BOSTON, MA – In the face of a national student debt crisis estimated at
about $1 trillion, Fisher College is stepping to the plate with 25 new
merit and need-based scholarships for minority students in the Boston
area beginning in the fall 2014.
Fisher College is proud to announce today a new partnership with The
Base – a nationally recognized sports training academy and academic
support network for African-American and Latino boys – to offer $15,000
in merit and need-based scholarships for 25 eligible students affiliated
with the Boston-based organization known for using sports as a way to
engage young athletes in the pursuit of excellence, both on and off the
field.
“Fisher College is committed to providing new opportunities for high
school students living in Boston,” said Thomas M. McGovern, president of
Fisher College. “These new scholarships will be awarded in recognition
of academic and personal achievements in secondary school and
participation at The Base or its affiliated partners. We intend to offer
these scholarships for up to four years, provided the recipient is
enrolled as a full-time student and maintains a high school or college
GPA above 2.0.”
For The Base founder, Robert Lewis, Jr. – a longtime community leader who
formed what famed baseball writer Peter Gammons described as “hands
down, the best urban baseball team in America (the Boston Astros)” – the
partnership is a perfect fit.
“The Base is built on three principles: baseball, personalized academic
support, and helping young men develop a winning game plan for life,”
Lewis said. “Fisher College is committed to those same principles. But
let’s face it: a college education can be expensive, and financially out
of reach for some young people. Fisher College is offering an
opportunity for committed, hard-working ball players to get an
affordable college education and enhance their lives beyond the
diamond.”
About Fisher College
Fisher College is an independent, private, nonprofit, accredited
four-year college located in Boston’s historic Back Bay with
instructional site locations in Boston, Brockton, New Bedford, and North
Attleboro. Fisher provides affordable, real-world educations that
prepare students to achieve their career goals and compete in today’s
challenging economy. For more than a century, Fisher has been improving
lives by providing opportunities to students focused on the three most
important aspects of a college experience: education, dedication, and
life.
Fisher’s Division of Accelerated and Professional Studies offers a
variety of online degree programs that provide flexible scheduling to
busy students earning their degree. Additionally, Fisher’s “Military to
Management” initiative proudly offers benefits and flexible degree
options to veterans and active military personnel seeking higher
education. Recently, Fisher College launched its new Transportation
Safety Initiative that will work to educate students and the community
on the dangers of distracted driving and safe driving habits that can
save lives. For more information about Fisher College, please call (617)
236-8800 or visit www.fisher.edu.
About The Base
Housed in the heart of Boston’s Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan
neighborhoods, The Base provides comprehensive athletic and educational
advancement opportunities for prominent student athletes on three
distinct principles for success: (1) superior baseball training,
conditioning, and competition; (2) personalized educational resources
and support; and (3) the development of a “Winning Game Plan for Life.”
Born out of The Boston Astros’ culture and methodology, The Base is a
model that leverages sports as a vehicle to engage youth in a positive,
rigorous, passionate, and success-driven environment with the goal of
excellence—both on and off the field.
In the three decades since its inception at The Villa Victoria Housing
Development in the South End neighborhood of Boston, the Astros have
achieved immense success, having just been named “2013 Triple Crown
Sports’ U.S. Baseball Champions,” and “2012 Team of the Year” (besting
40,000 other teams across the country). Four former Astros have reached
the Major League Baseball level: Manny Delcarmen (Boston Red Sox and
Washington Nationals), Juan Carlos Portes (Minnesota Twins), Nelfi
Zapata (New York Mets), and Eddy Morabel (Texas Rangers).
Media Contacts:
Jennifer Sacca Courtney
Director of Public Relations
Fisher College
617-236-8813
Sean Gonsalves
Regan Marketing
508-420-5566 ext. 9