March 2nd, 2018 by WCBC Radio

Twenty-one junior and senior Project Y.E.S. (Youth Experiencing Success) students from Allegany County Public Schools recently participated in a college experience at Allegany College of Maryland and the Gateway Culinary Café. Lauren Winterberg, ACM Recruitment Representative, hosted the tour and shared information with the group on ACM’s programs of study, the transfer process, tuition, FAFSA, and the importance of support programs similar to Y.E.S. offered at ACM (Pathways to Success).

               David Jones, Vice President of Advancement and Community Relations at ACM, welcomed the group at the Culinary Café, stressing to the students that nobody should be discouraged from attending college due to the cost as there are a tremendous amount of scholarships, grants, loans and work study opportunities available to students in need.

               The group also heard from Dave Sanford, Culinary Director, who shared his experience and educational background that helped lead him to his current career. He discussed a number of positions in the food industry, their average salaries, and job responsibilities. The visit to the Café concluded with a buffet lunch prepared by Dave and his students.

               The goal of this college experience was to expose Project Y.E.S. students to a college campus to get them excited about higher education as well as to prepare them for life after high school. “The College Experience has been an annual event for our group, hosted by the ACM Recruitment Department, for at least the seventeen years that I have been in this position,” said Sydney Sibley, Project Y.E.S. Coordinator at Washington Middle and Fort Hill High. “I was very proud that the majority of our students participating have a good understanding of the ACM programs. A few have applies, some have been accepted, and one or two are currently enrolled in early college coursework.”

               Project Y.E.S. offers in-school support to qualifying students in grades 6-12 in Allegany County Public Schools. In addition to Mrs. Sibley, other Project Y.E.S. Coordinators include Terena Knotts and Robyn Miltenberger.