Legacy Scholars is an initiative developed as part of the W.K Kellogg Foundations 75th Anniversary. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation established a 4 million dollar endowment to help support post secondary education attainment for Battle Creek area youth. This program supports 6th grade students attending Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS) Lakeview (LV). Originally, the program targeted 500 6th graders students every year who were nominated at the end of their 5th grade year by adults (parents, teachers, counselors, coaches, pastors, etc). Recently, the Legacy Scholars Board of Directors voted to expand Legacy Scholars to include all 6th grade students attending Battle Creek Public Schools and Lakeview School District for the 2006/2007 school year.

Student participants of Legacy Scholars must attend and remain in either district until graduation to secure their scholarship. Upon timely graduation from Battle Creek Public Schools or Lakeview School District, Legacy Scholars who decide to attend Kellogg Community College will receive a two year scholarship (62 credit-hour equivalent) which pays for tuition and books. Scholarships are "last dollar," and are used to supplement any other scholarships or grants students receive.

The program is a supporting organization of the Battle Creek Community Foundation and under the auspices of Kellogg Community College. The leadership of Legacy Scholars currently consists of a 17 member Board of Directors and Paula Langston-Ware, as the Program Director. The current Board of Directors Members are:

A. PROGRAM GOALS

The Goals of Legacy Scholars are to:

• Increase on-time graduation rates of Legacy Scholars
• Establish community supports and/or resources that will provide or enhance services to Legacy Scholars and theirs families
• Prepare students to secure an opportunity to obtain a college degree or certificate
• Establish a Funding Development Committee that will create a 3 year fund development plan.