ACT to Award Helpers of At-Risk Students

March 21, 2001

IOWA CITY, Iowa—ACT, Inc., has initiated a program to support individuals and organizations dedicated to helping at-risk students achieve their educational and career aspirations.

The new ACT Awards Program is designed to benefit projects, studies and programs that aim to increase empowerment of individuals whose life circumstances and environments could hinder their educational and career quests, according to Richard J. Noeth, ACT director of policy research.

"The award winners will receive ACT programs and services to aid them in working with at-risk students," Noeth said.

The ACT Awards Program seeks proposals for three types of activities:

Demonstration programs serving the education- and/or career-planning needs of at-risk students.
Research studies designed to give information about challenges in planning at-risk students' education or careers.
Evaluation projects providing insight into the effectiveness of education- or career-planning programs, projects and activities for at-risk students.

ACT will offer four to six awards each year with a total value of $50,000. Awards are for one-year periods and generally will be given in the form of ACT programs, services, consultation and resources.

Applications for this award must be received by May 15, 2001. Award winners will be announced June 30, 2001.

Applications will be judged on description of the at-risk population to be served by the award, the applicant program's design and planning, how readily the program could be implemented and the likelihood of the project being completed as planned.

This award reflects ACT's mission to help people achieve education and career goals by providing information for life's transitions.