Project Succeed marks 30 years, graduates 3,000th student
The prospect of getting up early each weekday to face a full day of school certainly doesn’t appeal to every high school student.
Most are able to overcome their lack of enthusiasm to catch the morning bus. But some have issues that prevent them from doing so on a regular basis, despite constant parental encouragement and/or the threat of legal consequences.
“When I first contacted a lot of these individuals, they were working to support themselves or their families. And the most opportune time was in the evening.” – Joel Vanucci
For them and others who face dilemmas in attending daytime classes, Project Succeed could be their path to scholastic success.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved evening academic program, operated by Keystone Oaks School District and supported by a consortium of districts throughout the region, provides area residents of all ages with opportunities to earn their high school diplomas.
The June 7 Keystone Oaks High School commencement included 85 Project Succeed graduates, upping the total to more than 3,000 since executive director Joel Vanucci started the program 30 years ago. He was serving as Keystone Oaks’ dean of students at the time and noticed what he thought to be an excessive dropout rate.
“What I did was call them and wanted to know what their reasons were,” Vanucci recalled, with many of the former students citing disciplinary problems, pregnancy or need to work.
“But the thing that struck me was that a number of them said they just didn’t feel that anybody really cared whether they were there or not,” he said. “As an administrator, if you’re worth anything, you can’t have that.”
He then contacted students who had dropped out in the previous five years, to ascertain their reasons.
“They were basically the same,” he reported. “So I said to them, ‘If you had a chance to come back and take classes and get your diploma, would you do it?'”
Vanucci received a positive response from more than one-third of the people he contacted. So he took the step of writing the guidelines for a nontraditional academic program.
“When I first contacted a lot of these individuals, they were working to support themselves or their families,” Vanucci explained. “And the most opportune time was in the evening.”
Six students enrolled that first year, and four earned diplomas they otherwise never would have obtained.
Of course, there was the matter of paying for Project Succeed, and Vanucci found an early ally in John Briscoe, a state government official who had helped launch PennSERVE, a community service initiative.
“I contacted him about a grant, and he said, ‘Well, if you put community service in as one of the requirements, then we can look into getting you a grant,'” Vanucci recalled.
His program was awarded $15,000, and to this day, 30 hours of community service is mandatory for students.
Other early financial supporters include the Pittsburgh-based Grable Foundation, which focuses on programs that are critical to a child’s successful development, and Laurel Foundation, promoting the region’s culture, environment and history.
“Without them in the beginning and toward the middle, we would never have been able to have the program,” Vanucci said.
BNY Mellon also has provided support, and a decade ago, seven school districts joined with Keystone Oaks to form a consortium that helps with costs. Students pay tuition, either themselves or provided by their home districts.
Along with core courses in English, mathematics, science, social studies and computers, all taught by certified teachers, Project Succeed offers career awareness:
“Basically a postsecondary vocational program, where we work with the kids on interest surveys, resumes, job applications and college applications,” Vanucci said. “And we have speakers to come in and talk to the students, as well.”
He reported that 72 percent of graduates have gone on to higher education or entered military service.
“To give 3,000 individuals the opportunity to reach their goals has truly been a dream come true,” he said. “On behalf of the students, I am grateful for the school districts that have sent students to Project Succeed, the philanthropic community and Keystone Oaks School District for their 30 years of support.”
For more information, contact Joel Vanucci at 412-571-6066 or vanucci@kosd.org.