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AVID – Opening doors to higher education
UNC Asheville Senior CeCe Hue (left) works as an AVID tutor leader at Asheville Middle School.
Senior CeCe Hue is beginning to think about life after UNC Asheville. She's considering becoming a lawyer… or a pharmacist… or a counselor… or possibly a Guardian ad Litem advocate.
She's not yet sure of her career plans. But she is sure of one thing: UNC Asheville and a program called AVID have laid a solid foundation for becoming just about anything she sets her mind to.
Hue joined AVID as a seventh grader at Asheville Middle School and followed it through until graduation from high school. In the process, she learned valuable skills that she uses every day as a philosophy major and mathematics minor at UNC Asheville.
As part of the AVID Program, students visit the UNC Asheville campus to catch a glimpse of college life.
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is an international program targeting 6th-12th grade students who earn average grades but have a strong desire to go to college. Many are first-generation college students or are from low-income or minority families.
"Some people believe that AVID is for kids who are below average, but that's just not true," said Hue. "It's for average kids who need a boost and who need to learn skills to get to college. It's for kids that can fall through the cracks because there are few programs that target the students between the highest and lowest achievers."
AVID does just that. The program is at work in 45 states and 15 countries, helping average students become successful high school and college graduates. Currently, the program at Asheville City Schools is the only one in Western North Carolina.
AVID tutors help students with homework and college preparations.
When AVID was established at Asheville City Schools 10 years ago, UNC Asheville joined the effort immediately. Each semester UNC Asheville students serve as tutors. Their work is organized by UNC Asheville Education Outreach Coordinator Kim Kessaris. The University also hosts campus visits, field trips and summer programs for AVID students.
AVID had such a profound impact on Hue’s life that she wanted to stay involved as a college student. First, she served as a tutor and now acts as the tutor leader, mentoring all the tutors at the middle school. She's passionate about this 15-hour per week job.
"I love my middle school kids in part because it's one of the most difficult ages," said Hue. "The tutors have a big impact on these kids. The tutors are often approached with questions about high school and college, of course, but also about alcohol, drugs and problems at home. We try to answer their questions honestly, get them help when needed and act as cheerleaders."
Hue says that this kind of support was vital for her. Though both of Hue's parents went to college, she knows that many AVID students don't have those kinds of role models or that kind of support at home. The network of AVID tutors and teachers is "just amazing," Hue said. "They were behind me all the way and have even stayed in touch since I've been in college."
In fact, AVID's goal is to establish a culture for their students that is focused on college. Some 108 seniors have graduated from the Asheville program and all were accepted to college. Two have gone on to graduate school. Seven have attended UNC Asheville.
Hue and her older sister Kendra Danner found UNC Asheville to be the perfect fit after completing AVID. Hue was especially excited about continuing work with the AVID program and staying in contact with Kessaris.
"I've known Kim for more than half my life now. She's been there the whole way for me. If I need someone to talk to, I know I can go to her office. And I know she provides that for all the AVID students," said Hue. "And she's cheered me on. That's really big. That's amazing."
Danner, who graduated in May with a degree in creative writing, is currently working through the application process to teach English in Japan. She's hoping meeting new people and traveling the world will give her inspiration to write her first young adult novel.
Meanwhile, Hue will finish her undergraduate career, take the LSAT and GRE, and make plans for her future -- wherever it may take her.
"I just want to help people and make a difference in the world," Hue said.
