June, 2016
Have You Checked out Our Blog?

When we launched our new web site this spring, we also launched a blog from our CEO, Lee Friedman, called the "Ins and Outs of Accessing Higher Education." Below is an excerpt from our most recent post - check it out!


Ice Cream and Popsicles Aren't the Only Things that Melt in the Summer. Students Do, Too.

Summer is an exciting time for high school graduates who intend to enroll in a postsecondary program. They've made it to the finish line! They've taken the ACT/SAT (often multiple times), applied to schools, applied for financial aid, deciphered admissions and financial aid awards and made big decisions about their futures, and, in many cases, paid tuition and housing deposits - all before they walk across the stage at graduation.

But for first-generation and low-income students, summer is also a time when they are at risk. Despite being college-ready and having displayed behaviors that would lead one to believe they will go to college, a significant number of first-generation, low-income students don't show up on campus in the fall. In the college access world, we call this
summer melt. Read more.
GAR Foundation Supports College Now in Akron
 
College Now received a grant of $55,000 from GAR Foundation to continue its college access services in the Akron Public Schools (APS) for the 2016-17 school year. This funding will allow College Now advisors to provide school-based college access services, community-based workshops, college tours and summer programming to APS students with a goal of increasing the number of APS seniors who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), increasing the number of APS seniors who take the ACT as well as the number of times APS seniors take the test. Each of these goals helps to advance the ultimate goal, increasing the number of APS graduates who enroll in a postsecondary program after high school. We are grateful for GAR Foundation's continued partnership as we work together to improve educational attainment outcomes for Akron students.
Summer Means FUN for College Now's Mentoring Program!

Mentees gathered at Wade Oval for the College Pride Picnic
Summer is a busy time for the Mentoring Program, and they started it off with a couple of exciting program events. At the end of May, they held their first annual College Pride Picnic. All mentees were invited to a picnic in Wade Oval, where they had the chance to meet other mentees and take part in a photo scavenger hunt around the area. The event had a great turn out - many students sported their college gear and had a great time competing for top prize in the photo hunt. Team Mentor looks forward to hosting the event again next year!
 
Mentor Kristina Dooley and her mentees at the Tribe game
The Picnic was followed by the End of Year pair event at an Indians game. For the second year in a row, the Indians organization generously donated tickets to the Mentoring Program to make the event possible. Roughly 200 program participants came out to enjoy the game, dollar dogs and a fireworks show. Thanks again to the Cleveland Indians for donating the tickets!

Ohio AmeriCorps College Guides Seeking Soon-to-Be and Recent College Grads for Year of Service 

Since 2014, College Now has been the fiscal agent for the Ohio AmeriCorps College Guides program, managing 70 AmeriCorps College Guides in nine statewide locations. Additionally, College Now provides college access training for all 70 AmeriCorps members, including the ones serving in Cleveland. 

The AmeriCorps Ohio College Guides program places fresh college grads into middle schools, high schools and community centers to help guide traditionally underserved young people and get them the information and knowledge they need and deserve to prepare for, access and complete a postsecondary credential. The College Guides is a corps of driven and highly-qualified professionals getting a start in education whom students can relate with, confide in and eventually emulate as they are guided in planning for their future and taking constructive steps toward successful completion of their goals.

We're recruiting for the 2016-17 school year! Do you know someone who would be interested in becoming a College Guide?

Create an application on the AmeriCorps site:

1. Go to my.americorps.gov
2. Click on the "Apply to Serve" link on the bottom of the home page
3. Follow the prompts to complete an online application

Apply to the Ohio College Guides:

2. Click on "Join AmeriCorps" found on the left-hand side of the home page.
3. Click on the "Advanced Search Opportunity" within the "Join AmeriCorps" box located on the right-hand side of the page.
4. Select "State/National" for program type.
5. Select "Ohio" for the state within the quick search function.
6. Type in "Ohio College Guides" for program name
7. Click on search.
8. The position descriptions will come up from each host site around the state. Click on the program name to view more information.
9. Once you do this, you will see an "Apply Now" link at the bottom of the page. Click on that and follow the prompts from there.