"It takes a village of concerned organizations and mentors to lead our youth to embrace positive experiences and educational opportunities, which builds character, civic-minded members of the community, and goal orientated young adults".

-Avis White Thomas, Founder of The Village Connection (CAP)

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Dr. Cornell West
Dr. Cornel West, author, Professor of Religion and African American Studies, at Princeton University encouraged our students to continue their education, and to not confuse success with greatness on a visit to Princeton University.

"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance".
- McIntyre


Dr. Freeman Hrabowski
Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, author, Educator, and President of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), speaks to our students about understanding the importance of immersing themselves in their studies to reach their scholastic goals while on a visit to the UMBC campus.

Student Feedback:

" I have been keeping my grades up all through school and I saw the school I want to attend. I've learned how much that my hard work will pay off. I can get scholarships to get all my tuition, room, board, books, and meals paid for, so my parents won't have to pay, thank God, I am blessed"
-2002 Tour Student

"My teachers think I have talent, and that I should be doing a lot better. But I was into being cool, and popular. My senior package, my essay, and my personal commitment to do better, got me accepted conditionally to an HBCU. Thank you for believing in me".
-2007 Tour Student

"The student tour guides told us about how their grades were not the best in High School either, and about how hard they have to work to keep their grades up. They helped me take a look at myself. I'm a Junior, but I have promised myself to do what I need to do in High School now, so I can eventually do what I want to do later, I want to be a student tour guide while I'm in College."
-2007 Tour Student


"Once you find your voice, don't be afraid to think critically and be a courageous free thinker. Don't be a copy, be an original...examine yourself daily... have an irreverent attachment to that in life that constitutes the sum of what keeps you going and gives you strength...build from your rich tradition. ".
- Dr. West


"I liked TVC HBCU tour cause we were there to get familiar with what happens in college, and the understanding about how to turn our lives around, to get in college, and not become a statistic".
-2007 Tour Student

" The way my counselors tell it, I don't have a chance at going to college, but I found out from admissions officers at these HBCUs that students with worse records than mine, get in College and do well. I want to change, and go to an HBCU, cause nobody ever told me I could be a good student"
-2007 High School Sophomore


TVC Advisory Board Ervin Owens
Linda Thomas
Glen Best
Gloria Freeman Ravenell
Roscoe Holley
Steven Muhammad
John Marshall
Mark Stevens
Manon Matchett

Board of Directors
Avis White Thomas
Erwin N. Thomas
Deborah Reeves, Esq.

Our Volunteer Program Staff/Mentors
Avis White Thomas,
Co-Founder and Executive Director

Deborah Reeves, Esq.,
V. P. of Administrative Services

Tracey Norwood Farmer,
Director of Administrative
Services

Angela White Narain,
M.B.A., Program Director

Dianne Spann,
Education Consultant

Darwin Farmer,
Program Director

Vincint Thomas,
Program Director

Aundrea Veney,
Regional Director

Toni McFarland,
Program Director

Elisa Kimble,
Creative Arts Director

Juanita White (Bahka),
Community Organizer

Minister Allen Tillman,
Chaplin

Erwin Thomas,
Co-Founder and Development Director

Youth Advocates
Anjanie Narain
Julius Thomas
Armand Thomas
Clifton Chancellor Blair
Aisha Thomas

Colleges
and
Universities where
TVC scholars have
been accepted, admitted, attend or have graduated
include:
Alabama State University
Allegheny Community College
Allen University
American University
Benedict College
Bennett College
Boston College
Bowie State University
Brown University
Catholic University of America
Clark Atlanta University
Columbia University
Coppin State University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Dillard University
Drexel University
Emory University
East Carolina University
Fayetteville State University
Fisk University
Florida A & M University
Florida Memorial College
Florida State University
Frostburg State University
George Mason University
Goucher College
Grambling State University
Hampton University
Hood College
Howard University
Jackson State University
Johns Hopkins University
Kentucky State University
Loyola College
Marymount University Mississippi Vally State University
Morehouse College
Morgan State University
Mount St. Mary's University
Norfolk State University
North Carolina A & T State University
North Carolina Central University
Morehouse College
Northeastern University
Old Dominion University
Penn State University
Prince George's Community College
Princeton University
Rutgers University
Saint Paul's College
St. Johns University
St. Mary's University
Salisbury University
Savannah State University
Shaw University
South Carolina State University
Southern University
Spelman College
St. Bonaventure
Temple University
Tennessee State University
Towson State University
Trinity College
Tuskegee University
University of Baltimore
University of Delaware
University of the District of Columbia
University of Illinois
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, Eastern Shore
University of Memphis
University of Miami
University of University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Virginia
Vanderbilt University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia State University
Virginia Union University
Voorhees College
West Virgina State University
William & Mary University
Xavier University, New Orleans, Louisiana


Roster of
High Schools and
Middle Schools
we have served:
* Denotes Strategic Partners

