{"id":54,"date":"2012-10-13T10:00:25","date_gmt":"2012-10-13T14:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/sites\/gsm_spr12\/?p=54"},"modified":"2016-02-02T12:16:32","modified_gmt":"2016-02-02T17:16:32","slug":"dream-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/2012\/10\/13\/dream-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Dream Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"dreamteam_article\"<\/a>
\nTom and Kathy Kelly visit two of their Greensboro Dreamers, Jacayla Edwards and Kadijah Woods, on the Georgia Southern University campus.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Two Georgia Southern University freshmen have achieved their goal of attending college through the Greensboro Dreamers<\/h3>\n

This fall, Jacayla Edwards and Kadijah Woods headed to college with thousands of other students across the country. While most of their peers began prepping for college during high school, these Georgia Southern University freshmen are a little different than most. Since the first grade, Edwards and Woods have been working to achieve their lifelong dream.<\/p>\n

Thanks to a couple who decided to pursue a different type of retirement, these young women\u2019s dream has become a reality along with many of their high school classmates, some of whom will be the first in their families to ever attend college.<\/p>\n

Tom and Kathy Kelly, the founders of the Greensboro Dreamers \u2014 an educational program they launched in August 2000 \u2014 changed the lives and futures of 44 first graders a dozen years ago in Greene County. In exchange for a 12-year commitment, the Kellys agreed to provide tuition assistance for each student to attend college or vocational school after graduating from high school.<\/p>\n

THEY HAD A DREAM<\/strong><\/p>\n

The story of the Greensboro Dreamers began when Tom and Kathy Kelly opted for early retirement. Tom, at 56, was the president of the cardiovascular devices division for health care corporation Baxter International, and Kathy had served as the first female mayor of Clearwater, Fla. The couple moved to the north Georgia town of Greensboro \u2014 outside Athens \u2014 to be closer to their children and grandchildren living in Atlanta. While most retirees would be slowing down and enjoying long-awaited vacations, the Kellys instead decided to share their success with those in need, specifically focusing on education.<\/p>\n

The concept of giving back to those less fortunate was instilled in Tom from a very young age. \u201cMy mother came from Ireland. If she had a nickel, she would give it to someone else. She was always giving back. The same is true about Kathy,\u201d he said about his wife. \u201cShe was one of seven children and her father always emphasized getting a college education,\u201d Tom added.<\/p>\n

The Kellys were inspired by philanthropist Eugene Lang\u2019s \u201cI Have a Dream\u201d Foundation, which he launched in 1981 in New York City. The program provides college tuition assistance to underprivileged children across the United States. \u201cAfter researching several education-based programs, we decided that \u2018I Have a Dream\u2019 was the best concept for us,\u201d said Tom, about their decision to affiliate with the program. The Greensboro Dreamers became the first rural chapter of the national program.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to introduce this program to kids with financial needs in Greene County,\u201d said Tom, describing the reason why they selected Greensboro Elementary School. The Kellys met with Principal Joan Antone to see if she was interested in her students participating in the Greensboro Dreamers, which they promised would include tutors and funding. Antone jumped at the chance to offer this opportunity to her students, many of whom would never be able to attend college.<\/p>\n

The Kellys also realized that they needed the influence of another driven educator, a person to serve as the program director \u2013 someone who would help them push the students to succeed on a daily basis. Antone had just the person in mind \u2013 Greensboro native and first-grade teacher Beth Thomas.<\/p>\n

