Date:  June 4, 2003
Contact: Irene Cromer
(703) 791-8720

Graham Park Middle School and AOL were recently recognized for their partnership at the Business Appreciation Week Awards breakfast hosted by the Prince William County Economic Development Office.  The school received a $10,000 grant from the AOL Aspirations Fund to create the Breakfast Club and Express Breakfast Club.  Students meet every morning before school to eat a nutritious breakfast and answer Breakfast Battle Questions related to the SOLs and CMS.  The school’s Honor Society and Gifted students, along with community volunteers and AOL representatives, are invited to mentor.  All students are permitted to brown bag their breakfast and bring it to their homeroom.  A weekly drawing is held to encourage more students to eat breakfast.

Graham Park was one of 12 middle and high schools to receive a grant as part of the first round of the AOL Aspirations Fund.  Signet teachers Christy Barcalow and Christy Craig coordinate the program.  In deciding which schools would be funded, AOL employee reviewers looked for projects that had the potential for a lasting impact on youth aspirations; proposed a thoughtful and inclusive process for identifying opportunities and deciding on allocation of grant funds throughout the school year; demonstrated an understanding of the obstacles that can face adolescents and an ongoing commitment to support students in exploring new ideas and pursuing their passions; and have the potential to result in sustainable changes within the school that could maximize the long-term impact of this effort in raising youth aspirations.