10th Grade

College and Career Preparation Program

The core elements of the College and Career Preparation Program are leadership development, college and career readiness, coaching and parent and family involvement.

Leadership and foundational skills development are incorporated throughout the program. Students participate in several specific and intensive leadership and foundational skills development activities. These skills sessions teach students how to network and communicate, which will prepare them for college, scholarship, and career interviews. Further communications and etiquette workshops will help build both written and verbal communication skills and table manners. Students prepare personal branding statements and personal goal setting.

College and career readiness encompasses several activities. Students attend sessions on the admissions process, college selection guidance, and SAT/ACT test preparation. Students participate in college application workshops on essay writing, developing individualized goals and action plans. Students complete their FAFSA and are assisted in identifying and applying for appropriate scholarship opportunities offered through community-based organizations and perspective colleges. During the summer months, students tour college campuses and attend college fairs and recruitment presentations to expose students to a broad range of colleges and universities.

Volunteer coaches work one-on-one with students to build foundational skills, provide feedback on personal statements and resumes, and provide a multitude of career exploration opportunities. We engage the students, parents, and coaches in individualized college and career preparation so that each student has a plan in place and an informed support system to help guide them through their educational journey.

Application Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the College and Career Preparation Program, students must meet the criteria listed below:
  • 10th grade student (Class of 2026) in a public or independent school in Collier County and must be a resident of Collier County
  • Have a minimum 2.5 unweighted GPA
  • Must satisfy credit requirements to be on pace to graduate in spring of 2026
  • Must have good school attendance
  • Exhibit good behavior in and out of school
  • Student must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, or an eligible non-citizen
  • Meet the program income eligibility: Eligibility is limited to households with a combined income of less than $125,306.00 (“adjusted gross income total” for 2022 tax filers, or earned income total for those not required to file a federal tax return).
  • If selected for the College and Career Preparation Program, you may be eligible to earn a Florida Prepaid Scholarship through two of our scholarship opportunities: Project STARS and In-Demand Careers. Eligibility for scholarships are reviewed when students have been selected and have met initial programming benchmarks.

Application Dates and Information

Application Opens: January 2, 2024
Application Deadline: April 4th, 2024
Application Link: championsforlearning.awardspring.com

Videos with a walkthrough of the application will be available in English, Spanish, and Creole when application opens.

For assistance or questions regarding applications, please contact