According to Thomas, she was never interested in pursuing any profession other than teaching. \u201cI worked as a first-grade teacher for four years with Mrs. Antone, and I begged her to let me move up to second grade with my class because I wanted to follow my students. One day, Mrs. Antone called me into her office and Tom and Kathy were sitting there talking about the Dreamers program and I thought \u2018this is my dream come true.\u2019 \u201d Thomas finally had the chance to follow her students through high school and beyond.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeth is the backbone of this project, and it has been a dream come true for us because she is absolutely the best,\u201d said Tom. \u201cBeth is the most organized person we have ever met — she is like their surrogate mom and has been a blessing to us and all of the kids from day one,\u201d he added, about the person the Dreamers lovingly call \u201cMiss Beth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since first grade, the Dreamers were required to attend Saturday school two times a month, spend four days a week in an after school tutoring program (including Spring Break), and attend summer school for the month of June. Other requirements included performing eight hours of community service each semester; some of the activities included playing bingo with nursing home residents, performing holiday choral concerts and tutoring fifth graders from Greensboro Elementary School. All total, each student participated for more than 1,700 hours in the program and Thomas and the Kellys have been working side- by-side with the students every step of the way.<\/p>\n

Nicknamed \u201cMr. and Mrs. K\u201d by the Dreamers, the couple quickly stepped into the role of surrogate grandparents. \u201cWe spent a lot of time with the kids, motivating them to keep good grades and listening to issues in their home life,\u201d said Tom.<\/p>\n

Kathy enlisted the help of friends all over the country to serve as sponsors and visited local businesses to donate after-school meals for their program. The program grew to include six part- time teachers and 20 volunteers each week working after school with the Dreamers. The students were also paired with a mentor that became involved in all aspects of their everyday lives from baking Christmas cookies to celebrating birthdays and drilling the Dreamers about their grades.<\/p>\n

Through the years, Tom has worked tirelessly as a fundraiser to secure grants and other financial assistance for the Dreamers as well as support more than 600 non-Dreamer students in Greene County.<\/p>\n

While academic learning has been a large part of the Dreamers program, the students developed character traits and life skills outside the classroom, participating in etiquette classes and living by \u201cQuotes of the Week.\u201d \u201cThe quotes could be \u2018Family Comes First,\u2019 or \u2018Always leave a tip for a hotel room,\u2019 \u201d said Thomas. The objective behind the activity is for the Dreamers to think about every choice they make in their lives, Thomas explained. Even something as simple as a firm handshake and learning to look people in the eye when speaking was an important lesson taught to each of the Dreamers. \u201cIt really instills confidence and gives these kids a boost. Our program addresses the whole child,\u201d said Tom.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nHIGH EXPECTATIONS<\/strong> The Greensboro Dreamers toured the Georgia Southern University campus during one of their school breaks.<\/em><\/p>\n

LESSONS LEARNED<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cKathy and I have always believed that education is the key \u2013 instead of giving kids a fish, we teach them how to fish,\u201d Tom said. That meant giving the Dreamers the opportunities and tools to succeed and rewarding their hard work.<\/p>\n

The Dreamers learned their first lesson after report cards were issued in first grade. \u201cWe took the kids to a movie theater,\u201d Kathy recalled. Everyone was so excited, because they had never been. The next time, we only took the kids who were on the honor roll. There were tears, because everyone wanted to go. After that, the kids were all motivated to earn honor roll. The next time report cards came out, we had to hire a bus to get everyone to the theater,\u201d she explained. \u201cThe kids understood that good grades bring good things. Through the years, they have discovered that if you try hard in life, nice things will fall into your lap.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of those experiences have included more than 80 in-state trips to museums, theaters, camps, college campuses and sporting events. A large number of Dreamers also earned special trips to Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Dallas and New York City, as a reward for grades, attendance, behavior and effort. For some of the students, it was their first trip in an airplane, said Kathy. When Woods was 13, she earned her first airplane flight to Colorado to attend a nationwide Dreamers conference, and met other Dreamers from New York, California and the Dominican Republic.<\/p>\n

COLLEGE PREP<\/strong>
\nAs the Dreamers were closing in on their final years of high school, Thomas and the Kellys packed in job shadowing opportunities, worked on resum\u00e9 preparation and visited colleges and universities with the Dreamers during their Spring and Fall Breaks. Volunteers presented college workshops for Dreamers\u2019 parents and students that discussed graduation requirements, drug awareness and finances.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hosted a college boot camp in May for the students, and provided them with a lot of information about networking in college, peer pressure, choosing friends, time management and making good choices. The kids got these messages from a lot of different sources,\u201d said Thomas, which included guest speakers ranging from college students to college professors.<\/p>\n

