OneSpartanburg awards $10K to SAM ‘Smart Start’ program
July 7, 2020
The Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM) is introducing Smart Start, a program designed to help students bridge the gap between their intention to start college and their actual enrollment. OneSpartanburg is proud to contribute $10,000 to pilot the program, furthering our partnership with SAM to develop homegrown talent from cradle to career.
“Our analysis has shown that over 19% of our students across Spartanburg County that have said they’re going to college are not actually enrolling. We need to change that,” said Meghan Smith, Director of College and Career Readiness for the Spartanburg Academic Movement.
Starting July 8, the Smart Start program will connect 23 community members who have volunteered to serve as mentors with more than 100 graduated Spartanburg High School seniors who have been invited to participate in the program. Mentors and students will communicate through secure text lines. Students who complete the program and enroll in college will earn $250 in credits to their college’s bookstore to offset expenses for books, supplies or technology.
