Dr. Gary Kociemba, Patrick Henry High School Principal Cc - About Us

To:
Cc:
From:
Dr. Gary Kociemba, Patrick Henry High School Principal
Administrators: Steve Simondet, Tom Murray and Bill Derden; Guidance Staff: Margaret Cavenaugh and Shawn
Crenshaw; and Other Key Supporters.
Jim McCorkell, Admission Possible CEO; Traci Parmenter, Chief Operating Officer; and Jeremiah Brown, Program
Coordinator
Date: June 11, 2007
Re: Principal Report, Patrick Henry High School
Congratulations to your staff, students, and administration for being named in Newsweek’s list of the best public
high schools around the country! This honor speaks so well of the supportive school atmosphere and focus on excellence
that we have experienced at Patrick Henry, and we feel very fortunate to be a part of your community.
This is the final memo in a series of three that you have received this year providing a brief update on the Admission Possible
programming in your school. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Patrick Henry administration and staff
for all your hard work over the past school year. As you will recall, Admission Possible is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to helping promising, low-income young people prepare for and earn admission to college. The mission of
Admission Possible is to identify low-income high school students with the potential and motivation for college and then
provide them with four critical services: (1) ACT and SAT test preparation; (2) intensive assistance in preparing college
applications; (3) help in obtaining financial aid; and (4) guidance in the transition to college. We now serve nearly 1,000
students at 13 high schools in the metro area. As the school year concludes, we have a lot to celebrate. Students have worked
very hard since fall and are seeing fantastic results!
} 74 of the 77 Admission Possible juniors at Patrick Henry took the ACT exam in April, with the remaining three students
prepared to take the June exam. They demonstrated an average score improvement of 19.00%, bringing an average
baseline score of 14.96 up to an average final score of 17.80. These are fantastic results, and these students have a lot to
be proud of: for-profit companies charge high rates for programming that results in about half the score improvement
rate that we see our students achieve.
} 100% of the 34 Admission Possible seniors at Patrick Henry have been accepted to college, and this same group
of students has applied for 380 scholarships! So far, they have earned $56,900 in scholarship money, with more award
letters arriving each day!
} Each year, Admission Possible students, staff, and AmeriCorps members participate in a Spring Service Day. This year
we partnered with the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to assist them with their
annual Earth Day programming in area parks, and 50 Patrick Henry students each earned 3 hours of community
service for their efforts!
} Admission Possible sponsored 30 campus visits over the course of this academic year, none of which occurred during
school hours. 58 Patrick Henry juniors attended campus visits this year, expanding their horizons to campuses as
distant as Ripon College in southeastern Wisconsin and North Dakota State University in Fargo!
} 61 Patrick Henry juniors have applied to at least one summer enrichment program and will have the opportunity
to participate in such programs as: Minnesota Business Venture, the University of Minnesota Design Camp, William
Mitchell’s Future in Learning Law, and St. Kate’s First Step. Many students will also be working with local businesses
through the Step Up Program. Additionally, Pang Nhia Moua was accepted to the LearningWorks Program to teach local
middle school youth.
} Student recruitment was very strong this spring, with a lot of interest from sophomores. When reviewing student
applications, we paid close attention to academic requirements, income eligibility, and participation in another college
access program when making our decisions. We could not have completed this process without the help of the
guidance staff and teachers that provided student recommendations – thank you! Please refer to the attached
student lists for a complete roster of the 2009 Admission Possible class.

