M ay 21, 1997 • T he P ori land O bserver
P age M
High school graduation gap narrows
Study shows minority students are doing better, racial myths exposed
More black Americans are fin­
ishing high school but are doing it
later in life, according to a report
released by the A m erican Council
on Education.
In 1995, about 87 percent o f both
blacks and whites aged 25 to 29 had
graduated high school, the report
shows.
In 1985, blacks had an 81% high
school graduation rate, compared
with 87% for whites, the report said.
The gap may have closed because
a greater num ber o f black people
finished high school requirements
later in life through equivalency ex­
aminations, the report said.
Among students aged 18 to 24,
African Americans and Hispanics
still trail w hites in high school
completion rates, a trend that has
lasted for more then two decades.
But the 1995 data indicated that
both African Americans and His­
panics had narrowed that gap.
College completion rates among
African Americans and whites aged
25 to 29 reached their highest levels
since 1975 — 26 percent o f whites
and 15% o f blacks.
But only 9% o f Hispanics o f the
same age group had com pleted four
years o f college, a lower rate than in
the 1980s.
A n a n a ly sis o f C en su s d ata
showed that the rate o f increase in
college enrollment among black and
Hispanic students is slowing, the
report said.
Graduate participation up. Both
Hispanic men and women contrib­
uted to a 2% increase in Hispanic
college participation in 1995.
Still, there is a significant gender
gap between Hispanic male and fe­
male high school graduates aged 18
to 24 — the college participation
rate for Hispanic women was 38.4
percent in 1995, compared with 32.2
percent for Hispanic men.
Students o f color made the great­
est gains in 1995 at the graduate
level, where enrollm ent increased
6.1%.
At the undergraduate level, en­
rollm ent was up by 2.6 percent.
This year the report included a
special focus study on educational
and dem ographic trends am ong
Asian-Pacific Americans.
teer employees.
Students also receive additional
science credits for com pleting the
courses.
Julie Howland, primary Portland
Public Schools coordinator for the
Academ y sin cel9 9 1 said, fh e
AT&T project has served as a model
for us in both the region and the
district o f what school -to-work can
look like.
The depth of the program for stu­
dents. the length o f the program, the
number o f points o f involvement,
and the way AT&T as a company
has committed to this project really
makes It stand out,”
“ Students see the Academy as
something valued by the outside
community and therefore will put
work into it.” Howland said.
“ It connects students with more
role models, and is a way for the
community to become a part o f edu­
cation.
“Scholarship recipients include
Cameron Bogue who will be attend­
ing Portland State University; Jamila
Singleton heads to the University o f
O re g o n ; J e n n ife r C re sw e ll at
Randolf-Macon W om en's College;
and Josh Busch who is attending
Linnfteld College
APAs have a wide range o f aca­
demic interests and are involved in a
variety o f extracurricular activities.
One o f the principle authors o f
the special study, Kenyon Chan o f
California State University, said that
for Asians Americans, education is
their economic road out.
Chan recommends language de­
velopment program s and a focus on
high-risk APA groups.
The A merican Council on Edu­
cation is an umbrella group for col­
leges, universities and educational
associations.
Warner awards degrees
Grant
scholars
named
Four Grant High School seniors
each received $2,000 scholarships
from AT&T W ireless Services at
th e A T & T W ire le ss A cad em y
Awards held last night at the Red
Lion Hotel - Lloyd Center.
Scholarship recipients were cho­
sen both by Grant High School teach­
ers and AT&T employee volunteers
based on outstanding participation,
professionalism and team player
commitment to the AT&T Wireless
Academv proeram.
The AT&T W ireless Academy,
developed in 1991 with Grant High
School and Portland Public Schools,
is a series o f unique activities, tech­
n ic a l w o rk sh o p s and in -d e p th
connect what they are doing in the
classroom to life after high school.
“With this program, students learn
how to operate within an office en­
vironment,” said six-year AT&T em­
ployee volunteer Kelly Springer.
“They are accountable for a real
business projects that are taken seri­
ously and are exposed to other stu­
dents and people they wouldn t nor­
mally interact with.”
The business education partner­
ship for freshman, sophomores, ju n ­
iors and seniors is a progressive
three-year curriculum and takes
place at. both the Grant High School
campus and the AT&T W ireless of­
fices in downtown Portland.
