Westbury students in college prep program

Westbury High School junior Jordan Guyton says he usually spends his summers doing "absolutely nothing."

This year, he spent his vacation at Molloy College doing hands-on research on the environment and its effects on public health. He doesn't regret it.

Guyton, 16, was one of 55 Westbury students who last week completed a summer study program through Project GRAD, a national nonprofit aimed at improving graduation rates and increasing college access in low-income areas.

Project GRAD, which stands for Graduation Really Achieves Dreams, provides $6,000 in college scholarships to Westbury students who complete two summer study programs, achieve a grade-point average of 81 by high school graduation and maintain good academic standing in college, said Sybil Johnson, director of the project's Long Island branch.

The courses at Molloy made learning fun and gave students a taste of college, said Guyton, who wants to go into veterinary science or recording arts.

"This whole experience has made me a little bit more excited toward college," he said. "This is something I know now that I definitely want to do."

Like many of Westbury's 120 Project GRAD students, Guyton plans to be the first in his family to graduate from college.

"I just want to be an example for future generations in my family," said Guyton, who has two younger brothers. "I want to . . . go to college and be successful so they know that even though we may not get straight A's, we can still do good and achieve."

Sumbul Yousafi, 16, a junior, said she knows college will be difficult because she watched her older sister go through the process, but she is determined anyway. "It's worth it," she said, "because it's going to help you get through your career and be what you want to be and help your family, you know?"

The scholarship, which is doled out in four yearly $1,500 increments provided a student maintains good academic standing in college, will help ease financial pressures, Guyton said.

The Westbury school district partnered with Project GRAD in 2008 to increase the number of graduates going to college, Superintendent Constance Clark-Snead said.

Overall college attendance is around 80 percent, she said. "I want to increase that number, especially among the Hispanic and Latino students," she said.

The biggest hurdle for many students in getting to college is a financial one, Clark-Snead said. In the district, 87 percent of students get free or reduced lunch, she said.

Project GRAD wants to create a culture of enthusiasm about education, Johnson said. "The idea is, if we expose you to college you'll see that it's a reality for you," she said.

The summer institute at Molloy was funded by the National Grid Foundation, which donated $18,000, Johnson said. Molloy College donated space for classes and supplies, and the scholarships are paid for by grants and sponsors, she said.