Project SUCCESS

Project SUCCESS is a collaboration with the Eckerd Family Foundation which is designed to assist students at Bowers Whitley Career Center (BWCC) to be successful. 

Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) developed specialized educational programming at Career Centers in response to the needs of at-risk students.  The overall purpose of the Career Centers is to provide quality performance-based career preparation and training facilities for students who are not succeeding academically at one of the district’s comprehensive high schools or for students who are over-aged middle school students.  Students enroll in the career center by choice.  They and their parents/guardians believe that training in one of the career programs offered is the appropriate option for their needs.  Technical and career programs offered in the Career Centers include programs such as administrative assistant, automotive service technology, building construction technology, culinary operations, customer service, early childhood education, fashion marketing, nursing assistant, interior design services, and web design.  After graduation, students can enter the workforce, enroll in a community college, or attend advanced technical training in one of the school district’s adult technical career centers (aka Hi-TEC centers in Hillsborough County). 

The vast majority of the students at the Career Centers are severely economically disadvantaged.  At Bowers Whitley Career Center (BWCC) 98% have received the “free lunch” designation which indicates the greatest level of need.  While the students and their parents/guardians have made the decision to work towards training in a career area of their choice, they have multiple disadvantages when compared to the student population at large.  In addition to economic needs, these students may be handed off between family members, or searching for a place to stay each night.  Most do not have a parental role model who has completed high school.  Of last year’s graduating class of 57 students from BWCC, 53 of their parents did not graduate from high school.  What this does mean is that all 57 high school graduates will now have the expectation that their children will complete high school.

To read the Tampa Tribune news editorial about Project SUCCESS CLICK HERE. 
 
Please see the objectives of Project SUCCESS to the right.  The bottom line with Project SUCCESS is that we can tell the students at the career center that we will help them with financial hurdles to complete their high school education and to either begin their career (via the career training they received at the career center) or further their education (via community college or technical education center).  If you would like to be part of this initiative, please contact us or select Project SUCCESS when giving a gift.

Project SUCCESS Has Four Objectives

1. 100% of BWCC students have the financial ability to complete their high school diploma at the career center.  That is, the need for special materials, tools, testing costs, certification costs, etc. are met. 
2. 100% of BWCC seniors are oriented to available post-secondary options (including careers available with career center certifications, Technical Education Center [Hi-TEC] certifications, associates degrees, or bachelor’s degrees).
3. 100% of BWCC graduates who wish to continue their career education have access to sufficient funding for school expenses to complete Hi-TEC certification programs or community college. 
4. a. 100% of BWCC graduates will earn sufficient Occupational Competency Points (OCP’s) to obtain jobs in their area of study.
   b. 75% of BWCC who continue their education at Hi-TEC Centers will obtain employment in their area of study.