For students, knowledge is power, especially when opportunities in post-secondary education are involved.
On Saturday, approximately 350 students from several counties — and their parents — attended the “College Countdown Conference” at The Center for Rural Development to learn more about the opportunities that await them in higher education.
“I’m glad we came and I’m really glad they got the opportunity to learn about this,” said Karen York, mother of Wayne County Middle School student Brett York.
Although he’s only in seventh grade, Brett, like many of the those in attendance at the event for students in 7th through 12th grades, already has his sights set on a specific area of study — business.
“I kind of knew before this, but they (the speakers and college representatives) got me thinking a little more about what I want to do,” Brett said.
The first annual “College Countdown Conference,” sponsored by the South Central Kentucky GEAR-UP program in partnership with The Center, featured a series of informational breakout sessions, a catered lunch featuring motivational speaker Bart Darrells, and a college-career fair for those students seeking more information about the post-secondary experience.
The conference, a one-day event, was set up specifically to bring answers about all things post-secondary — financial aid, adapting to the college environment, area of studies, applying for colleges, and more — in one place to help families better access that information.
“I think it was a super success because we had so many students coming to one place to learn more about their education,” said Jessica Melton, associate director of education and training. “Instead of doing the program in each county, we combined the event.”
Students from several areas, including Clinton, McCreary, Wayne, Madison and Pulaski counties, descended on The Center for the day-long event.
On Saturday morning, students and parents chose to attend three out of 24 different break-out sessions in which representatives discussed specific issues related to post-secondary education. Financial Aid 101, admissions, applying for colleges and getting accepted, community and campus involvement, making healthy decisions, adapting to the college environment, and staying in touch with family and friends were just a few of the sessions featured.
Brett York, who said he’d expanded his possible colleges from the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville to include Bellarmine, said his favorite session was the video-conferencing session — the one in which students discussed staying in touch with their family and friends.
Representatives from several colleges set up booths at The Center to hand out information to curious students and their families during Saturday afternoon, and to Kendall Sewell, who represented Lindsay Wilson College, the event shows just how differently students think about higher education than when he was in middle school.
“I guess it’s changing so much as far as the exposure,” Sewell, a Pulaski countian and a freshman at Lindsay Wilson, said. “It makes them (students) more aware of how important college is.”
Sewell said he and many of his friends didn’t think about college when they were in middle school.
A significant number of attendees on Saturday had not yet started high school.
The conference also featured informational booths from several branches of the U.S. Military and Somerset-Pulaski County EMS, which saw a number of curious students interested in learning more about the ambulance that was brought in and the situations emergency medical technicians may run into while on the job.
Wayne County High School students Autumn Garret and Riley Foster were just two of the onlookers who took a significant amount of time exploring the ambulance and asking numerous questions of Lt. Chris Cox, with Somerset-Pulaski County EMS.
Chris Sexton, admissions counselor at the University of the Cumberlands, said the conference is an important tool in helping students realize that higher education is possible.
“It definitely creates a lot of awareness about the opportunities out there,” Sexton, who grew up in Pulaski County, said. “When I was in high school, I only knew of a handful of schools.”
A lack of information about the some-30 higher learning facilities in the state can overwhelm many students and their families, and important information — such as financial aid — may fall on the wayside.
“It’s definitely really good that kids are thinking about that (higher education) now than waiting until their senior year (of high school) to start thinking,” Sexton said.
And it’s obvious they are. Sexton said he encountered students who have very nearly decided on their future areas of study — art, medical school, business degrees and law were a few mentions.
“It was a little bit of everything,” Sexton said. “A lot of good students too.”
Situations in which students pass up higher learning opportunities just for lack of information are exactly what organizers for the “College Countdown Conference” are trying to prevent.
Melton was hopeful the event helped guide students even closer to their goals.
“We hope to be able to continue this event,” Melton said about the first-time conference.
South Central Kentucky GEAR-UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) provides support for middle and high students to prepare academically and plan financially to attend a post-secondary school, whether that is a vocational school, college, or university.
For more information on programs available through The Center for Rural Development, visit www.centertech.com.
The Center for Rural Development—the Center of Excellence for rural Kentucky and the nation—provides economic and community development programs to residents in a 42-county primary service area of Southern and Eastern Kentucky, and is home to several statewide and national technology-based programs. For more information on programs available through The Center, visit www.centertech.com.
Photo Caption 1: Joshua Pence, standing, an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) with Somerset-Pulaski County EMS and a paramedic student, shows Wayne County High School students Autumn Garrett, second from left, and Riley Foster how to prepare a patient for transportation to the emergency room at a college and career fair held Saturday, March 27, at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset. Garrett and Foster, both juniors, joined 350 middle and high school students from across South Central Kentucky – and their parents – at “College Countdown Conference” to learn more about how they can prepare for their post-secondary education and future careers. The event was sponsored by South Central Kentucky GEAR-UP program in partnership with The Center.
Photo Caption 2: Cassie Buford, left, assistant director of admissions for recruitment at the University of Kentucky, discusses educational opportunities available on the Lexington campus with Madison Central High School student Helen Lesko, in center, and her mother, Claudia, at the “College Countdown Conference.” The event, sponsored by South Central Kentucky GEAR-UP program in partnership with The Center, brought 350 middle and high school students – and their parents – together in one location at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset on Saturday, March 27, to help them plan and prepare for their post-secondary education. Attendees were able to talk one-on-one with some of Kentucky’s leading representatives from colleges and universities at a career exploration fair near the conclusion of the day-long program.
Photo Caption 3: Motivational speaker Bart Darrells encourages middle and high school students to follow their dreams despite difficulties and challenges in life. Darrells, an attorney from western Kentucky, spoke to 350 students from across South Central Kentucky – and their parents – at the “College Countdown Conference” held Saturday, March 27, at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset. The event, sponsored by South Central Kentucky GEAR-UP program in partnership with The Center, brought students and their parents together with college and career professionals to help them plan and prepare for their post-secondary education. |