THE DREAMERS: PHASE II<\/strong><\/p>\n

In May, many relatives, close friends and donors from all over the United States gathered in Greensboro to celebrate the Dreamers\u2019 graduation weekend. \u201cSome of our donors were just meeting the Dreamers for the first time. Several said to me, \u2018We\u2019ve been so tired of you bragging about these kids over the years, but after we met them, we decided you didn\u2019t brag enough,\u2019 \u201d said Tom proudly about their accomplishments.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese kids have truly earned it,\u201d he added, about the Dreamers\u2019 years of dedication and hard work, and there is no doubt that Thomas and the Kellys have succeeded in their mission of teaching the Dreamers to become productive citizens and leaders in their community.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne hundred percent of our Dreamers graduated on time, compared to a graduation rate of only 31 percent at their school. Many of these kids will be the first member of their family to go to college,\u201d he added. The Dreamers\u2019 statistics are impressive: 85 percent are attending a four-year college \u2013 a record for their community \u2013 while the remainder are pursuing a two-year associate’s degree at trade schools. Furthermore, 23 Dreamers earned the HOPE scholarship, which required a 3.0 high school GPA.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a Dreamer, I was pushed,\u201d said Edwards, \u201cand we were expected to go beyond just being successful. Of course, we were fussed at, but it was all done out of love. We were always told to be thankful for what we have and always give back. Mr. K always told us that we are as good as anyone else, and better than most,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

In addition to Georgia Southern, the Dreamers are attending 15 other colleges including the University of Georgia, the College of Coastal Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, Valdosta State College and University and Georgia College and State University, to name a few. This is the beginning of \u201cPhase II\u201d as Thomas and the Kellys like to call it, and they have found that their work is far from over. The support that Edwards, Woods and the rest of the Dreamers have relied on for the past dozen years will remain in place during their collegiate experience. \u201cThese past 12 years have been a whirlwind, and we are visiting each of the kids on their campuses during our initial swing of the South tour,\u201d said Kathy, about the first of several visits the couple will make every year the Dreamers are in college.<\/p>\n

Thomas will also be on the road for the next five years, making monthly trips to visit the Dreamers at their respective campuses. \u201cI will be checking in with the kids and helping them during the transition,\u201d she said, much to the relief of Edwards and Woods. \u201cI have been so overwhelmed, I wouldn\u2019t know what to do without Miss Beth,\u201d said pre-dental student Edwards, about the excitement of her new collegiate experience. \u201cWe live in a bubble in Greensboro, and now we are navigating a whole new system and way of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now that the Kellys have honored their promise of providing a college education for the Dreamers, these two young women will continue working hard to fulfill their dreams for the future and provide assistance to others in need. \u201cMrs.Khas always talked to us about paying it forward in whatever way you can,\u201d said Woods, who is studying to become a psychologist.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a 17-year commitment, but we\u2019ve never looked back. Aside from our family, it is the most rewarding thing we have ever done,\u201d said Tom.<\/p>\n

The Greensboro Dreamers has also been a life-changing experience for Thomas. \u201cI think of the Dreamers as my own children,\u201d said the mother of two young sons. I get my fill from them. They needed me, but I needed them too. I just want to feel that I have made a difference in a child\u2019s life,\u201d Thomas said.<\/p>\n

For Woods, her years with Miss Beth, Mr. and Mrs. K and her close-knit group of brothers and sisters, as she calls them, have provided much more than just learning experiences. \u201cWe\u2019re a family,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Georgia Couple Helps Students Attend College<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1734,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[39],"class_list":["post-54","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-foundation","tag-fall-2012"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}