Local Action on College Opportunity Day

Adirondack K-12 educators and college representatives convene at the CFES Building in Essex, NY to help more students access and succeed in college (Credit: CFES)

On Thursday, December 4th, while college presidents and other education leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. to discuss strategies for increasing the college-going and completion rates for the nation’s underserved population, Adirondack educators were enacting those very recommendations in Essex, NY at a College Connect workshop hosted by College For Every Student (CFES).

“Looking around the room, I see representation from 10 colleges and 14 K-12 schools working toward a common goal,” said CFES College Ambassador Andrea McDonald “to give our Adirondack students, the same opportunities, services, and support, as the underserved populations in urban areas.”

During the CFES College Connect, speakers from area colleges shared their insights. Rich Higgins, SUNY Plattsburgh Admissions Director, discussed how to help students put together a successful college application. “We’d like to know about your circumstances,” he said. “Things like the size of your high school class and your rank in the class matter, but so do the things that have happened to you. If your grades have dipped because your mom is fighting cancer, that context is important.”

Higgins also emphasized the need to visit college campuses. “Some colleges feel right on paper, but once a student visits they realize it’s not for them.”

Middlebury College hockey coach Bill Beaney delivered what he called the “Cliff Notes version” on how to succeed: “When you’re better prepared, you perform better…the harder you work, the better prepared you are.”

Beaney also urged educators to tell their students to “treat every day like an interview – be interested, ask questions, and make eye contact.”

Sarah Andriano shared information about the ways Champlain College helps students gain skills for 21st century jobs. “We add workforce-relevant majors to our offerings as they arise,” she said. “New majors include ‘Management of Creative Media’ and ‘Educational Technology’ to help students gain skills for emergent jobs.”

Later in the day, K-12 educators and college representatives formed discussion groups to generate partnering strategies and activities that raise student aspirations and create a college going culture.

“The goal of College Connect,” said McDonald, “is to convert ideas into action steps. Our conversation today with ultimately help more than 1,000 students become college and career ready.”

College For Every Student Welcomes Two New Employees (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Responding to a Global Crisis: Helping One Million More Low-Income Students Attain College Degrees (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Professional Development for Adirondack Students (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
CFES Students Train to Become Leaders (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Adirondack Educators Plan for Success at CFES Center (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Professional Development for Adirondack Students Is Success (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)

About CFES Brilliant Pathways

CFES Brilliant Pathways is a global leader in helping K-12 underserved students from rural and urban communities become college and career ready, giving students an opportunity to forge their own route to a bright future. For 29 years, CFES has worked closely with schools, colleges and businesses in urban and rural areas to help students become college and career ready through mentoring and by equipping them with the EssentialSkills that include perseverance, agility, goal setting, networking, teamwork and leadership (www.brilliantpathways.org)