Each level o f the Academy is
designed to widen students percep­
tions o f career and education oppor­
tunities, expose them to the wireless
industry and to help them make in­
formed choices about their future.
All levels o f the academy are co­
lead or facilitated by Grant High
School teachers and AT&T volun­
It explored the myth o f the “model
m inority.”
The study found Asian-Pacific
Americans ( APAs) are often left out
o f the discourse on race and educa­
tion because they are considered a
“model m inority” not in need o f
attention from educators.
College participation in the group
ranges from 66% for Chinese Ameri­
cans to 26 percent for Laotian Ameri­
cans.
The study says the stereotype o f
APAs as science and math students
does not reflect reality.
/n/ted N e g ^C o H eg ^u n dp re sid en t William H. Gray III accepts the President's Award from National
Warner Pacific College added 76
names to its alumni roles, May 10,
when commencement was held at
Portland’s New Hope Community.
President Jay A. Barber, Jr. gave
the charge to the Class o f 1997 and
Senior Class President Anna Wagner
gave the response on behalf o f the
class. Wagner also received the high­
est award given for student achieve­
ment., the A.F. Gray Award named
for the first president o f Warner Pa­
cific College.
Robert Kendall, president o f Rob­
ert Kendall Chevrolet in Vancouver,
W ashington, delivered the Com ­
mencement address.
Later in the program, Kendall,
along with his wife Joanne, were pre­
sented the Caldwell Award in recog­
nition o f their leadership in founding
Open House Ministries and for many
other examples o f church and com­
munity leadership.
Colonel Harold Summers, 1950
graduate o f Pacific Bible College and
retired Chaplain for the U.S. Army,
received the honorary Degree, Doctor
o f Humane Letters.
He was cited for exemplary service
in many parts o f the world as a leading
military chaplain.
Student speakers Mark Foat and
Darcy Woodmark addressed the as­
sembled audience and the WPC Con­
cert Choir, directed by Dr. Thomas
Miller, presented "Betelehemu: A
Nigerian Carol."
Alumni Council President Steve
Olson welcomed the graduates into
the Alumni Association.
The most degrees in one discipline
were awarded in Human Develop­
ment with 35. Business Administra­
tion came in second with 18 degrees.
One M asterof Religion degree was
awarded as well as four baccalaureate
degrees in Religion andChristian Min­
istries. Other degrees were awarded in
History, English, Music, Health &
Human Kinetics, Social Science, and
Biological Science.
Conference o f Black Mayors President Emanuel Cleaver II.
Physical fitness celebrated
Oregonians are invited to partici­
pate in events tied to Physical Fit­
ness Day, May 21 with special ac­
tivities scheduled at the State Capi­
tol.
Governor John Kitzhaberwill pro­
claim Wednesday as Fitness Day
and urge Oregonians o f all ages to
participate in physical fitness pro­
grams and sport activities. He will
sign the proclamation on May 20 at
11:30 am in his ceremonial office in
the capitol.
Fitness Day is organized by the
Governor's Council on Physical Fit­
ness and Sports. "We're doing this to
persuade more Oregonians to make
fitness a priority," said Rob Ritson. a
member o f the Council.
Several activities are scheduled at
the Capitol.
State Schools Supt. Norma Paulus
will be joining legislators, state em­
ployees, students and others for a
one-mile walk which will begin at
noon on the north steps o f the Capi­
tol. Participants will walk around the
Capitol and on the mall.
Another noon activity is a tug-o-
war on the mall between students
and the State Police and National
Guard.
Oregonians can have their fitness
assessed from 9 to 4 p.m. at various
stations around the Capitol and mall
There will be fitness exhibits at the
same time. Fitness demonstrations
will take place from 10 a m. on.
Retired officer joins grads
Eric Watkins is living the "be all
that you can be" motto. The 48-y ear-
old Army lieutenant colonel will
soon receive two advanced degrees
from the UO, a law degree on Sun­
day and a master o f business admin­
istration degree in June.
Watkins retired from the Army in
1992 and took a year o ff before
deciding he wanted to go back to
school.
"I started working w ith non-profits
when my family and I moved to Or­
egon and loved the w ork," says
Watkins. "I saw a real need for people
with managerial skills and knowledge
of the law and decided to educate
myself in those areas so I could better
serve those organizations."
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