By Joseph Pratt
Next fall will be closer than most imagine for students and families in the area who are applying for schools and scholarships, planning campus visits, filling out the required FAFSA, enrolling in the ACT, and more. With so much to plan and to think about, the ordeal can be daunting to even those who have gone through the rodeo before. The Scioto Foundation will be making the process easier on local families during its annual UCAN Go To College Night, which will be held later this month.
All students in grades eight to 12, as well as parents, grandparents, teachers, school administrators and any others interested in post secondary training, are invited to attend the evening’s activities.
The event is planned as part of Scioto Foundation’s UCAN, also known as University/College Access Network, program designed to help young people plan, prepare and pay for college. Participants from Pike and Adams Counties and Greenup County, Kentucky are encouraged to attend, along with those from Scioto County.
“Our vision is that, one day, every student in the area who wants to attend a college or institution of higher learning can,” Executive Director of Scioto Foundation, Kim Cutlip, said. “UCAN Go To College Night is a part of that plan.”
Cutlip said that the organization has done a lot of work to guide students through the process of getting into the school they want, from assisting schools in developing scholarship endowments to providing informational meetings for students and parents, and more.
The College Night session will offer opportunities to talk with representatives of nearly 40 colleges, universities, and military institutions; meet with representatives of financial services and organizations; and hear practical advice and information from professional experts. Admission is free and those attending may register at the door.
Participating students will be eligible to win eight $250 college scholarships. The winning tickets will be drawn at the end of the program; students do not need to be present to win.
Programs presented by professionals at advising tables will include Careers in Health Care and the Construction Trades; Preparing for College in Junior and Senior High School; College and Military Entrance Testing; Preparing for College Outside the Classroom; College 101: Selecting a College and a Major; The College Application; Paying for College, Understanding FASFA: Federal/State Grants and Loans; Scholarships; and Private Loans and Money Management.
College and university representatives will attend from Alice Lloyd College, Ashland Community and Technical College, Ashland (OH) University, Berea College, Capital University, College of Mount St. Joseph, Concord University, Heidelberg University, Hocking College, Kentucky Christian University, Lake Erie College, Malone University, Marshall University, Miami University, Midway College, Morehead State University, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Muskingum University, Ohio Christian University, The Ohio State University, Ohio State University – ATI, Ohio University, Ohio University – Chillicothe, Ohio University – Southern, Ohio Valley University, Otterbein University, Scioto Career & Technical Center, Shawnee State University, Southern State Community College, Urbana University, University of Cincinnati, University of Findlay, University of Mount Union, University of Rio Grande, US Military Academy (West Point), US Air Force, West Virginia Institute of Technology, and Wilmington College.
“College Night is there to encourage a college-going community,” Cutlip said. “We define college as anything that earns a student a certificate, degree, or beyond, after high school that will allow them to earn a better job in life. We want to foster education and a better standard of living in members of our community and UCAN is a part of that.”
The UCAN Go To College Night event will be held October 13 at the Southern Ohio Medical Center Friends Center between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Scioto Foundation office at (740) 354-4612 or by checking the Scioto Foundation’s Facebook page.
Reach Joseph Pratt at 740-353-3101, ext. 1932, or by Twitter @JosephPratt03.
