The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced today that it will fund a program to make college possible for more students in Loudoun County, where it has been headquartered since it was founded in 2000. The program, called Pathway to the Baccalaureate, is the latest step in the Foundation's effort to expand college access to high-achieving, low-income students throughout Virginia.

Pathway to the Baccalaureate was created to provide financially needy students from Loudoun County's 11 high schools a smooth transition to Northern Virginia Community College, and ultimately, George Mason University. It was founded by a consortium, which includes the Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), and George Mason University (GMU).

Pathway will annually target approximately 65 high school seniors from Loudoun County "who have the desire and capacity to achieve a four-year college degree, but who are at risk of never attending college due to financial or other circumstances," said Matthew J. Quinn, the Foundation's executive director.

In the first year, the Foundation will to provide $75,000 in grants and annual scholarships to Pathway. Of that total figure, $60,000 will fund a guidance counselor position for the program. In addition, the Foundation will provide $1,000 annual scholarships to the 15 top students served by the program who are entering college. Annual funding could reach $120,000 once the program is fully implemented and successful.

"Last month we dedicated our new national headquarters here in Lansdowne," Quinn added. "We are a committed corporate citizen of Loudoun County, and we are delighted to support students in our own backyard."

In the last two years, the Foundation has awarded approximately $2 million in grants to build college access programs throughout Virginia.