Representatives of the Academic Distinction Fund (ADF) presented a
community donation of $6,000 in the form of a large check presentation to the East Baton Rouge Parish School System June 16 at the Central Office Board Room.  The funds, presented during the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting, will provide more than 30 students with scholarships to attend the Summer Opportunity for Academic Remediation Project (Project SOAR) for enrichment.  Donations for the scholarships were collected from area businesses and citizens to provide scholarships for at-risk students in grades 2 and 3 to participate in the program.

Participants in the check presentation included (left to right):  Donald Ford, ADF consultant; Deniqua LaCour, ADF director of Administration; Martis Jones, ADF executive director; Nicole Naquin, ADF Community Engagement coordinator; Lori Smith, ADF director of Fund Development; and John Armstrong, representative from the League of Women Voters of Baton Rouge - Educational Foundation.

Project SOAR is a tuition-based summer school program for elementary school children who have scored below grade level on state standardized tests and/or who are failing in math and reading and could pass with summer school remediation.  The program helps second- and third-grade students catch up in their academic achievement before they reach middle and high school.  Last summer, 54 of the program’s 66 participating students were promoted to the next grade level (82 percent).  This summer, 129 students are registered for Project SOAR.