A Call to College Anniversary

In 1991, A Call to College was born. On Sept. 18, the organization will celebrate its 20th anniversary and residents of the community are invited to attend the event. The festivities will be held from 4 - 7 p.m.

The Newark High School Orchestra and Choir will perform from 4 - 5:15 p.m., with remarks from Diane DeLawder, executive director, and Sarah Wallace, president of the ACTC governing board, at 5:30 p.m.

Two recipients of ACTC scholarships, Rebekah Estep, now a Newark High School Spanish teacher, and Hollie Lewis, an employee of Center for New Beginnings, will share their stories about how ACTC made it possible for them to further their education.

A Call to College was the dream of Lou Mitchell, a 1953 Newark High school grad, who challenged other NHS alumni to donate to a fund that would help Newark High School students with college expenses.

Since then A Call to College has awarded over $2 million in scholarships to deserving NHS seniors. Over the years, ACTC has assisted 6, 300 juniors and seniors with college applications and financial aid. NHS alumni play an important role in this organization. Over 60 percent of the donations are from Newark graduates.

“I can’t say enough about the work that has been done in a small office at Newark High School and now in every middle and elementary school. Because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, donors, school personnel, ACTC staff, governing board members and many others, the lives of thousands of Newark students are being changed,” Wallace said.