Anthony Cosenze - TEAM ACCESS

***Thanks for everyone's support before, during and after the race. I couldn't have done it without you all. Only a few more days to donate!***

I am running for TEAM ACCESS, a team dedicated to easing the confusing financial aid process that can keep many students from starting and completing college. ACCESS’ model is efficient and deeply personal; over 3,000 students were served last year and for every $1 that ACCESS spent, $61 of financial aid was secured for students in Boston and Springfield.

Like many of the students that ACCESS helps every day, I am a first generation college student. I can appreciate the difficulties and challenges of getting to and through college with little or no prior knowledge or experience of the process. I am very fortunate to have a supportive family that helped me navigate through the process of securing scholarships, grants, loans and a work study job. Not all students, first generation or otherwise, are as lucky. I want to use this marathon opportunity not only to raise money, but also to raise awareness about how important this support can be, whether it is in the form of an advisor’s encouragement or actual funds leveraged. My family acted as my ACCESS advisor. Without them I would not have had the same opportunities for success in college. This effort will help provide others with the support and opportunity that I had.

All of the money raised by TEAM ACCESS will support the High School Advising Program, ACCESS’s signature program. This program is available, free of charge, to every high school student in Boston and Springfield. Last year alone, 16 ACCESS advisors held 10,938 one-on-one advising sessions and helped 3,430 seniors secure $55 million in grants, loans and scholarships. The advising program is currently serving 9th and 10th graders in addition to seniors to ensure that students are more prepared for the realities of the financial aid process.

My goal on 18 April 2011 is to finish a 26.2 mile race (“in relative comfort”, as Coach Rick would say). I will run so that each student ACCESS serves may achieve their goal of a college education. Please join me in helping make their goals more attainable by supporting a program committed to getting students to and through college.