College YES

Since 1998, AmerenCILCO has sponsored the program, College YES! - Youth Education Scholarships which benefits current and future students at Manual High School in Peoria. AmerenCILCO is funding the scholarship and mentoring program in partnership with Manual High School and Illinois Central College [ICC] in East Peoria. Milestones for the first year ('98-'99) include a 95% retention rate and solid grade improvements for student participants.

Fifteen to 20 high school sophomores at Manual are selected, based on their interest in post secondary education as demonstrated through an essay and interview with the selection committee. They participate in a variety of activities aimed at promoting academic and social integration to enhance persistence and goal attainment [graduation from high school, college and job placement].

All selected students are assigned a personal mentor who is an AmerenCILCO volunteer, an ICC faculty member or staff or other community leader. Students and mentors actively participate in monthly special events as well as additional supplemental academic opportunities.

Students, who participate in a minimum of 70 percent of the scheduled activities and graduate from Manual High School in good standing at their scheduled time, receive a two-year scholarship to ICC.

AmerenCILCO and Manual High School have worked together since 1991 as Partners in Education through the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Adopt-A-School program. This cooperative effort was recognized as an Exemplary Partnership by the Illinois State Board of Education in 1993. The College YES! program will continue to lift this partnership to new levels, providing additional benefits to students for several years.

On January 10, 2000 the College Yes! Program was recognized as an Exemplary Partnership at the annual Illinois Business-Education Partnership Conference. AmerenCILCO was one of ten partnerships recognized for outstanding program development between business and education. This is AmerenCILCO's second award. AmerenCILCO was honored in 1994 for its collaborative efforts with Illinois Central College for implementing a scholarship program for Manual High School students.