Members of the successful BTE program at its launch

In June of 2011, 18 young men and women will graduate from the TCNJ’s Bridge to Employment program and, with scholarships in hand, start a new chapter  in a college or professional training program; ending three years of hard work and social networking with college and corporate partners.

This three year project was led by the Bonner Center in partnership with staff from Jannsen Pharmaceutical, Johnson and Johnson, the Academy for Educational Development, the City of Trenton, and Trenton High School West (formerly the Trenton Medical Arts Academy).

An international project with sites on every continent, BTE in America focuses on one of America’s most significant issues:  improving access to higher education for urban and disadvantaged youth.   It also strives to further diversify the talent pool that enters the health care profession.   The international  BTE sites include Colombia, Scotland, Brazil and South Africa.

At the heart of this project are weekly sessions involving Bonner Community Scholars from TCNJ and the Trenton High students.  Every Tuesday–and on some weekends–Bonners provide academic tutoring, organize enrichment trips, facilitate life-skills classes and organize campus and corporate tours.   They have also held SAT prep sessions and college application seminars.

Trenton High and TCNJ students enjoy a recent outing for laser tag and rock climbing: fun and bonding exercises in addition to hard work.

During the summers, the two groups work together to ensure that all BTE students participate in a corporate summer internship program.  These are paid work experiences in local health care companies and facilities.  In addition, all participate in the residential Summer Institute program–where the high school students live on campus for a week full of classes, lab work and service learning projects.