Upcoming College Access Arc Event - FAFSA Completion Week |
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College Application Week in Review |
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College Application Week 2020 |
Thanks to everyone who supported and participated in College Application Week. We had a very successful year with over 10,000 applications being submitted by Montana high school seniors. 79% of surveyed students said that they had not applied to any colleges before College Application Week, so thank you for making that happen for them!
Student responses provide insight as to how we can improve CAW each year to make it the most beneficial to students and we use the site coordinator data to collect out of state application information. These surveys will close November 30th, so please get your responses submitted before then. Thank you!
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Guest Feature: MASFAA President |
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Jaime Borrego, 2020 MAFSAA President & Associate Director of Financial Aid, Carroll College |
My name is Jaime Borrego. I am the Associate Director of Financial Aid at Carroll College and currently serving as the President of the Montana Association of Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA). I have worked in financial aid for nine years and have enjoyed every year along the way.
At Carroll, I have many roles within student eligibility. I assist students/ families with FAFSA questions, scholarships, loans, work-study, and others. I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to talk to students and parents daily. Within MASFAA, my duties are to represent the financial aid administrators of the state of Montana regionally and nationally. Earlier this year, I had the privilege of meeting with our state Senators to discuss student financial aid.
The FAFSA has a reputation for being a challenge for students. Although measures have been taken to make it more applicant-friendly, some questions may confuse. I would encourage you to have them reach out to their planned institution's financial aid office with specific questions. I feel comfortable speaking on behalf of all financial aid administrators nationwide in saying that we are here to help with anything related to financial aid.
As we work with students considering enrolling in an institution of higher education, we should meet the student where they are not simply in the process but all aspects of their lives. This holistic approach will show students we care about them and that we are with them along the way regardless of what the path may look like.
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Meet our College Access Champions |
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K-12 College Access Champion
Jennifer Cheff, Counselor Ronan High School
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I was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas and earned my BA in Psychology from Oklahoma State University in 1997. With an internship and graduate school scheduled to start in the fall at the University of Washington, I headed out west. My plan was to spend the summer with family in Ronan, Montana before reporting to UW. What I didn’t count on was meeting my future husband the night I moved here. That was 23 years ago, and I never left Montana! Although I didn’t make it to UW, I did get married, have 4 wonderful children (ages 21, 20, 16 and 12), and eventually completed my graduate degree in Counselor Education at the University of Montana in 2017. I spent two years as the school counselor at Ronan Middle School before transferring over to the high school in 2019.
Why is education important to you and your community?
Our school is the hub of activity in our small town. We provide a safe and welcoming environment for students to not only learn the essentials - reading, writing, and arithmetic - but also a place to explore themselves, their culture, and gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of what it means to be a part of something larger than themselves. Education is essential for our students to gain stability, financial independence, confidence, and ultimately helps to make their dreams come true. Education - and particularly education provided in an intentional and culturally sensitive manner - is key to helping to close the gaps and end social inequality and injustices.
How do you motivate students to go to college?
College isn’t necessarily the right option for all, but it is an excellent choice for many. My goal is to highlight the far-reaching benefits of a college education to allow students to make an informed decision. Going to college is a chance for our students to experience a whole new community, to break out of their shell and gain new knowledge and skill sets. We know college graduates have more earning potential, and I try to connect this fact not only to the actual amount that will be increased on their paycheck, but to the added benefits of health insurance, vacations, and options, options, options!!
What is the best thing about your school?
Ronan High School is a fabulous place to work! We have supportive administrators, a passionate and talented team of educators, and an incredibly diverse and resilient student body.
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Post-Secondary College Access Champion
Stephanie Hunthausen, Director of K-12 Partnerships
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Stephanie Hunthausen is the Director of K-12 Partnerships at Helena College. She has a master’s degree in English literature and has worked in higher education since 2008. Her experience in higher education includes academic tutoring and support, college composition and freshman seminar course instruction, college admission and enrollment (Carroll College), academic advising and first-year transitions (University of Washington), and TRIO Student Support Services (Helena College). In her current role she manages Helena College’s dual enrollment program including student registration and curriculum alignment. In addition, she serves as an advisor to dual enrollment students by helping students select relevant coursework for their chosen career pathway.
