Prior to enrolling at Global Leadership Academy three years ago, Isabel Medrano said she saw college as too expensive, and never really planned on going.
Now a senior, Medrano said she plans to not only pursue a bachelor’s degree but also to go on to law school, both at the University of Denver.
Medrano said a big reason she changed her mind was Allison Lusero-Hoffman, a post-secondary options coach at the Mapleton school.
“She taught me there are grants and scholarships, …” Medrano said. “I’m achieving my dreams. I’m going to go to college and starting my career.”
While Medrano’s story is inspiring, at Global Leadership Academy and other Mapleton schools, it’s hardly unique. Every senior at GLA and throughout the district applies to at least three colleges each year, and many of them will be the first in their families to attend college.
That stat, plus a number of other opportunities Lusero-Hoffman finds or creates for her students, is the reason the school was honored by College Summit and Deloitte last week for creating a college-going culture at the school.
College Summit is a national non-profit organization that helps high schools boost their college enrollment rates. Deloitte is an international accounting and consulting firm with an office in Denver.
Together, they honored the school with the Deloitte Award For College Enrollment and Achievement and Innovation. One school is honored in each College Summit Region.
GLA was honored for the peer leaders program it has set up in which students help each other apply for college and scholarships; lock-in days where students apply for college, college awareness events and hosting speakers and retreats.
“I’m very honored because the school has changed a lot,” said Lusero-Hoffman, who has been at the school for four years. “It shows it works to have a consistent message. It’s a real honor for the seniors. They’re the ones who do the work, face the fear of what’s next.”
The school held an event Oct. 20 to celebrate the award that featured former Denver Bronco Reggie Rivers. The school also hosted two assemblies – one for the students in kindergarten through sixth grade and one for older students – in which seniors demonstrated their commitments to their future by signing a poster stating goals like going to college.
“It’s a great experience to hear from others people that we’re the best school,” Medrano said.
As part of the award, the school received $5,000, which Lusero-Hoffman said will be used for scholarships for GLA students. They also got a mural painted on the wall in the gym to remind students that they can dream and make those dreams come true.
“My real goal was to have a lasting effect,” Lusero-Hoffman said of using the money for scholarships and choosing a mural as another part of the incentives offered the school with the award. “There’s a reminder of the good our school is doing. It’s a reminder of their own dreams.”
The mural was created by an artist who grew up in north Denver and features professionals in a number of careers and the words “achieve your dreams.”
Lusero-Hoffman, who was also honored last week with a counselor of the month award from College Invest, said there are a number of things that contribute to their culture shift, which really began four year’s ago with the Mapleton Public Schools’ district wide reform to make smaller schools and get students to focus on post-high-school plans.
But there are a few key things, Lusero-Hoffman said stand out.
The first is the fact it’s a K-12 school, and seniors serve as examples and leaders at the school. They also host an all-school lock in for seniors and require the students to complete three college applications with help from adult volunteers. They send a few seniors to a College Summit event to learn more about going to college, paying for it and applying. Those students share what they gain with their peers.
Plus, it’s a small school. There are just 20 seniors at the school.
“I was surprised, but at the same time Allison does so much,” said school co-director David Sauer. “It’s well-deserved.”
While the district has been honored as a whole for its efforts, this is the first time GLA has been honored specifically for its school-level efforts.
Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts won the first of such awards last year when all 44 of its seniors were accepted to at least one four-year college.