Alpha Kappa H. S.,
Richmond, CA
*Anacostia H. S., D. C.
Arundel H. S., MD
*Ballou H. S., D. C.
Baltimore Poly. Inst., H. S., MD
Benjamin Banneker H. S., D. C.
*Benjamin Stoddert M. S., MD
Bishop McNamara H. S., MD
Bladensburg H. S., MD
Blair H. S., MD
Bowie H. S., MD
Archbishop Carroll H. S., D. C.
Central H. S., MD
Community Christian School,
Richmond, CA
Clinton Christan School, MD
Central H. S., MD
Coolige H. S., D. C.
*Crossland H. S., MD
Deal H. S., MD
DeMatha H. S., MD
Duke Ellington H. S., D. C.
Dunbar H. S., D. C.
Duval H. S., MD
Einstein H. S., MD
Eleanor Roosevelt H. S., MD
Elizabeth Seaton School, MD
*Ernest Everett Just M. S., MD
*Fairmont Heights H. S., MD
Forest Park High H. S., MD Forestville H. S., MD
Frederick Douglas H. S., MD
Friendly H. S., MD
Good Counsel H. S., MD
Grace Brethren School, MD
Gwynn Park H. S., MD
*H. D. Woodson H. S., D. C.
*Isaac J. Gourdine M. S., MD
Kennedy H. S., MD
Kima Public Charter School, D. C.
Largo H. S., MD
Mckinley Tech H. S., D. C.
Montclair H. S.,
Montclair, N. J.
Mount Vernon H. S. VA
Northpointe H. S., MD
Northwestern H. S., MD
Owings Mills H. S., MD
*Oxon Hill H. S., MD
Perry Hall H. S., MD
*Potomac H. S., MD
Riverdale Baptist School, MD
River Hill H. S., MD
School Without Walls, H. S., D. C.
*Science and Leadership Academy, Philadelphia, PA
Sharpsburg H. S., N. C.
Southern H. S., MD
Southern Nash H. S., MD
Springbrook H. S., MD
Suitland H. S., MD
Surratsville H. S., MD
Tall Oaks Vocational H. S., MD
Thomas Stone H. S., MD
Wheaton H. S., MD
Wilde Lake H. S., MD
Wilson H. S., MD

Back-to-School Links
Below are websites with
helpful information
about back-to-school
time for kids of all
ages.

www.kidshealth.org
www.unigo.com/
www. studentsreview.com/
www.knowhow2go.org
www.family.edu
www.how-to-study.com
www.studygs.net
www.schoolcounselor.org
www.amazingmoms.com
www.dictionaryfordads.com
www.ads.com
www.schoolfamily.com.org
www.greatschools.net
www.education.com

Preparing for College
It's never too early to start preparing for college! Early preparation can help smooth the way. Everyday you make major decisions that shape your future, and this should include deciding to go to college. Although college may be years away, it is never too early to become informed and prepared.



Links to College Entrance Exams and Preparation
www.actstudent.org
www.collegeboard.com
www.kaplan.com
www.petersons.com
www.collegeispossible.org
www.edonline.com
web1.ncaa.org
way2gomaryland.org/The University System of Maryland Schools

Links to Common Applications to Colleges and Universities
www.CollegeAdmissionsInfo.com
www.commonapp.org
www.eduinconline.com

Link to Online FAFSA Application
Free Application for Federal Student Aid

FAFSA on the Web applications must be submitted by:

The 2009-2010 School Year (July 1st, 2009 - June 30th, 2010:

FAFSA on the Web applications must be submitted by midnight Central Daylight time, June 30, 2010. Corrections on the Web forms must be submitted by midnight Central Daylight time, September 15, 2010.

Note: Your school must have your complete and correct information by your last day of enrollment in the 2009-2010 school year.
Pay close attention to deadlines! Ask your school about their definition of an application deadline - whether it is the receipt date and time or the process date and time of the application.



The Village Connection, Inc.(TVC), a 501 c3 Charitable Youth Enrichment Organization


Combined Federal Campaign#
CFC# 69243
Maryland Charitable Campaign#
MCC# 20103

*100% of Fees & Donations Support our College Access Program
*All Donations are fully Tax Deductable
*We Welcome In-kind-Donations
*Contribute or Donate below



Facebook: www.facebook.com/thevillageconnection
Email: info@theconnectedvillage.org

Our College Access Program promotes student success through:

-Mentoring, Inspiring Speakers, & Career Workshops

-Student Academic Skills Testing & Enrichment

-KAPLAN SAT/ACT Combo Prep Testing, & Educational Trips

-FAFSA, Writing, and Personal Improvement Workshops

-Local and Regional College Tours & Visits

-Scholarship Workshops, Scholarships & Internships

-A Student Retention Program Throughout Adulthood

* Attending Mentor Workshops are mandatory for students who plan on entering our College Access Program and attending our College Tours. Please RSVP your attendance to our Mentor Workshops by submitting the information form below.

Scheduled KAPLAN TEST PREP and ADMISSIONS
SAT/ACT Combo Practice Tests for 2010

* More practice tests for 2010 TBA

When: TBA

Time: TBA

Where: Fort Washington Baptist Church, 11516 Fort Washington Road Fort Washington, MD

Cost: $15(with online pre-registration at info@theconnectedvillage.org)

Only students with pre-registration pass will enter the building to be tested.

Parents return at 1:00 pm promptly to pick up students

Pre-registration DEADLINE: TBA

Students must bring: 2 sharpened #2 pencils and a calculator!

Parents and students are invited to pick up test results and attend a Test Strategies Seminar on: Date: TBA at Fort Washington Baptist Church, time 10:30 to 12:00 noon.


Join Our Summer Ivy League College Tour
July 12 - 16, 2010

Univ. of Pennsylvania

Princeton University

Columbia University

Brown University

Harvard University

Yale University

Dartmouth College

Non Ivy League School,
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (M.I.T.)


Alternative Schools: Cornell University, Fordham University, UMASS, Amherst College, Boston College, University of Rhode Island, UCONN


*Details of the college visits and tours will be discussed at the Mentor Workshops on Saturdays. Please RSVP your attendance to all workshops on the form below.

College Tour Program Particulars