Wayne Allen | Daily Times

As a part of the UCAN (University/College Access Network) Go to College Carnival Katie Clark is getting her face painted by Destiny Campbell.

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WAYNE ALLEN

PDT Staff Writer

WEST PORTSMOUTH — The Scioto Foundation hosted a UCAN (University/College Access Network) Go to College Carnival Monday night at Earl Thomas Conley Park in West Portsmouth. The event was held for students in grades K – 3 and their parents, grandparents and guardians.

According to Kim Cutlip, Executive Director of the Scioto Foundation, The UCAN College Carnival is part of the Scioto Foundation’s effort to create a college-going community that embraces and accepts the need for post-secondary education.

“It’s important to begin early to get our young people excited about going to college.” Cutlip said in a released statement.

The event featured games, giveaways, prizes, a raffle and many other things. Games that were played throughout the event included, musical chairs, Simon Says, a token hunt, bean bag toss, a ring toss, ducky pond and face painting. The carnival also included “learning stations” that featured activities with a focus on “going to college.” Activity stations were set up with the themes of saving for college and career awareness.

Last week the Scioto Foundation hosted a UCAN Go to College Night at the SOMC Friends Center. The event was part of a month-long series of UCAN events to provide information and advice to area students and their parents on ways to plan, prepare and pay for college. As a part of the evening, a college fair was held that included vendors from financial services organizations, to provide information to participants on ways to fund their college education. Other representatives at the college fair included various colleges and higher learning institutions.

According to the Scioto Foundation the UCAN program has shown progress in reaching its goals, over its four years of existence.

According to www.sciotofoundation.org, “the Scioto Foundation values learning and the attainment of a college education for any and all in our community who chose to access it. A college education and its potential impact upon individuals and families can have a far reaching effect upon the quality of life for the residents of the Scioto County area. In response to our lessons learned, our value of learning, and commitment to improve the quality of life for the residents of the Scioto County area, the Scioto Foundation has created the University College Access Network. UCAN is a program dedicated to providing financial assistance for our local youth to attend college.

The UCAN plan envisions the creation of a network connecting Scioto County school systems, families, community partners, local donors and the Scioto Foundation working together to achieve a mission that makes it possible for any child who wants to go to college to achieve that dream.”

Kim Cutlip, Scioto Foundation Executive Director recently provided an update on some of the program successes.

“All 12 school districts in Scioto County are participating in the UCAN program. Seven Scioto County high schools met their goal of raising $10,000 to achieve a 1-1 maximum match for their UCAN scholarship endowments from the Scioto Foundation for the 2011-2012 school year,” Cutlip said.

She said the foundation contributed $102,459.26 in matching funds for the UCAN program, for the 2011-12 school year. According to released information from the foundation 12 schools awarded 35 scholarships in the 2011-12 school year using UCAN scholarship funds.

For more information about the Scioto Foundation, call 740-354-4612 or visit www.sciotofoundation.org.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.