Swarthmore College — CEF Blog — Chester Education Foundation

The STEM Academy in Chester is “Lights On” with afterschool activities facilitated by the Chester Education Foundation (CEF).

For the next two months, juniors and seniors from three high schools in Chester, PA are preparing for success on SATs and ACTs. Their scores on these tests will determine the important next stage of their lives - where they will go to college.

Chester Education Foundation, Swarthmore College, and the Let’s Get Ready (LGR) organization are partnering with the Chester Upland School District and the Chester Charter School for the Arts to prepare students for Spring 2019 SAT tests. Twice per week for ten weeks, 10 college students trained by LGR from Widener University, Swarthmore College and Penn State Brandywine meet at the STEM Academy to coach students in math, language arts and test-taking strategies. The LGR coaches, along with guest speakers, also provide workshops on the college application process, financial aid and student success. Brett Alvare, a professor from Widener University is teaching an ACT prep course.

“Let’s Get Ready is very excited to be working with the Chester Education Foundation! Although we’ve been in Pennsylvania for a number of years, we’ve just begun to serve the students of Chester. It’s an honor to provide students with an opportunity to expand their college knowledge and prepare for an important test. We look forward to growing this partnership and continuing to build relationships within the Chester community!

-Neha Surender, College Access Manager at Let’s Get Ready”

Elsewhere at the STEM Academy, International Hip-Hop Artist, Amillion the Poet is teaching students in the afterschool program how to express themselves through spoken word, rap and soul. Amillion, who performed at the 2018 Firefly Festival alongside headlining rappers Eminem and Kendrick Lamar has been working with the Chester Education Foundation for about six years, weaving inspirational messages into his lessons on composing, performance and entrepreneurship.

When asked about his experience working with Chester youth, Amillion said,

“It’s been four years since I first performed as the Key Note Speaker for the Chester Summer school graduation. Since then it’s been a pleasure to be entrenched in both STEM Academy and Chester High after school programs. Poetry In Motion workshops have allowed these talented youth a safe haven to express themselves through music, poetry and dance. They say they are inspired by seeing me live my dreams performing all over the world and still make time for them every Thursday. Little do they know they inspire me as well!”

In addition to the “Let’s Get Ready” program and Amillion’s “Poetry in Motion” class, STEM Academy afterschool students can choose from an array of enrichment activities provided by CEF and partners including Martial Arts, Bio-Medical Engineering, Debate Team, Vocal/Music Lessons, Ballroom/Hip-Hop/Dance, Physical Fitness, and workshops from the Academy of Natural Science.