ELLISTON – Snack trays, decorative shirts and door prizes filled the Eastern Montgomery High School library on Wednesday.
No, this wasn’t an elaborate bridal shower, though many students were celebrating the start of the next chapter of their lives.
The members of the Class of 2014 were among students in 32 high schools across the state chosen to take part in the Virginia College Application Week, a period from Nov. 18-22, sponsored by the Virginia Secretary of Education’s Office in which seniors can apply to certain colleges free of charge.
The school took full advantage of the waived fees Wednesday by holding an all-day college application event and allowing any student who filled out an application to partake in the spoils of the celebration.
“We want to reward students for their efforts in applying to college,” said school principal Danny Knott.
Knott said he couldn’t be sure of how many members of the school’s Class of 2013 applied to college, but that 48 percent of their graduating class last year was accepted.
Montgomery County Public Schools On-Time Graduate Coordinator Jeanne Allen said the State Council for Higher Education selected schools for the program based on their low-socioeconomic statuses and targeted areas with a high percentage of potential first-generation college students.
Allen said an invitation to participate was sent to a combined 59 independent college and public universities throughout Virginia and 29 had responded by waiving the application fee.
Students could also apply to any Virginia community college free of charge.
She added that East Mont was the only high school in the New River and Roanoke valleys selected for the program, which she believes can greatly benefit many of the students.
“The biggest advantage is taking advantage of the fee waiving and giving kids who otherwise wouldn’t be going to college an opportunity to fill out an application and encourage them that maybe this [college] is something they can do,” Allen said.
Allen said New River Valley Community College career coach Jon Cash and school guidance councilor Holly Murden had worked with the students during their English classes to help prepare in advance all transcripts, essays and resumes needed to help streamline the online application process.
Each students’ information was put into a packet, which they were allowed to pick up in the library.
They applied using the library’s computers throughout the day.
Murden said volunteers were also available to assist the students with the application process.
Cody Claxton was one of many students who spent part of the day applying to multiple Virginia colleges he said he otherwise wouldn’t have even considered.
“Since we’re getting the fee waived, we figured we had nothing to lose,” Claxton said.
Claxton applied to three state schools Wednesday and saved an estimated $130 in application fees.
Other students, such as Amber Robertson, said the waived fees were the only reason she was applying to college this fall.
“I was going to wait a year if possible to go to college, but I mean, this is free, so I’ll just go ahead and do it now,” she said.
Robertson, who aims to study nursing, said the help the school provided in organizing each student’s application materials made the process of applying to college very easy.
By the end of the day, 53 of the school’s 60 seniors went through that process, with five students absent and only two declining to participate.
Allen said a total of 77 applications were filed, 55 of which were to four-year colleges, 13 to community colleges and nine to trade schools.
Each student who applied received a free shirts and became eligible to win a door prize, including one of 12 $25 gift cards, which Allen said were made possible by donations from 20 local businesses.
Christiansburg’s Shelor Motor Mile donated three tool kits, which were raffled off to students hoping to further their education at trade schools.
Allen, who worked as a guidance counselor at the school prior to her current position, said the event was a prime example of the type of atmosphere the school hoped to give students in that part of the county.
“We have so many kids from low-income families that don’t know what they can do…These kids need that encouragement, they need that support system that a family-oriented school like East Mont can provide,” Allen said.
No, this wasn’t an elaborate bridal shower, though many students were celebrating the start of the next chapter of their lives.
The members of the Class of 2014 were among students in 32 high schools across the state chosen to take part in the Virginia College Application Week, a period from Nov. 18-22, sponsored by the Virginia Secretary of Education’s Office in which seniors can apply to certain colleges free of charge.
The school took full advantage of the waived fees Wednesday by holding an all-day college application event and allowing any student who filled out an application to partake in the spoils of the celebration.
“We want to reward students for their efforts in applying to college,” said school principal Danny Knott.
Knott said he couldn’t be sure of how many members of the school’s Class of 2013 applied to college, but that 48 percent of their graduating class last year was accepted.
Montgomery County Public Schools On-Time Graduate Coordinator Jeanne Allen said the State Council for Higher Education selected schools for the program based on their low-socioeconomic statuses and targeted areas with a high percentage of potential first-generation college students.
Allen said an invitation to participate was sent to a combined 59 independent college and public universities throughout Virginia and 29 had responded by waiving the application fee.
Students could also apply to any Virginia community college free of charge.
She added that East Mont was the only high school in the New River and Roanoke valleys selected for the program, which she believes can greatly benefit many of the students.
“The biggest advantage is taking advantage of the fee waiving and giving kids who otherwise wouldn’t be going to college an opportunity to fill out an application and encourage them that maybe this [college] is something they can do,” Allen said.
Allen said New River Valley Community College career coach Jon Cash and school guidance councilor Holly Murden had worked with the students during their English classes to help prepare in advance all transcripts, essays and resumes needed to help streamline the online application process.
Each students’ information was put into a packet, which they were allowed to pick up in the library.
They applied using the library’s computers throughout the day.
Murden said volunteers were also available to assist the students with the application process.
Cody Claxton was one of many students who spent part of the day applying to multiple Virginia colleges he said he otherwise wouldn’t have even considered.
“Since we’re getting the fee waived, we figured we had nothing to lose,” Claxton said.
Claxton applied to three state schools Wednesday and saved an estimated $130 in application fees.
Other students, such as Amber Robertson, said the waived fees were the only reason she was applying to college this fall.
“I was going to wait a year if possible to go to college, but I mean, this is free, so I’ll just go ahead and do it now,” she said.
Robertson, who aims to study nursing, said the help the school provided in organizing each student’s application materials made the process of applying to college very easy.
By the end of the day, 53 of the school’s 60 seniors went through that process, with five students absent and only two declining to participate.
Allen said a total of 77 applications were filed, 55 of which were to four-year colleges, 13 to community colleges and nine to trade schools.
Each student who applied received a free shirts and became eligible to win a door prize, including one of 12 $25 gift cards, which Allen said were made possible by donations from 20 local businesses.
Christiansburg’s Shelor Motor Mile donated three tool kits, which were raffled off to students hoping to further their education at trade schools.
Allen, who worked as a guidance counselor at the school prior to her current position, said the event was a prime example of the type of atmosphere the school hoped to give students in that part of the county.
“We have so many kids from low-income families that don’t know what they can do…These kids need that encouragement, they need that support system that a family-oriented school like East Mont can provide,” Allen said.
No comments:
Post a Comment