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2019 Conference

May 2–4, 2019

College Park Marriott, Hyattsville, MD

D4 - ANCHOR TALK: Creating a College Going Culture

Friday, May 3, 2019 at 2:00 PM–3:00 PM EDT add to calendar
2112 (75)
Session Description

This session will guide educators through the process of creating a college going culture in their schools. What tools are necessary to help everyone in your school be on board when it comes to creating this culture and keeping the momentum going year after year?

Target audience

Secondary/CBO

Submitter

Mrs. Natasha Blake-McDowell, CollegeBound Foundation/SPIRED Consulting Group

Presenters

Mrs. Natasha Blake-McDowell, CollegeBound Foundation/ SPIRED Consulting Group Inc.
Brief biographical sketch, to include educational background

Originally from Brooklyn NY, Mrs. Blake-McDowell came to Baltimore to pursue an A.A.S degree in Cooking & Baking, B.S. in Business Management and a M.S. degree in International Business from Baltimore International College. She later completed another M.S. degree in School Counseling from The Johns Hopkins University and also graduated from Loyola University of MD with her certification in Leadership and Supervision in May of 2018.
Her passion for educational growth for the youth of Baltimore City gave her the opportunity to work as the Assistant Director of Admissions at BIC and teach at Mergenthaler High School in Baltimore city where she was awarded “CTE Teacher of the Year” for the 2016-2017 school year. Mrs. Blake-McDowell sits on the Regional Council Board for NACAC, is currently a board member with "Art with a Heart' and recently became a member of PCACAC's Government Relations Committee.
Her goal is to make sure every student is aware of all post-secondary educational opportunities and continue to be a moving force in Baltimore City when it comes to providing access to ALL students.

Melisa Hypolite, CollegeBound Foundation
Brief biographical sketch, to include educational background

Melisa M. Hypolite was born in Trinidad, West Indies and later moved with her family to Pleasantville, New Jersey. After attending Morgan State University and becoming the first in her family to graduate from college, Melisa decided to make Baltimore City her permanent home. Shortly thereafter, she earned her bachelor's degree from Morgan State University and her MBA from the University of Maryland, University College. Melisa was previously employed at Nielsen TV Ratings as a membership recruiter and at a trade school as an assistant director of admissions. She also has experience as a substitute teacher for grades K-12 and an adjunct instructor at Baltimore City Community College and Community College of Baltimore County. One of Melisa's greatest accomplishments is authoring a guide entitled "Im Ready;" This guide highlights the importance of college and career readiness and offers suggestions on ways that families can support their school aged child through the K-12 process. Melisa has been interviewed by RoadTrip Nation for a documentary about students overcoming the odds in their pursuit of higher education, some of her students have been featured by Michelle Obama's Better Make Room initiative and her valedictorian was the 2017 CollegeBound Foundation Scholar of the Year.

Melisa enjoys working with teenagers and adults in their pursuit of higher education; she knows that education can change a life for the better, as it has changed hers.

Session Materials

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