The G-Force has breathed fresh air into Del Valle High School’s mission to create a “college-going culture.” Without the commitment of this organization, approximately one hundred twenty-five member G-Force student team, Del Valle High School would not have been able to move the masses so quickly toward college.
Primary roles and responsibilities have been to encourage students to consider college, to develop and disseminate messages to student peers re college (dates and deadlines), conduct peer-to-peer outreaches, write college essays and resumes, overcome test anxiety, register for SAT/ACT college admissions tests, apply to colleges, attend pre-college activities, apply for scholarships, develop and share with peers an understanding of higher education’s benefits and motivate students to act upon opportunities and information.
The march is on to NOT lose momentum in this war Del Valle High School’s G- Force has waged to increase what is vital for our student body—a climate controlled comfort zone to catapult students into higher education. “Whatever it takes” is our high school’s motto, and the G-Force has done just that.
It all began in early fall 2007 when the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board extended the welcome wagon to Del Valle High School regarding an opportunity to build a GO Center and G-Force. The rest is history!
If I had to summarize the impact of and leaders and “lieutenants” in the G-Force, I would focus on the following major issues: A – ACCESS, B – BUCKS, C – COURAGE..
ACCESS: The average counselor in Texas has a case load of over 400 students. Enough said! Trained G-Force students have connected either directly or indirectly with Del Valle High School students to bring college admissions counseling to their peers through numerous volunteer activities since fall 2007.
BUCKS: To succeed at the higher education level, students need knowledge and skills, determination and money. The G-Force has assisted and promoted FAFSA/TASFA and scholarship information to students in numerous venues.
COURAGE: By empowering their fellow students to believe to succeed, the DVHS G-Force has served a role critical for our student body’s continued ascent to higher education.
Results! FAFSA completions, ACT/SAT registrations, scholarship numbers, Texas Common Application completions! DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL COMES TO PLAY! In 2011 we are ranked #6 in electronic submissions of the Texas Common Application among 34 Central Texas high schools and are among one of the highest performing high schools in completion of the FAFSA in Central Texas. Scholarships are rolling in. The Class of 2011 has a Minnie Stevens Piper Scholar and two Gates Millennium Scholar Finalists.
What the Del Valle High School G-Force is doing is critical. I am privileged to be surrounded by spirit of success and leadership the G-Force brings to this student body. “May the force be with them!” |
