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Peer Leaders Help Decode Financial Aid Process

High schools were busy in the fall as students finalized college lists, researched deadlines, and hit the "Submit" button on their college applications. Now, all they had to do was wait for college acceptance envelopes in the mail, right? Not exactly. Conversations immediately transitioned to finding money for college and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Read the full story and visit our Photo Gallery.

Northern California First Peer Leader Academy

College Summit Northern California held the region's first Peer Leader Academy on October 17, 2009 in Oakland, CA.  Holding an event for all the Peer Leaders in the region has long been a goal of the staff.  Excited Peer Leaders came from all directions of Oakland and a group even carpooled from Stockton.  It was an opportunity for Peer Leaders to reunite and also meet Peer Leaders who attended different summer workshops.
 
The activities were designed to help Peer Leaders plan their Senior Year, while also providing sessions to further develop their leadership abilities by practicing public speaking and learning practical tools to assist in planning and facilitating meetings. The fifty Peer Leaders mixed and mingled all day and dove into professional development.
 
First, in groups of six, Peer Leaders reviewed and processed the necessary steps for completing their senior year plan in a thoughtful, organized, and supportive process. Groups discussed at length what was needed for each step of the way and both what their resources are and how they can be resources themselves. Peer Leaders learned key elements of this coming year and also beautifully exhibited the art of collaboration, discussing and sharing their personal experiences with one another.
 
[I learned the] process of staying on task because we need to stay on task for our senior year
 
The senior road map made me realize there's still a lot to do and a lot to ask but if I need help I just got to ask
 
[It] really helpful because I got to learn from others and share out our knowledge about the college process
 
After lunch, Peer Leaders practiced public speaking, facilitation skills, providing feedback to peers, and learned the art of facilitating meetings and creating agendas. Peer Leaders modeled their skills for one another and coached each other on improving, so that upon return to their schools, their leadership would be taken to the next level.

I found the tools we received to help facilitate our [Peer Leader] meetings
 
The public speaking piece [was most useful] because it is something that will greatly benefit [us]
 
I found the speaking one very useful; people have good feedback
 
The day ended with Peer Leaders reflecting about what they have done and still need to do, and with the important message that they are not alone in this process and have many lifelines of support. It was clear that when the NorCal team waved goodbye that afternoon, we were sending off youth who were motivated, figuring out how to be ready and bring the positive energy back to their schools.

I will help my peers by teaching them what I recently learned
 
I feel that I am going to be more prepared and more confident
 
I will put all of these tools to action when it comes to our meetings at my school
 
I will use these tools to lead peer meetings better and powerful
 
I will use the strategies to keep me on track and help my fellow peers
 
We are so proud of the youth that came out that day, and those who continue to work with their peers and adults at partner schools to increase college going culture. The Peer Leader Academy's work was only part of the continuing path for them personally and all of us as a community, and we look forward to working and looking forward together.

Thank you to Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, Trader Joe's, and Subway for your generous discounts and donations.

Photos from the event can be found in the Photo Gallery.

Looking Back:  College Summit Asks Graduating Peer Leaders To Describe The Most Rewarding Aspect of Being a Peer Leader

 The whole program for me was rewarding.  Starting from just arriving there and feeling the positive energy and meeting new people and our writing coaches.-- James Dillard, Oakland Technical High School

Being a Peer Leader this past year was rewarding because the experience of going to the college and living the college life was what made me say, “college is for me” and I got to see how everything was and how it would be when I got there.--Deante Bradford, Mandela Law & Public Service Academy
                                                                                                                                                                              

Doing the bulletin board of info for colleges.  It had a lot of info that underclassmen usually don’t get like college info, SAT/ACT, and different colleges.--Chan Saetern, Mandela Law & Public Service Academy
                                                                                                                                                                              
 The most rewarding aspects of being a Peer Leader would be coming into the following school year ahead of the rest of my class and being able to help students.--Jasmine Green, Robeson School of the Visual and Performing Arts

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Being a College Summit Peer Leader made me become more responsible and gave me a positive outlook on my future.  It made me feel like a good person because I had the opportunity to give others knowledge that I know.--Chandanny Seng, Robeson School of the Visual and Performing Arts
                                                                                                                                                                             

