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For more information about this service:
Stephanie Litton
Youth Services Coordinator
Phone: 540-407-0502
E-mail: slitton@skylinecap.org |
Project Discovery has a 30-year history in the Commonwealth of Virginia during which time it has impacted thousands of students. The program is currently offered through 21 local programs. Project Discovery works with students from predominantly low to moderate-income households and/or, are potential first generation post-secondary education attendees. Stressing the importance of education to these students, Project Discovery, through its partner agencies, provide workshops to improve basic skills (e.g., study skills, time management, financial planning, etc.) and assist students on the process of completing applications (admission, financial aid and scholarships) to post secondary institutions. As a result, a greater number of students who would not have gone on to post secondary education have elected to continue their education. Project Discovery's goal is to eliminate poverty through education.
Project Discovery believes that hardworking, meritorious students should not be deprived of an opportunity to attend college simply because of a lack of funding. Our vision is to see that every student graduate from high school and every student who has the desire and demonstrates the ability, be able to attend post-secondary education. To find out more about Project Discovery of Virginia, go to their web site.
What is Project Discovery?
In the local program, Skyline’s Project Discovery students meet for workshops once a week to explore their options for life after high school. Participants are encouraged to take the hardest classes in which they can do well, and be involved in school and community activities. They also have the opportunity to visit at least three colleges or trade schools each year, as well as participate in cultural events and incentive trips.
College bound students are encouraged to apply for at least twenty scholarships. If a student with a good GPA, who is involved in community service and other activities, particularly leadership activities, applies for scholarships, she or he is likely to receive about $1,000 per hour of time spent on scholarships. All Project Discovery students fill out a profile on FastWeb that provides them access to information on thousands of scholarships as well as the opportunity to search for relevant opportunities specific to the needs of each student.
College-bound members who have attended workshops, participated in field trips and volunteered for community service projects will receive the Skyline CAP Project Discovery Certificate of Completion. On average, four to six high school seniors complete the program each year and continue on to attend a college, university, community college, or vocational school.
Find out more about what Project Discovery is doing from their most recent newsletter.
Ready to Get Involved?
If you are ready to join, you can go online to sign up. Also, check us out on Facebook.
Meetings are held every Wednesday at Madison County High School. Meet in the lobby by 3:20.
How Can I Help?
 The Project Discovery program receives no direct state funding. Please donate now to help sustain this service. If you would like to get involved, please contact Stephanie to learn more about the following opportunities:
- - gift cards and monetary to help pay for food for weekly meetings
- - driver and/or chaperone for field trips
- - guest speaker
- - mentor or meeting helper
- - fundraiser
- - Advisory Board member
- - other - if you have an idea, please let us know
Project Discovery is also in need of donations of items such as computers for students' use, school supplies, snacks and basic office supplies.
Thanks to Our Partners
We would especially like to thank Madison County High School for their ongoing support of Project Discovery. The school provides meeting space and support for recruting efforts.
Thank you to Giovanna's Italian Eatery provides pizza for meetings once a month.
Other partners for Project Discovery include:
- I-am-the-One.com, which provides resources for students in Virginia seeking higher education to help break the cycle of poverty.
- Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, which awarded a grant to Skyline CAP in 2009 to implement Foundations in Personal Finance, a program to help high school students begin their life with the knowledge necessary to avoid debt and grow wealth. For more information about this program, click here.
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