Together we can... Go to college!
The mission of Together We Can… Go to College is to encourage students, schools, and the community to increase the region's college-going rate, currently only half the national average. Together We Can strives to make higher educational standards an attainable reality for our students by adopting the priority of strengthening educational leadership.
Studies have found that low self-esteem, poverty and lack of information to be among the strongest barriers to college participation. Together We Can hopes to help students overcome these barriers by providing students education through hands-on experiences at a local university.
A college degree means more to a student than they think. The world is changing rapidly, and so is the job market. College graduates have more job choices than those who don’t pursue education beyond high school. Another reason to go to college is because college graduates typically
more money than those who don’t pursue education beyond high school. According to the Census Bureau, over an adult’s working life, college graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $1 million more than high school graduates. Though the cost of education my seem significant the difference in total earnings makes a college education worth the investment.
Seniors from Chesapeake, Dawson Bryant, Ironton, and Rock Hill will be invited to a Campus visit at Ohio University Southern. Campus Days are designed to relieve the pressure some students feel when tackling the issues and decisions of choosing a college to attend. Every senior will receive a tour of the campus and an information session as they finalize their college plan. These visits will help familiarize students in an informal lunch session with current students, staff, and faculty, allowing them to participate in actual college classes, and present them with vital information concerning the completion of their financial aid process.
http://www.oache.org
http://www.aessuccess.org
http://www.ohiomentor.org
http://www.collegenet.com
The overall objective of the Jump Start Academy was to provide an atmosphere where students could experience a single subject in a concentrated manner. The goal was to generate excitement and anticipation for the coming school year as well as prepare student for academic excellence. As an incentive for attending the program, students were taken to King's Island, a local theme park. Research shows that a reward strengthens students to strive for improvement.
The Together We Can program is preparing to host etiquette training courses at Ohio University Southern. Twenty-five 8th grade students from each of the targeted schools will be invited to attend an interactive etiquette course. This course will educate students on the importance of proper business and social manners. The etiquette classes will provide students with the knowledge, self-confidence and skills needed for successful social and business lives of educated adults. For all campus programs, students will be transported via school bus. These courses will begin in January after the holiday break.
In up and coming months the 10th and 12th grade students will participate in the “Reality Store” with Together We Can (TWC). The 12th grade students, time permitting, will complete the “Reality Store” during their Campus Days trip to Ohio University Southern. The “Reality Store” activity gears students towards understanding the importance of a college education and introduces them to real world financial responsibility. The students acquire realistic financial information based on Lawrence County’s socio-economic status and with the guidance of the TWC staff, experience what it takes to gain financial independence. As they move from one station to another, students attend interactive workshops on career development and financial aid. We are looking forward to 100% participation from the selected schools and eagerly anticipate the cooperation of those schools.
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