15 Year Book - Flipbook - Page 154
MAXIMIZING ACADEMIC SUCCESS (MAS)
MAS was an educational enrichment program that served predominantly Latino students in Monroe Middle and
High Schools. The program focused on college preparation, academic achievement and cultural awareness.
During the program, the middle and high school students participated in weekly after-school tutoring,
mentoring and enrichment activities. They attended workshops on goal-setting, college access and financial
aid. University of Michigan students facilitated MAS activities that build on self-efficacy and strengthen the
academic skills necessary to prepare for college. The program also worked with parents to inform them about
the importance of higher education and how to prepare their children for college. MAS focused on instilling in
the students the importance of a college education, the opportunities a college education can provide, and
most importantly, the belief that a college education is absolutely an achievable goal.
Luis Fernandez, a Screen Arts and Culture major and a co-director of MAS who had been involved in the
organization since he was a first-year student at U-M, said that working with Latino youth in Monroe was both
unique and challenging.
