Casey cares deeply about education and the Portland community, and is taking a lot of steps to learn and grow so she can continue to give back. She attends conferences and webinars, seeks out mentorship, and creates long-term connections in the Portland educational landscape. She knows that making a better future for low-income students doesnt take one or two years, and she wants to be part of a long-term solution.

Paige Hill, senior program coordinator, College Possible

Casey Block, program coordinator for College Possible, knows what its like to think your dream college is out of reach.

Neither of her parents attended college, and she grew up in a small Illinois town without a lot of money. Though a high-achieving student, she never considered looking for a college that challenged her or matched her interests.

I dont think my guidance counselor ever once talked to me about college, Block says. I knew a handful of colleges, and the driving factor in my decision was cost. Whichever one had the lowest sticker pricethat was all I was I was thinking about.

Applying to college is hard enough. First-generation and low-income college students face additional challenges, both when applying and attending. College Possible aims to make those students college dreams come true by giving them ACT and SAT test prep, taking them on campus tours, guiding them through the application process and, finally, supporting them once they go to college.

At College Possible, Block, 27, trains and supervises seven AmeriCorps volunteers who are currently coaching 250 high school students in the Portland area. These students increased their ACT scores by 26 percent last yearfar exceeding their goal of 5 percent, and greatly increasing their chances of getting into more selective schools.

While Block values her college experience, she would have liked to have had the kind of support College Possible provides. I wish my path had been a little different, she says. I wish Id looked for a school that fit me well and where I felt comfortable.

College Possible doesnt just aim to get low-income kids into collegeit helps its students find a college that will be a good fit, ultimately increasing their likelihood of success. It also helps participants navigate the costs of attending college, keeping debt manageable.

Most important: College Possible gets results. Nationwide, 98 percent of its students are admitted to college and are two times more likely to graduate than students not in the program.

I see education as being such an important key in breaking that cycle of poverty, Block says. I really do think that education is the best way for individuals to be able to advocate for themselves and choose a path that makes them happy.

Bottom Line for Portland:

College Possible is guiding 1,762 low-income students in the Portland area through the college application process and supporting them throughout their higher education. As a program coordinator for the organization, Casey Block leads the team currently coaching 250 low-income students at six Portland-area high schools.

This prize is generously sponsored by Grady Britton.