June, 2017
College Now Expands Work in Warrensville Heights to Bring #CareerU Program to Middle School Students
 
College Now was recently awarded a $100,000 Community Connectors grant from the Ohio Department of Education to deliver #CareerU, a school-based mentoring program aimed at helping eighth grade students build a foundation for postsecondary and career success as they prepare for high school, in Warrensville Heights.

#CareerU is a extension of the True2U program, which College Now codesigned with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Students meet with mentors monthly to explore questions like, "Who am I, what am I good at, and where is that needed in the world?" Mentors use a research-based college and career access curriculum to help students develop personal, academic and career goals.

The #CareerU program expands our work in Warrensville Heights, which to date has included an in-school contract with the school district for work in the high school and after-school programming through our impACT the 216 program. The Community Connectors grant also supports one of College Now's strategic goals, helping students get on a postsecondary path as early as possible.
Congrats, Grads!
 
College Now and Team Mentor would like to congratulate our 141 students who graduated with a degree last month. We are so proud of each and every one of you, and we are honored to have been part of your college journey.
 
If you haven't already, don't forget to sign up for our Alumni Association (contact Lauren Mastracco at lmastracco@collegenowgc.org), and consider becoming a mentor yourself! Special thanks to the four new College Now alumni who are mentoring this coming year.
Fewer than 10 AmeriCorps Positions Left!
 
Time is running out to apply to become an AmeriCorps College Guide or Career Coach! Fewer than 10 open positions remain in Cleveland for the 2017-2018 program year!  Do you know a recent college graduate that might be interested?  Please share information and encourage them to apply! Learn more at the College Now website: https://www.collegenowgc.org/ohio-americorps/
ArcelorMittal Supports STEM Education Awareness, Mentoring Programming at College Now
 
College Now partner, ArcelorMittal, a multi-national integrated steel and mining company with a large Cleveland facility, embodies a culture of giving and engagement.

In addition to providing substantial annual financial support to College Now that helps students all over Cuyahoga County explore and pursue postsecondary STEM education, ArcelorMittal has hosted several mentor recruitment events for College Now over the last three years, leading to an  ArcelorMittal employee joining College Now's Emerging Leader Association and co-chairing the association's mentoring committee, which supports volunteer mentor recruitment and other needs of College Now's 1,200-student Mentoring Program.
Also thanks to ArcelorMittal's onsite mentor recruitment events, 10 ArcelorMittal employees have generously volunteered their time as mentors to college students. Mentoring requires a multi-year commitment to a student as the student embarks upon a college career and persists to graduation. Mentors provide critical support, guidance and encouragement that help students successfully navigate uncharted postsecondary waters, increasing the likelihood of graduation.
Moreover, the local ArcelorMittal organization has supported our young and growing annual career fair for the past three years, both as a sponsor and participating employer. 
To bolster students' awareness of and interest in STEM careers, ArcelorMittal has offered College Now opportunities (which are not routinely available to college students) to take students on tours of its manufacturing facilities. 
With growing opportunities for careers in manufacturing in Cleveland, ArcelorMittal has contributed valuable career information to our direct service training program, strengthening our ability to effectively advise students along postsecondary education pathways to careers in manufacturing.
College Now is grateful for ArcelorMittal's deep and meaningful investments in us and, most importantly, in our students.