Dear LEAP Alum,

As football season nears, I again anticipate the start of a new school year.  And although I'm years removed, in some ways, I still long to be a student each fall time.  Some of my fondest memories of school are those years associated with LEAP.  I appreciate not only the year as a LEAP Student, and additional year as a Peer Advisor, but also the way that LEAP launched me into other area of growth and opportunity during my tenure as a student.

I am now part of the Community Advisory Board for LEAP.  We hope to reconnect with you... all past LEAP students and Peer Advisors!  We want to share exciting recent developments in the program and find out what you've been doing since graduation.  Please read the letter below from LEAP Director, Carolyn Bliss, and fill out a brief survey at http://www.studentvoice.com/utah/LEAPalumnisurvey08 .

We appreciate any time you can take to provide us with feedback and insight about the University of Utah LEAP graduates!

Matt Broadbent

'02-03 LEAP Student

'03-04 LEAP Peer Advisor

'06 B.A., University of Utah

Dear LEAP Alum,

Much has happened in the LEAP Program since you were a LEAP student!  We have grown from around 100 students when the program began to more than 700 today, and instead of a single version, there are ten program options, including tracks for students with certain majors, for undecided students, for students in the Residence Halls and under-represented students.

We also give scholarships and awards now-more than $18,000 worth each year-and we have a number of assessment efforts, which quantify what you already know...that LEAP makes a positive difference in student success at the U.  For instance, we've learned that LEAP students are 38% more likely than non-LEAP students to stay in college for their second year and 41% more likely to graduate within six years.  LEAP students also end their college careers more satisfied with their education.  Now we're looking to understand the directions LEAP graduates take after college. 

That's where you come in.  We are anxious to re-connect with LEAP alumni and to discover what you're doing now. 

Information about LEAP students and alumni helps us to refine the program identifying places for improvement and opportunities for growth. As well, it helps us as we approach foundations and individuals for support for scholarships and junior high and high school outreach programs.

We'd be deeply grateful if you would fill out the short, on-line questionnaire at http://www.studentvoice.com/utah/LEAPalumnisurvey08.  While there, we invite you to take a look at what LEAP and its students are doing these days. 

We'd also like to invite you to the fall LEAP Convocation and dessert reception that kick off the academic year.  We'll send out a postcard in August with details, and we would love to share the excitement of the new academic year with you!

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Bliss, Ph.D

LEAP Program Director

LEAP congratulates the following LEAP alums who have been chosen as new McNair Scholars:

Tori Morales

Eduardo Reyes and

Wendolens Ruano.

Together, they represent Service LEAP, Engineering LEAP, and Pre-Law LEAP.  Way to go!