“To encourage our students to aim high and put college on their radar, November was ‘I’m Going to College’ month at our school. The hallway that leads to our library featured pennants from universities around the country—many attended by our staff and parents. Our 5th graders took a field trip to UCLA (the first time most of them had visited a college campus), and we launched our McKinley Alumni Scholarship. Our PTA made a $250 donation and students added change to the scholarship jar throughout the month. With a matching donation from our mayor—an alumna of our school—we have a $1,400 scholarship for a local student.”