Nonprofit guides Wilkinsburg students to next level
July 17, 2007 – 9:51 pmFound On Pittsburghlive.com By Kacie Axsom TRIBUNE-REVIEW Tuesday, June 26, 2007 Before he met Jeff Woodard, Martin Dietz was on his own to figure out the college application process. Dietz graduated from Wilkinsburg High School this year, and he plans to attend Lincoln University in the fall. But before he received his acceptance letter, he had to sort through college applications and financial aid options. "As the year went on, I kept having trouble with it," said Dietz, 18. "But (Woodard) would always be there. Then, everything was easy." Woodard is the executive director of the Pennsylvania College Access Program, or PA-CAP. Since 2001, the nonprofit has worked with Wilkinsburg High School and Wilkinsburg Academy seniors to prepare them for college applications. The organization's volunteers meet several times with the students throughout the year in groups. This year, they began one-on-one meetings, resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of students pursuing higher education, Woodard said. "I wasn't even planning on going to college, and when I met Jeff, ...