16 / matters magazine / summer 2017 A Family of Achievers Columbia High School’s innovative program supports minority students BY ADRIANNA DONAT E ach time Columbia High School’s Minority Achievement Committee (MAC) meets, Marcia Hicks leads the students in their mantra: “Who are we?” she asks the group. “A family!” they shout back. “What are we here to do?” she asks. “Achieve!” Hicks is a guidance counselor at Columbia High School, and has been its MAC Program Coordinator for the last four years. MAC’s mission is to inspire academic excellence among African American students, students of African de- scent and students of color. The group is made up of about 100 students who meet as a group at least once a month. “This is a family of kids who support each other academically,” says Hicks. “Meeting students from all around us and dealing with minority issues has value.” Many of these students have never taken an Honors or AP level class, but MAC helps them see the possibilities. The school doesn’t just place stu- dents in advanced classes with no support. MAC has an executive board that reviews each student’s progress quarterly, providing help if his or her grades slip. Hicks recruits older stu- dents to offer advice and tutors for those who need academic help. “The community has really risen to this challenge,” she says. “There are tu- tors who generously volunteer their time and even help our kids by editing college essays.” And for each of the last four years, the Bass Foundation of Maplewood has donated laptops to graduating MAC Scholars who may not be able to afford them. Marcia Hicks, a CHS guidance counselor, is the Program Coordinator for MAC.