May 14, 2026

To the Grant Review Committee,

I am writing to express my strong support for Dr. Chris Vick’s application for an innovation grant to expand his college access work. My perspective is based on our collaborative efforts in developing and delivering the Bellows GOATS (Guiding Outstanding Achievers Together) program, an inaugural mentoring cohort for fourth and fifth-grade students. The Bellows GOATS program was established as a formal partnership between the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS). Our overarching goal was to provide young men with a structured, supportive environment where they could begin to see higher education as a realistic and attainable path for their futures.

During our time working together, Dr. Vick implemented several practical, highly effective strategies that thoroughly engaged both the students and their families. We focused heavily on career and collegiate exposure, providing firsthand experiences that included a visit to the UMBC campus to demystify university life, alongside a dedicated session with UMBC student-athletes. These interactions allowed the boys to hear directly about the rigor and discipline required to balance academics and athletics at the collegiate level. Furthermore, Dr. Vick introduced future planning through a “Life Road-Mapping” exercise, where students identified personal and academic goals looking toward 2031 and 2032, translating the abstract idea of “college” into a tangible series of milestones. He also fostered a deep sense of identity and agency by involving students directly in the branding of the program—including the development of their own program logo—ensuring they felt like active creators of a community rather than just participants. Crucially, a core strength of the program was the deliberate inclusion of fathers, uncles, and other male role models whose presence at meetings provided the students with a diverse array of perspectives on career paths, life lessons, and the vital importance of persistence.

The success of this work was not theoretical; it was vividly apparent in the words of the students themselves. During our final meeting, we asked the cohort to share their

reflections, and one fifth-grade speaker thoughtfully noted that Bellows GOATS helps them learn about things they need to think about before going to college, allowing them to learn from adults’ life lessons and regrets so they don’t make the same mistakes. This level of impact was evident from the very beginning; during one of our initial meetings, a student reflecting on the day’s lessons remarked, “It is like we are standing on the shoulders of giants.” This profound sentiment not only captured how deeply the boys were internalizing the program’s message, but it ultimately became the de facto motto of the entire program.

Dr. Vick’s proposed initiative to provide individualized assistance to families is a direct, logical extension of the vital work we began with the Bellows GOATS. He possesses a proven, rare ability to organize complex partnerships and create deeply meaningful engagement with students. He is not just preparing young people for careers and college; he is helping them build the foundational character and identity necessary to thrive as they pursue their highest goals. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information.

Sincerely,

Eric Soskil

Assistant Principal

Glen Haven Elementary