For many high school students, the often-daunting task of filling out college applications may seem overwhelming. This weekend, however, the UW Dream Project will assist approximately 250 local first-generation and low-income high school students with this process.

The second annual Admissions Weekend will be a writing workshop to assist students with their college applications, essays, and personal statements. The students will be from the six high schools partnered with the project: Foster, Renton and Chief Sealth High Schools; the Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment, Odyssey; The Essential School and Global Connections. Those attending will find assistance from graduate students, writing tutors and about 50 members from the Dream Project.

"Nothing had been created like it before" said Jenee Myers, a graduate student who has been with the program since the beginning.

Sam Lim, a sophomore with the program, was looking forward to the addition of several of the former high school recipients of Dream Project assistance at the event. These students have continued on with the organization, this time as first-year volunteers at the University.

The project began as an idea by undergraduate student Alula Asfaw in the fall of 2005. As a first-generation college student, Asfaw wanted to look into the ways in which it would be possible to help other students from similar backgrounds with the college admissions process. At first the program did not work directly with high school students; it began as a class where discussion of the related issues could take place. The first class, held winter quarter 2006, was comprised of just 12 students, all from differing backgrounds yet sharing a similar interest in educational outreach.

Since its inception, the Dream Project has expanded to approximately 70 members, including both undergraduate and graduate students. Volunteers attend a two-credit, on-campus general education course and commit to at least four hours a week assisting at a local high school.

Student volunteers help partnered high school students in all aspects of the college application process, from SAT/ACT prep to the rigorous task of writing a personal statement.

"It goes beyond being just a class," said freshman volunteer Joshua McLeod.

Like several other members of the program, McLeod worked with Dream Project volunteers while he attended Foster High School. After his acceptance to the University, he decided to continue with the organization, this time from the perspective of a student volunteer.

"People tell you that you're going to college but never tell you how," freshman Aliz Logman said.

Both Logman and Mcleod were drawn to the organization as high school students for the hands-on assistance with tackling the application process.

The group also hosts two other events throughout the year: a scholarship event in the winter and a spring barbeque. Former participant, Michael Peralta, enjoyed the way the Dream Project was able to make him feel more at home at the University through the spring barbeque, which allows high school students to sit in on a lecture class to see what their college experience could entail.

The Admissions Weekend will begin with a parent information session Saturday morning and will run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in Mary Gates Hall.

[Reach reporter Julian Martin at news@thedaiy.washington.edu.]