TCP was founded in 2003 by Dan Perkins, CEO/President of MTS Technologies, Inc. Mr. Perkins, a Johnstown, PA native, wanted to create a program to give back to the community that supported him during his developing years. After meeting Barbara Grandinetti, who would later join the program as Founding Executive Director, Mr. Perkins sought to create a program that would further motivate students to succeed and achieve even greater things while in high school and beyond. Partnering with Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Mr. Perkins and Ms. Grandinetti formed an incentive program that would pay cash to students for their success. Realizing the need for this kind of program in additional schools, The Challenge Program was formed.
Our mission is to motivate students to perform well by providing financial incentives for successes they achieve while in school, as well as to build a bridge between high school students and the business community.
The Challenge Program rewards four (4) students from each of the sophomore, junior and senior classes a $250 check, totaling twelve (12) awards per school in the following categories: Academic Excellence, Academic Improvement, Community Service, and Attendance.
In addition, business partners are matched with each participating schools to fund awards and, just as importantly, mentor students and support them in achieving their own long-term goals.
To date, the program was been introduced to over 140,000 students.
Support for The Challenge Program
- The Challenge Program is endorsed by the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education.
- Five Members of the Pennsylvania Legislature have provided financial support of our program.
- Six Pennsylvania County Commissions have provided written and/or financial support of the program.
Schools
- The program has grown from one school in the 2003-2004 school-year to 127 at present.
- The program has been introduced in 21 counties in Pennsylvania and Delaware, and, as part of our expansion this year, the program was introduced as a pilot program in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
- To date, the program has awarded $946,750 in awards to students. For the current school year, the program is scheduled to award an additional $300,000 to 1,200 deserving students.
Businesses
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112 local and national businesses serve as business partners, several of whom are matched with multiple schools.
- The businesses participating in The Challenge Program are diverse. The industries include: health care facilities, banks, engineering firms, utility companies, a pharmacy, law firms, educational facilities, and metal fabrication producers.
- Nine businesses and individuals support the program as major corporate sponsors.
Foundations
- The program has received support from the Benedum Foundation, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Walmart State Giving Grant, Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, the Armstrong School District Foundation, the Armstrong Community Foundation, FirstEnergy Foundation, and Community Foundation of Fayette County.
Program Impact
Educational Enterprises, an independent consultant, evaluated the effectiveness of The Challenge Program in a written report to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The report, which was completed in December, 2007, showed:
- Educators view The Challenge Program as a meaningful part of their school-wide efforts to engage and motivate students; the program is valued as an educational asset. Educators agree that the cash incentives are a motivator for a substantial cross section of students.
- School leaders indicate that the amount of community service hours has increased significantly each year and that students who had not previously engaged in community service are now motivated to do so in hopes of winning a cash award.
- The Challenge Program schools have continued to outscore the comparison schools on PSSA scores. In 2006, the difference in math scores was 2.9% higher and in 2007 the difference was 9.09% higher. For reading scores, the difference was .44% higher in 2006 and 4.9% higher in 2007.
- The average daily attendance was 2% higher than comparison schools. Drop out rates for Challenge Program schools was 1% lower than comparison schools.
L. Robert Kimball and Associates is proud to participate in The Challenge Program for area students because the payoff will come when these successful students come to our door seeking employment opportunities in the future.
