A Four-Day Experience to Change the Next Four Years
With the support of more than 70 volunteers, talented workshop staff, and 15 fantastic alumni, 241 rising seniors received guidance and support to prepare for their futures this summer.

Students from partner high schools across West Virginia arrived on college campuses this summer nervous and excited about their College Summit workshop. As they experienced college at Marshall, Concord, or Fairmont State, they met new people and made lasting friendships. One peer leader, LaChel House from South Charleston High School, wrote about her experience in a recent edition of Flipside,  “College Summit is an experience that can’t be duplicated…Being able to call myself a peer leader is one thing, but being welcomed into a family of complete strangers is another.” Whitney Surface, a peer leader from Herbert Hoover High School, shared on the College Summit Facebook page after her workshop, “This has truly been the greatest experience in my life and I appreciate everyone who helped us throughout this workshop. I have definitely made lifetime friends among my fellow peer leaders.” In addition to the college experience and the friends they made, the peer leaders received information about financial aid and the college application process. The rising seniors were also coached by staff and volunteers on self-advocacy, peer leadership, college selection, and their personal essay for college and scholarship applications.

With the support of more than 70 volunteers, talented workshop staff, and 15 fantastic alumni, 241 rising seniors received guidance and support to prepare for their futures this summer. We greatly appreciate their enthusiasm and hard work. We are proud of our peer leaders and are excited to work with them again this fall.

This summer, we explored our strengths, celebrated and acknowledged each others’ successes, and became excited for what’s to come.