Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Recession puts college goal on hold

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SPECIAL REPORT: REWRITING THE AMERICAN DREAM: Recession puts college goal on hold
Teen prepared for Clark Atlanta University, but now she’s working on Plan B.

By Tammy Joyner
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sunday, April 19, 2009


Clark Atlanta University is a marathon’s run from Shaneka Williams’ home in Lithonia. It might as well be a million miles away.

It doesn’t matter that the 18-year-old was promised at the age of 4 a nearly full ride at the college if she finished high school. Williams kept her end of the deal. She has the Lithonia High School class of 2008 tassel to prove it. But harsh economic reality always trumps a promise.

Clark Atlanta is on hold —- for now. A dream deferred by a few thousand dollars for books and fees and gas money and car insurance —- incidentals not covered by a commitment offered by Clark Atlanta University in the mid-1990s to preschoolers in Head Start, a program for children from low-income families. At the time the “Touch the Future” Head Start endowment, a tuition waiver that covers 80 percent of the school’s cost, was the only one of its kind in the country.

And it was full of possibilities.

That was before this recession broadsided the U.S. economy and derailed Shaneka’s dream. As much as they’d like to, her parents are already saddled with the day-to-day expenses of raising three children, which kept them from really being able to put away college money. Her mother’s attempt to start a business recently failed. Her father’s job future is uncertain. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/04/19/americandream404193dot.html