Stephanie serves on the Montana ACT Council as well as Helena College’s Strategic Enrollment Planning Steering Team. She is currently managing a Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Award, granted to Helena College and East Helena High School to build remote learning classrooms on each campus. This will allow Helena College to deliver college courses to East Helena High School students, particularly courses required for the Information Technology program. These remote learning classrooms will allow more students to pursue dual credit opportunities in CTE programs.
Why is education important to you and your community?
I see the importance of education every day in my work: students acquiring new skills, finding solutions for their communities, and exploring the possibilities for their lives and livelihoods. Education is a catalyst for social mobility, increased earning potential, and a better quality of life. At Helena College, we partner with K-12 schools and our local businesses to expand opportunities for students and respond to the needs of employers.
How do you ensure success on your campus and beyond?
I want to make certain that I am actively learning and that I model this behavior as an educator. Whether this means connecting with colleagues at other institutions, attending (virtual) conferences, taking a class through Montana State University’s educational leadership program, or joining a statewide council, I am always looking for creative ways to serve students. The idea doesn’t have to be mine to be a good one. The more that I know about programs and resources on my campus, in the Helena community, and across the state, the better equipped I am to do good work.
Why should high school students consider college?
I appreciate being part of an educational environment that emphasizes the variety of post-secondary opportunities. Students need to know that they can find a pathway to complement their interests and goals, and that college is a valuable investment. That is why I choose to work at Helena College, where I can acquaint students with a full spectrum of education and training options and emphasize the affordability that a 2-year college can provide.
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To nominate a College Access Champion from your community, either at the K-12 level or the post secondary level, click here.
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How to become Montana's 2020 CAW School of Excellence |
What is a School of Excellence?
Our national partner the American College Application Campaign (ACAC) requests that each state submit one school of excellence nomination for their work on their college application campaigns. Here's what we consider when making the nomination:
- The percentage of students that participate in College Application Week.
- All data requests are submitted to the State Coordinator.
- School Site Coordinator completes and submits survey after the event.
- Students complete and submit surveys after the event.
- The school shares their event on social media using the hashtags #iAppliedMT #MCAW2020.
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FAFSA opened October 1st. Have your students completed theirs?
With the Montana Priority Deadline of December 1st, there is a small window to submit the FAFSA and ensure that your students receive the most financial assistance. Make sure you are ready to assist them with some of these resources below:
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High School Counselors - Supporting Each Other through Self-Care |
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As COVID cases continue to rise across our state, we wanted to share a quick to read article about how four school administrators are taking steps to care for their staff. We would love to hear how we are taking care of each other here in Montana. If you would like to share how you are encouraging self-care at your school, please email kwilson@montana.edu. We 'd love to share these stories in a future newsletter.
We cannot express how grateful we are for all your support and commitment to students and your communities during this time. If we can ever assist with anything, please dont hesitate to reach out. You are doing amazing, incredible work. Thank you.
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The Montana University System Honor Scholarship applications will be available on December 1st. The MUSHS is a 4-year renewable scholarship that waives the tuition costs at an eligible campus.
Montana’s STEM Scholarship applications will also be available December 1st. This scholarship is available for students who are seeking degrees in fields related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and healthcare.
To be eligible for either scholarship, students must be graduating in the spring of 2021. For more eligibilty information please visit: www.mus.edu/scholarships.
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UPCOMING EVENTS.....
FAFSA COMPLETION WEEK - NOVEMBER 16-20, 2020
MONTANA FAFSA PRIORITY DEADLINE - DECEMBER 1
DECISION DAY 2021 - MAY 3-7
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Montana University System www.mus.edu |
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