To the Journal editor:

Because of the success of the Marquette-Alger Technical Middle College, Rick Rhoades and I start a fundraising campaign today to allow more students to participate in the program.

The Middle College is a collaborative effort between Northern Michigan University, MARESA, Eagle Mine, School Districts, State of Michigan, and the Community Foundation of Marquette County. Students in 11th grade take 1 class at NMU, 12th grade students take 1 NMU class each semester, and grade 13 students are full time NMU students.

Students are successful because they ease into college, have intense wrap-around support, complete 100 hours community service, accumulate no student loan debt, and fill high-need jobs in the region.

We’re hoping to increase the number of Middle College students from 60 to 150 over the next 3 years.