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Washington, D.C. – The National College Access Network (NCAN) is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to the organization. NCAN’s roster extends to over 220 organization in over 40 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Micronesia, and Canada, all dedicated to the belief that every young person  should be able to attain a college education. The Board of Directors of NCAN, a national network of state and local college access programs working to building, strengthening, and empowering communities committed to college access and success so that all students, especially those under-represented in postsecondary education, can achieve their educational dreams, voted to admit these programs for November 1, 2009. The new members are:

Long Beach California Student Opportunity and Access Program, CA - www.csulb.edu/calsoap
Maine GEAR UP, ME - www.gearupme.org
University of Wisconsin Higher Education Location Program, WI – uwhelp.wisconsin.edu

Long Beach California Student Opportunity and Access Program, CA
The California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) is a State legislated program established in 1978 that serves low income, first-generation students and/or students attending schools with traditionally low college-going rates. Cal-SOAP’s mission is to help students improve their academic performance and make information about postsecondary education and financial aid more widely available. The Long Beach Regional Cal-SOAP Program serves K-12 students attending schools in the Long Beach Unified, Compton Unified, and Whittier Union school districts.

Maine GEAR UP, ME
The Maine State GEAR UP program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to the Maine Department of Education and is managed by the Maine Support Network. Maine’s GEAR UP Program is helping to create a sustainable culture in schools that supports students who are economically disadvantaged in preparing for, accessing, and succeeding in postsecondary education.

University of Wisconsin Higher Education Location Program, WI
UW HELP (the University of Wisconsin System’s Higher Education Location Program) builds access to the 26 campuses in the UW System and UW-Extension by coordinating and developing UW System publications, developing electronic access points to the UW System, advising people about UW System options, maintaining relationship to provide coordinated UW System student services, and performing various outreach activities.

Many students - young and old - dream of going to college. But with the rising cost of tuition and the limited availability of need-based financial aid, that dream has become harder and harder to realize. We must work together to turn things around.

Incorporated in 1995, the mission of the National College Access Network is to build, strengthen, and empower communities committed to college access and success so that all students, especially those under-represented in postsecondary education, can achieve their educational dreams. Through advising and financial assistance, our members share a commitment to encourage and enable students to set and achieve educational goals.

As a member of NCAN, you'll enjoy benefits only a national network like ours can provide: Exposure to, and networking with, the nation's leading experts on college access. Participation in a network that drives student advocacy for access to college on the local, state and national levels. Regular updates on trends in college admissions, financial aid, and career path development needed to help students and their families prepare for college or postsecondary education. Technical assistance for existing programs. Access to thousands of students who need information on topics related to entering college - admission and financial aid advice, student loans, scholarships, managing college finances and more.

As a member of NCAN, your program will join with other college access and success programs and centers; college outreach, admissions, and financial aid offices, regional and statewide networks; foundations; and organizations committed to helping first generation, low income and under-represented students from across the country access, enroll and succeed in college.

If you have any questions, please contact our office by phone at 202-347-4848 or toll free at 866-941-6122, or via e-mail at ncan@collegeaccess.org.

The National College Access Network (NCAN) is pleased to announce the recipients of its third annual Awards of Excellence. The awards were presented at the Annual Conference’s Awards of Excellence Brunch held on September 17, 2009 in San Francisco, CA.

The NCAN Board of Directors developed the NCAN Awards of Excellence to recognize excellence in college access organizations, staff, and executive or board leadership, and to recognize a Champion of College Access. All nominators and nominees, with the exception of the Champion of College Access recipient, must be NCAN members or board members in good standing. The nominees were reviewed by a committee of the NCAN member organizations. For more information on the Awards of Excellence, please visit http://www.collegeaccess.org/Awards.aspx.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE WINNERS!