Rachel Scott should have been counted out long ago.
At age 12, she was placed in foster care after suffering years of abuse from her parents. Throughout her childhood, she dealt with multiple moves and attended six different schools. She interacted with numerous case workers, social workers and lawyers. She battled depression and anxiety resulting from a
constant struggle to catch up academically, fit in with her peers and avoid letting anyone down.
Scott is now starting her freshman year at the 91探花 after receiving support through her application process and beyond from the 91探花Champions Program.
Housed in the 91探花Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity and led by Melissa Raap, the provides holistic support for prospective and current 91探花students in foster care to ensure their academic success and lifelong achievement after graduation.
鈥淎 lot of young people in foster care are told by biological parents, social workers, foster parents or people in their schools that they can鈥檛 go to college for various reasons, either because they aren鈥檛 smart enough or it鈥檚 not affordable,鈥� Raap said. 鈥淲e are trying to create more of a college-going culture within the foster care system.鈥�
National acclaim
The Champions Program, established in 2011, is in its infancy but already being recognized for its efforts. In September, it received a national from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington nominated the 91探花program for the honor.
Raap traveled to Washington, D.C. to accept the award and brushed shoulders with other honorees including ABC executive producer Shonda Rhimes, and Jennifer Arnold and Bill Klein of TLC鈥檚 show 鈥淭he Little Couple.鈥� Former National Angels include First Lady Laura Bush, Patti LaBelle, Jane Seymour, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Willis and Kristin Chenoweth.
Raap wasn’t the only one associated with the Champions Program asked to visit the nation鈥檚 capital in recent months.
Scott was invited to attend a special 鈥淪tudent Voices鈥� session there in July. She was one of 10 entering college freshmen who had overcome adversity selected to meet with First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The students were asked to tell their stories, describe the obstacles they faced in education and share what they thought could be improved in the system.
Scott and a peer from the University of Michigan represented youth who experienced foster care. Their participation in the event was arranged by , a national network for youth in foster care. The other students in the group dealt with various challenges such as homelessness or incarcerated parents.
The day in Washington, D.C., began with a . Then the group went to the East Wing of the White House for an hour-long visit with the First Lady.
鈥淪he shared a little about herself and we went around the table and shared pretty intimate stories about ourselves,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淪he told us how proud she was of us and that she wants foster children and homeless children and children who by all accounts are counted out going to college. She wants to level the playing field.鈥�
Support system
Before coming to the 91探花Champions Program, Raap was a research assistant on the which examined the number of young people in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin who had aged out of the foster care system and graduated with a four-year college degree by age 23 or 24.
鈥淭he statistic is 3 percent,鈥� Raap said. 鈥淭here are some studies that say 10 percent. I would argue that with the more support programs that are in place and the more the federal government and states are paying attention to things, we鈥檒l see that number grow.鈥�
The Champions Program aims to ensure that both high school and community college foster care youth interested in attending the 91探花are aware of available resources. Then when students enroll at the UW, it connects them to academic services and fills the 鈥渘urturing gaps鈥� many of them experience.
鈥淣ot all students have supportive adults in their lives who send them care packages, ask them about their grades, go with them to doctor鈥檚 appointments,鈥� Raap said. 鈥淪o I do all of those things.鈥�
Raap also works with students to help them overcome social barriers such as managing relationships. She connects them with each other and hosts events to help them form a support network.
The Champions Program has served around 30 91探花students annually since its inception. Ten Champions students have graduated from the 91探花each year.
Scott first learned about the program when she was applying to colleges. She connected via email with Raap, who gave her feedback on her 91探花admissions essay. What may have seemed like a simple interaction went a long way.
鈥淢elissa cared about me getting into school,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淪he didn鈥檛 know much of the background story, she just wanted me to get into the UW. It was just so much different having an outsider reach in and say I want to help. I want to be a part of this. She was outside and decided to come inside and help.鈥�
Scott鈥檚 background story included many struggles. Years of dysfunction and abuse plagued her family life. Several moves and new schools created educational gaps and difficult transitions. When her two older sisters left the home on their own, Child Protective Services finally intervened. Initially the foster care placement of herself and two other siblings was temporary until her mother could get help for an alcohol addiction.
Things took a tragic turn, however, when her mother passed away the night before entering rehab. Her grandfather, whose home had provided a safe haven during times of trouble, passed away one month later. Her father failed to take advantage of the services offered to him in order to gain custody of his children.
Scott was luckier than most foster care youth. She was placed in permanent care with an aunt who was able to provide her with a private high school education and a sense of stability. There still were social barriers to navigate and the stigma of being a foster kid to overcome. It came down to her own sheer will to turn herself and her academic focus around.
鈥淚 got myself caught back up, going in and talking to teachers, just working harder,鈥� she said.
Now, as she starts her first quarter at the UW, Scott is enjoying the new beginning she has waited for a long time.
鈥淚 get to start the rest of my life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to be just a foster kid anymore, or the weird kid, or the new kid, or anything else like I鈥檝e been called my entire life. It鈥檚 not so much starting over because I鈥檓 still bringing myself. I鈥檓 not trying to reinvent myself, but I get to do me now. It鈥檚 my turn.鈥