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>>Theresa Bierer: Each year in the United States thousands of people "age out" of the
foster care system and very few of them are college bound. One Arizona couple is working
to increase the odds for these young people Paul and Amy Blavin are spending part of the
day with Kyle Beloin, one of four NAU students in the Blavin Scholar program. It covers many
costs of higher education and offers other types of support.
>>Amy Blavin: We wanted to do something for our community and we found this to be a very
neglected population, in regards to their education needs and all their needs as a whole.
>>Paul Blavin: Frankly I get more out of helping these kids than I am putting in. I made my
money by investing and this is the best return on investment I have received by far.
>>Bierer: The Blavins chose Northern Arizona University after investigating support for
their scholar program. Most young people who were former wards of the state are first time
college students, without stable family backgrounds to fall back on
>>Paul Blavin: So small minor bumps in the road can sometimes derail our students and
so with NAU we found a very enthusiastic reception with the faculty of NAU and the administration.
And that's really been the key to give us the confidence to put the money in
>>Bierer: This investment could reduce teen pregnancy, homelessness, substance abuse in
this at risk group. Kyle Beloin hopes his peers in foster care see beyond the daunting
statistics >>Kyle Beloin: As far as the relevance to
foster kids that are coming into college what they mean to them, what they should mean to
them it's just something more to overcome. They've overcome so much in their lives anyways
they've gotten this far, it's a battle worth fighting, and that's for sure.
>>Bierer: About 2% of former foster care kids graduate college, and for this group to have
made it to NAU is inspirational, even a miracle says Paul Blavin
>>Paul Blavin: When we have the program in place and the program is functioning, it will
turn from less of a miracle into more common place and that is really the goal. Because
the kids have the ability, they just need the support.
>>Amy Blavin: It's the most meaningful thing that I have done beside having children of
my own. >>Bierer: The Blavins hope down the road the
state or federal government will champion the cause of higher education for former wards
of the state