There's a saying that "it takes a village to raise a child."
For some Toledo-area high school students, the Excel Program at the University of Toledo is like extended family.
"Everything that's been a part of my high school experience has been through the guidance of Excel," said Waverly Hill-Mathis a senior at St. Ursula." "So, Excel is like a family. It's never ending."
This student is doing something her parents never got the chance to do because she has this extended family.
"They've never had a program like this where they had guidance," Hill-Mathis said. "And I'll actually be the first generation to go to college. I'll be the first one headed off to college. They're very excited."
Merida Allen is an associate direct at Excel and said this program will stick with you, "I was a part of the fifth group." The program will start its 25 group this year.
The students attend seminars about filling out college applications, writing college essays and navigating financial aid.
"Excel, they take us step-by-step as for was the college process goes," Hill-Mathis said.
After students are inducted into the program, they spend a week during the summer living on the UT campus and attending classes.
"You go straight to the dorms and you basically live a week of college life," she said.
Students spend the next four years doing community service, maintaining a 3.0 GPA and preparing for the next big step.
Hill-Mathis will attend UT in the Fall and wants to become the first lawyer in her family.
Recruitment for the next group of students will start in February. For more information go to www.utoledo.edu/success/excel for details.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:39 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:39:05 GMT
The Fostoria police department received a report an attempted child abduction. It happened on South Town St. near the rail road crossing. A grandmother walking with her 4 year old grandson saw a white
The Fostoria police department received a report an attempted child abduction. It happened on South Town St. near the rail road crossing. Police say be on the look out for a man in a white van with no windows.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:08 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:08:02 GMT
(TOLEDO, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is asking for the public's help locating a sexually oriented offender with a felony warrant out for his arrest. James Lee Smith, 50, last registered
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is asking for the public's help locating a sexually oriented offender with a felony warrant out for his arrest.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:37 AM EDT2013-05-22 15:37:02 GMT
The Ohio Supreme Court will hear the appeal in the case of former Ottawa Hills police officer Thomas White. In January, the Sixth District Court of Appeals overturned his felonious assault conviction. In
The Ohio Supreme Court will hear the appeal in the case of former Ottawa Hills police officer Thomas White.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:14 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:14:38 GMT
NB I-75 shut down north of Cygnet due to accident involving school bus
Around two dozen people were injured Tuesday night in a bus crash on I-75. It happened around 10:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-75, just north of the Cygnet exit
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:47 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:47:17 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio state lawmakers moved boldly Tuesday against storefront sweepstakes parlors they have come to view as illegal gambling operations, advancing separate bills effectively banning
The bill to ban Internet cafes will head to the Ohio Senate floor today. Yesterday a Senate Committee overwhelmingly approved the plans. Two separate proposals would ban operations statewide and block new cafes until the ban takes effect. There are about 800 Internet cafes in Ohio.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:37 AM EDT2013-05-22 15:37:02 GMT
The Ohio Supreme Court will hear the appeal in the case of former Ottawa Hills police officer Thomas White. In January, the Sixth District Court of Appeals overturned his felonious assault conviction. In
The Ohio Supreme Court will hear the appeal in the case of former Ottawa Hills police officer Thomas White.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:39 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:39:05 GMT
The Fostoria police department received a report an attempted child abduction. It happened on South Town St. near the rail road crossing. A grandmother walking with her 4 year old grandson saw a white
The Fostoria police department received a report an attempted child abduction. It happened on South Town St. near the rail road crossing. Police say be on the look out for a man in a white van with no windows.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:08 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:08:02 GMT
(TOLEDO, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is asking for the public's help locating a sexually oriented offender with a felony warrant out for his arrest. James Lee Smith, 50, last registered
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is asking for the public's help locating a sexually oriented offender with a felony warrant out for his arrest.
The Boy Scouts of America will convene a two-day meeting of 1,400 local leaders to consider changing its long-standing ban openly gay boys belonging to the scouting movement.
The Boy Scouts of America will convene a two-day meeting of 1,400 local leaders to consider changing its long-standing ban on openly gay boys in the scouting movement.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:14 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:14:38 GMT
NB I-75 shut down north of Cygnet due to accident involving school bus
Around two dozen people were injured Tuesday night in a bus crash on I-75. It happened around 10:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-75, just north of the Cygnet exit
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:47 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:47:17 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio state lawmakers moved boldly Tuesday against storefront sweepstakes parlors they have come to view as illegal gambling operations, advancing separate bills effectively banning
The bill to ban Internet cafes will head to the Ohio Senate floor today. Yesterday a Senate Committee overwhelmingly approved the plans. Two separate proposals would ban operations statewide and block new cafes until the ban takes effect. There are about 800 Internet cafes in Ohio.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:32 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:32:46 GMT
LOGAN, Ohio (AP) - State officials say safety improvements are planned after a third fatal fall from a cliff recently in the Hocking's Hills region of southeastern Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural
State officials say safety improvements are planned after a third fatal fall from a cliff recently in the Hocking's Hills region of southeastern Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says signs warning hikers not to leave marked trails are being enhanced. Rangers also have increased trail patrols and are issuing more citations to people who stray from them
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:26 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:26:32 GMT
CLEVELAND (AP) - The three women held captive in a Cleveland house for about a decade say they are doing fine. That was the message in a letter released by their attorneys Tuesday that also noted a charity
The three women held captive in a Cleveland house for about a decade say they are doing fine. That was the message in a letter released by their attorneys Tuesday that also noted a charity fund to help the women has now raised more than 650 thousand dollars.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:11 PM EDT2013-05-22 03:11:02 GMT
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:22 PM EDT2013-05-22 00:22:27 GMT
Relatives of three teenagers killed in an Ohio school shooting are suing a charity that maintains a fund set up to benefit the families and support the well-being of students and others in the affected community.
Relatives of three teenagers killed in an Ohio school shooting are suing a charity that maintains a fund set up to benefit victims' families and support the well-being of students and others in the affected community.
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