Seniors attend MU College Summit

HUNTINGTON—More than 120 high school seniors are visiting Marshall University this month as part of College Summit.

The program, which was started in Washington, D.C., in 1995, is aimed at helping students from rural, low-income areas understand the college application process.

During the two four-day programs—the first was held last weekend and the second starts Thursday—students are going through sessions on college admissions, touring the campus, meeting one-on-one with a college counselor and learning how to take these new tools back to their school to share with their peers.

The students are low-income and mid-tier, meaning they can do well in college but may lack the understanding and senior-year support to get them into their first class, according to Jayme Waldeck, the community engagement coordinator for College Summit-West Virginia.

“Students who attend a College Summit workshop will be fully immersed in the college application and preparation process,” said Craig Grooms, College Summit-West Virginia’s executive director. “Our workshop students will take these powerful lessons back to influence their peers and create a college-going culture in each of their high schools.”

The students, who are recommended by their high school counselors, come from Kanawha, Putnam, Lincoln and Mingo counties.

Among those attending the first four-day program was Ashley Martin, who will be a senior at Buffalo High School in Putnam County. She said she was confused about how financial aid works and walked away from the program with a better understanding of how to approach it.

As part of being a peer leader, Martin also will go back to her high school this August and pass the information to her classmates.

“I hope to go back and do some of the activities we’ve done,” Martin said.

Kerri Dennis, a college coach with College Summit, participated with students in one-on-one counseling sessions. She said the personal time helps the students open up about what they really want out of college and life.

“We talk about their academic interests and future college and career goals,” Dennis said. “And I encourage them to reach for their dreams.”

Dennis said they also help compile a list of colleges and universities that fit the needs of the student.

Waldeck said West Virginia’s statistics are on par with the national statistics, a high percentage of students who go through one of the College Summit programs not only attend college, but also stay and finish.

“Seventy-nine percent of students who attend workshops enroll in college, with an 80 percent retention rate,” Waldeck said.