One of Portland’s struggling high schools got a boost on Monday when 800 college students helped with service projects in honor of Martin Luther King Day. Volunteers painted walls, picked up trash, and left notes of encouragement on student lockers. In past years, Roosevelt has struggled with under enrollment, low academic performance and poor graduation rates. The school is starting to turn around, but principal Charlene Willams still appreciates the help from college volunteers.
“To have so many college kids flood our campus continues to affirm our vision of creating the college-going culture, given Dr. King’s dream. He provides this beautiful context of why we are doing what we’re doing,” said Williams.