Over 100 students from seven area high schools, including Akron, Yuma, Merino, Fleming, Peetz, Holyoke, and Sterling, travelled to Northeastern to participate and practice their skills for future scholarship, college, and/or job interviews.
Education to Career Coordinator, Lauren Montoya, stated, “The idea to host the interviews at Northeastern sparked after talking to Brandi Lippert, Yuma High School’s counselor. It provided an opportunity to remove them from their comfort zone and expose them to the college culture.”
Along with interviews the students had the opportunity to take part in break-out workshops. The event allowed students to work on their interviewing skills to prepare them for college and their future career. The break-out workshops covered topics on the college admission process, the financial aid process, the transition to college, and career and technical education opportunities. The high school students also went on a tour of the campus.
“I want to thank everyone who volunteered to interview our students. Without them, this event wouldn’t have been possible,” Montoya said.
Volunteers included faculty, staff, and student leaders from Northeastern, Carlye Armstrong from AOE Consulting, Dennis Aulston from the Logan County Sheriff’s Department, Maica Gardner from Perfectly Polished, Brad Hofmeister, Jamie McArther and Ginger Allen from the Sterling Workforce Center, Trae Miller from the Logan County Economic Development Center, and Karen Ramey-Torres and Peggy Stoltenberg from the CSU Extension Office.
The COSI-Community Partner Programs Grants increase the availability and accessibility of support services throughout the state for pre-collegiate and postsecondary students. The two-year grants are distributed to nonprofit organizations, state entities and community partnerships that provide student support to improve and enhance local community-based service networks across the state and improve enrollment and retention in public postsecondary institutions.
Tracy Yahn, Northeastern EMS and Fire Training Coordinator, spoke with area high school students on opportunities in career and technical fields and how getting some training prior to entering those fields of work could help in attaining a higher wage.