[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4940]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING COLLEGE BOUND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS OUTSTANDING SUCCESS, 
               EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY IMPACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. BRADLEY S. SCHNEIDER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 26, 2014

  Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to honor 
College Bound Opportunities (CBO), an extraordinary community 
organization that is opening doors and broadening opportunities for 
under-resourced and low-income students in the suburban Chicago 
district that I represent.
  Founded in 2006, CBO started with four outstanding students, growing 
to nearly 150 today. Each class of students receives mentoring and 
assistance through test prep classes, professional development and 
workshops, technology training and financial aid.
  CBO provides a one-on-one mentorship program, matching a mentor with 
a student. For six years, these mentors help guide their students 
through the college application process, adjustment to college life and 
even life after graduation. This engaged approach achieves truly 
remarkable results: 97 percent of CBO scholars graduate from college, 
compared to 56 percent nationwide and merely 12 percent among low-
income students. More than 90 percent of CBO scholars are first-
generation college students. At a time when only 11 percent of 
nationwide first-generation students graduate, CBO is making a real 
difference.
  These statistics speak to the incredible CBO impact in the community 
and the bright futures its programs are helping make possible. Many of 
these students would never have the opportunity to apply to college, 
let alone graduate, without these programs and the generosity of CBO's 
many dedicated volunteers.
  Recently, I joined CBO to welcome a new class of 25 students to the 
program. In this group I saw inspiring potential and many reasons to be 
confident for the future. The opportunities CBO makes possible will 
empower its students, enrich our community and perhaps one day help 
change the world.

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