Many thanks to Carolyn Herman, who has shown tremendous dedication to her students over the past two years and has
truly made a difference. Next year, there will be five Admission Possible AmeriCorps members at Patrick Henry: we are
pleased that Steve Fenster and Justin Nash will each be returning for a second term of service, and they will be joined by
Uyenthi Tran as senior coaches. Uyenthi recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Junior coaches will
be Jade Hoyer, a Carleton graduate, and Ted Fabel, who recently graduated from Augsburg. We look forward to next year as
the Admission Possible program at Patrick Henry continues to flourish.
We feel fortunate to be partnered with Patrick Henry High School, and look forward to many more student success
stories in coming years. If you have any questions or concerns, please be sure to contact Admission Possible Program
Coordinator Jeremiah Brown by calling 651.917.3525 or sending an email to Jeremiah@AdmissionPossible.org.
Class of 2008 Class of 2009
Avalos, Cesar Rodden, Camille Andrade-Rivera, Guillermo Robinson, Milan
Baker, Cha'Lesc Santopietro, Neeyada Aranda, Jose Salazar, Terrence
Bility, Aliyou Starnes, Farrington Ashun, Eliza Santangelo, Martin
Bradley, Takara Stewart, LaShaya Baker, Breanna Stone, Kirian
Cain, Arielle Swammi, Miles Beasley, Shamina Tarnue, Henry
Caldwell, Katrina Thomas, Andrew Chang, Lee Thao, See
Carter, Cynitresse Vang, Bee Cole, Antoinette Thao, Van
Cespedes, Felipa Vang, Blia Davis, Briana Vang, Andrea
Chang, Kong Vang, Chee Dickerson, Sharita Vang, Bee
Chang, Porchoua Vang, Kablia Dirie, Lucky Vang, Chong
Garay-Villagomez, Saibeth Vang, Mai Kou Dominguez-Barrera, Izai Vang, Fong
Gauna, Schanell Vang, Mai Nou Edwards, Tangina Vang, Macy
Guan, Amy Vang, Maizoua Fair, Tess Vang, Meng
Halbert, Perkina Vang, Na Givens, Harold Vang, Myamy
Hernandez, Antonio Vang, Pong Glaspie, Jodie Vang, Nong
Horshaw, Brittney Vaughn, Jerome Hart, Ashley Vang, Pang
Huynh, Vinh Vetaw, Domonique Hassan, Israel Vang, Pang Cha
Ismael, Liban Vu, Danny Her, Song Vang, Shoua
Jones, Kamesha Vue, Mena Humphrey, Deshona Vang, Tony
Khang, Ge Vue, Nala Jones, Andrea Vang, Tou
Khang, Linda Vue, Sandy Kennebrew, Briaunna Voravong, Lily
Khang, Poua Vue, Susan Khang, Cawv Vue, Yer
Kram, Nidal Williams, Brittany Khang, Seesouk Washington, Andre
Lee, Bao Xiong, Fue Khang, Xue Wright-Hadley, Whitley
Lee, Dia Xiong, Jeffrey Lambert-Knapp, Natashia Xiong, Bao
Lee, Kia Xiong, Kong Lee, Fue Xiong, Becky
Lee, Mai Eng Xiong, Koua Lee, Jerry Xiong, Chue
Lindsey, Demarcus Xiong, Koua Cheng Lee, Mai Xiong, Chue
Lor, Xang Xiong, Meng Lee, Randy Xiong, Faith
Maki, Kyle Xiong, Nhia Lewis, Larry Xiong, Kia
Malone, Kiara Xiong, Punghua Lorenz, Latasha Xiong, Nhia
Moua, Carrie Xiong, Sheng Ly, Cynthia Xiong, Ntees
Moua, Maizoua Xiong, Shoua McCauley, Tata Xiong, Nou
Moua, Pang Nhia Yang, Hnia McClendon, Latoria Xiong, Pa Nou
Moua, Thomas Yang, Kong Meng Meadows, Olivia Xiong, Xue
Munoz Vasquez, Jose Yang, Pachia Moua, Yeng Yang, Lue
Peka, Rose Yang, Susan Nguyen, Uyen Yang, Nancy
Pennie, Tesia Yang, Toua Parks, Marcus Yang, Pada
Pha, Mai Chao Yang, Yer Phanthourath, Melissa Yang, Pedey
Pierce, LaQuana Yang, Ying Poole, Chole Yang, Susan
Ramadhan, Fowzia
Ricks, Jovani

Patrick Henry High School’s Admission Possible Class of 2007
Enrollment Intentions for Fall 2007
Alejandra Andrade
Jasmin Avalos
Leurseng Chang
Jaleesa Cohen
Eli Cortes
Tennyson Davis
Sandra Dekoum
Claribel Dominguez
Irene Dominguez
Dursitu Hassan
Ngoc-Mai Huynh
Jeffrey Isenhower
Raymond Jackson
Mao Lee
David Lo
Javier Lopez
Andrew Moua
Tim Saxon
Gayle Smaller
Dekermue Togbah
Maihyia Vang
Pang Houa Vang
Melquisha Watson
Keza West
Gabrielle White
Demetris Williams
Lau Xiong
Yee Xiong
Yia Xiong
Choua Yang
Elaine Yang
La Yang
Mai See Yang
Esther Zayzay
College of Saint Benedict
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Southwest Minnesota State University
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Andrews University
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Occidental College
Southwest Minnesota State University
Southwest Minnesota State University
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Metropolitan State University
Minnesota State University, Mankato
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Augsburg College
Undecided
Gustavus Adolphus College
Bemidji State University
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Winona State University
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
University of Minnesota, Morris
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Dunwoody College of Technology
Minnesota State University, Mankato
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Augsburg College
Minnesota State University, Mankato
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Gustavus Adolphus College
College of Saint Benedict
Augsburg College
Hamline University