The most rewarding aspects of College Summit is that it made me think of going to college.  I seen how the alumnis were really happy and they said college was hard but worth it.  And it made me want to go to college.--Michelle Foketi, Media College Preparatory
                                                                                                                                                                             
The personal statement was difficult but College Summit helped me out a lot by encouraging to let out my feelings and show more detail in my paper.--Malaina Payton, Media College Preparatory
                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                            

Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Increasing Financial Aid Knowledge In Their Community

On January 28, 2009, Lionel Wilson College Preparatory School (LWP) hosted a financial aid information night for families of junior and senior students.  Interested in having a significant part in their schools 2009 financial aid information event, the Peer Leaders facilitated what is known as the “Tower of Power” activity. This activity offers a fun, energetic and hands on experience while learning about what factors make up financial aid. Having experienced the activity as participants at their workshop at UC Berkeley over the summer, the  Peer Leaders flipped the script and took on an impressive facilitation role and presented the activity in English and Spanish to their parents and siblings.

 

Peer leaders provided an overview of how loans, scholarships, work study, family contribution and grants are defined and obtained in the financial aid and college admission process.  For the more activity based part of Tower of Power, families formed groups and were instructed to build towers with provided materials that were at minimum five feet tall, could withstand a light breeze without tipping over and remain stable and standing after being picked up and transported a couple steps. Engaged floor monitor peer leaders roamed the room to make sure family’s fully understood the task before them.

As groups began building their towers out of the paper plates, straws, cups and two pipes provided to them, they quickly realized they would need more materials to reach the five foot height requirement.  At the end of the room additional peer leaders were stationed at 5 tables labeled Grants, Scholarships, Work Study, Loans, and Family Contribution. At each station families had to advocate in a particular manner to obtain addition building supplies. Rodrigo Fuentes, one of the Peer Leaders managing the Family Contribution table was on point and clear to all that approached him on what they needed to do or say in order to receive a “family contribution.” On the other side of the room at the Loan station, Peer Leader, Rene Stone was eagerly pushing smaller Loan building supplies into waiting hands, reminding families loans may be easy to sign off on but don’t forget about the interest rates and the eventual required pay back. The lines at the Grants and Scholarship stations (the largest of the building supplies) were sometimes a bit longer and slower signifying the additional work often required to obtain these types of financial aid but well worth it given the “free money” benefit of “gift aid.”

At the end of the activity all groups had created impressive financial aid towers, representing the amount of aid they had acquired to pay for a students’ college education as well as the possibility and opportunity for combining different types of aid to pay tuition. While the peer leaders facilitated an educational event, the highly engaged parents and families at Lionel Wilson College Prep enthusiastically participated helping to make this a 5 star event that was immensely successful.

After the Tower of Power activity, a speaker from California State University East Bay walked parents through the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid).

Thank you to Lisa Osmanian, the College and Academic Counselor at Lionel Wilson, for her assistance, and to James Gallagher for lending his room for preparatory lunch meetings.

A HUGE SHOUT OUT to all the Lionel Wilson Peer Leaders!

 

Youth Empowerment School Peer Leaders Bring Workshop Experience Into School

On October 31, 2008 the Peer Leaders at Youth Empowerment School (YES) assisted in facilitating an Admissions Information Session at their high school.  During their workshop experience they vividly recalled a session titled Admissions 101  and decided to bring that useful and fun activity to the rest of their senior class.

This was the first senior class event for the Northern California region, and the Peer Leaders at YES demonstrated excellent leadership skills, setting the bar high. They enjoyed the opportunity to facilitate an animated admissions review process. After an invigorating 5 minutes of the game Evolution, the Peer leaders led their peers through the Admissions 101 activity.

 

In small groups the seniors enthusiastically created The Black Hoodie University, Crayola University and Bay Area University, establishing university admissions criteria and then determining admission or denial for two sample student application packages.

This is YES’ second year as a school partner in the Northern California region.  A special thanks to teacher and College Summit Coordinator, Carrie Haslanger for help in preparation for the event and to Principal, Maureen Benson.

YES is located in Oakland Unified School District. To learn more about Youth Empowerment School, visit their website.