, UMW Summer Enrichment Program)
  • Support for events and conferences (student leadership and UMW’s multicultural fair)
  • Eagles in Flight Recognition Events (similar to Signing Day, Senior Recognition Night)

Parent/Guardian Curriculum

  • Advising (group and 1:1)
  • Student & Family Action Plans
  • Eagles Family Nights (college and career focus, athletic events, dinner included)
  • Parent Advocate Group (peer support network)
  • FAFSA Completion Nights (English & Spanish)
  • Parent Retreat (workshops on adolescent development, supporting college readiness, wellness activities)
  • Live virtual workshops/social media events (college search, financial aid, scholarships)

First-Year College Services (UMW or other)

  • Transition coaching (linked to STARS, Tuition Promise, and CMM if at UMW)
  • Retention counseling & peer mentorship
  • Access to financial aid advising, tutoring, and campus resource navigation
  • Alumni “flight crew” check-ins for Eagles in Flight students at other institutions

Recruitment & Eligibility

  • Students identified in partnership with counselors, teachers, and administrators (priority: Pell-eligible, free/reduced lunch, first-gen, foster care, and homeless).
  • Rising 9th graders recruited annually; initial outreach begins in 7th/8th grade.
  • Methods: counselor/teacher referrals, info sessions (in-person and virtual), classroom presentations, flyers, social media, and tabling at school events.

Advising

  • Flight Crew meet with each student twice per semester in HS.
  • Sessions cover:
    • Student aspirations & goal setting
    • Review & update Family Action Plans
    • College access milestones (testing, applications, financial aid)
  • Flight Crew coordinates with counselors; avoids pulling students from core classes.

Workshops & Programming

Middle School (7th–8th grade)

  • College & career awareness: “Oh the Places You’ll Go” activities
  • Decision-making & goal setting
  • Academic planning for HS
  • Success skills: organization, confidence, asking for help

High School (9th–12th grade)

  • 9th: Building a strong start (study skills, identity & interests, career exploration)
  • 10th: Academic preparedness, early college search, time management
  • 11th: College search, SAT/ACT prep, FAFSA overview, scholarship search
  • 12th: FAFSA completion, application & scholarship workshops, senior transition prep

Campus Visits & Career Exploration

  • Annual campus visits to UMW for each grade level (academic sessions, student panels, dining hall, and faculty/staff connections).
  • Summer enrichment: residential bootcamp (year 2 onward) and day camps (academic, career, leadership focus).
  • Career exploration trips (businesses, labs, hospitals, etc.).

Community & Family Engagement

  • Eagles Family Nights (twice yearly, fall/spring).
  • Parent Advocate Group to share experiences and advice.
  • Parent Retreat (a mix of wellness and education).
  • Partnerships with community organizations for events, workshops, and cultural programs.

Tracking & Outcomes

  • Track transcripts, attendance, GPA, FAFSA completion, applications, and enrollment.
  • Maintain contact logs, sign-in sheets, regular surveying, senior exit forms.
  • Annual reporting on program participation and student outcomes.

Annual Milestones

  • Year 1: Establish three partnerships with regional high schools, launch recruitment, first campus visits, achieve 2.0% increase in applications from partner schools over FY 2025.
  • Year 2: Begin MS/HS curriculum, launch summer programs, begin family curriculum, refine tracking systems.
  • Year 3+: Add new cohorts annually, expand family curriculum, scale summer bootcamps, measure first graduation outcomes.

Admissions

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