By Jen Wood Cunningham
Educating our youth is important for our students, families, communities and our economy. More than half of the 30 fastest-growing occupations require postsecondary education, and college graduates earn twice of what those with only a high school diploma earn.
With the need for education beyond high school in today’s job market, it is important students understand how to navigate the college application and financial aid processes and how to be successful in high school to pursue education after graduation.
High school students, called peer leaders, who participate in College Summit workshops during the summer are armed with resources and support at the summer workshops and throughout the school year so they are ready to tackle the beast of financial aid and paying for postsecondary education. The rising seniors who attend summer College Summit workshops receive training in peer leadership, self-advocacy and the college application process, and they also work with volunteer coaches to identify their best postsecondary options and write a personal statement that can be used for college entrance and scholarship applications. Often, these students don’t have a plan for their futures beyond high school prior to the workshop, but leave with a plan to achieve the goals of graduating from high school and college.
The vision of this program is for all students to see high school graduation as a launching pad to successful futures. JB Schramm, founder of College Summit, shares, “We can’t think of school as where we pour education into kids. Young people can be drivers of culture; they can be drivers of achievement in their school. We just need to start recognizing young people can be drivers of change and give them that responsibility.” This is the role of a peer leader—to guide and support their schoolmates in their pursuit of education beyond high school.
Many of the 300 students from West Virginia and the thousands from across the country who participated in workshops last summer are active in their schools to pay this experience forward to schoolmates.
The peer leaders at Midland Trail High School (MTHS) decided early in the school year to be drivers of change in their school. With the knowledge of the financial aid process and the leadership skills they gained at the workshop, these seniors are able to share the wealth of knowledge with other students and increase awareness about college access within their school. MTHS peer leaders are supporting educators in the classroom, assisting with college planning lessons and utilizing the college planning curricula provided by College Summit to the school.
The peer leaders have planned and facilitated financial aid activities to educate their schoolmates on the types of financial aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and how to advocate for scholarships and work study positions. MTHS peer leaders led advocacy sessions for their schoolmates recently to help them recognize their abilities, skills and talents—and how to put those to good use in college and their careers.
Here’s what some of the volunteers at MTHS have to say about the experience:
“We have been working with them for the past three months and we are going to be working with them every month until the end of the school year,” says Peer Leader Chris Johnson.
“We encourage them to go to college,” shares Lydia Bailess. “And not to drop out,” Paul Fox adds.
“We’ve coached them on how to express themselves to colleges and to their peers,” shares Rebecca Lee.
BJ Beavers adds, “We’ve told them about different college options and what the possibilities of those options are.”
“We will be teaching them how to set long-term goals and how to obtain those goals,” says Tanner Carte.
Kim Walls, an educator and ninth grade College Summit advisor at Midland Trail shares, “I really see the benefit of the ninth graders exploring careers and beginning to think about college. The freshmen have been able to find out what the requirements are for specific careers and how much they can earn if they pursue that career. It really gets them interested in what they can do after graduation.”
Peer Leader Ericka Hinte shares, “I feel privileged to help Trail students, especially the freshmen. I want to help them understand they can do anything they put their minds to.”
Chris Johnson adds, “I feel like it’s a reflection of me in the past. I feel like we are helping to build a better generation.”
College Summit’s mission is to build the capacity of schools to increase college and career readiness. The local College Summit region serves more than 8,500 students in 11 counties in West Virginia and one school district in Pennsylvania. Nationally, College Summit works with 170 high schools in 12 states through partnerships with school districts.
About the Author
Jen Wood Cunningham is a born and raised West Virginian, a first generation college graduate and a college access advocate. For nearly a decade, Wood has promoted education and community development for nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions. As the community relations manager for College Summit, Wood connects volunteers, alumni and high school students with opportunities to grow and learn. Wood graduated from West Virginia University Institute of Technology in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in business management and from West Virginia University in 2009 with a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications. She currently serves on the Golden Bear Alumni Association Board and is a proud member of Leadership West Virginia. Connect with Wood on LinkedIn at http://lnkd.in/G45KxG or follow her on Twitter under @collegesummitwv and @miss_sociable.
