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3rd
ANNUAL “KIDS ON CAMPUS” HELD FOR LOCAL STUDENTS
More than 70 students from Pickaway County attended the
third annual Kids on Campus summer enrichment program
this month on the campus of Ohio Christian
University.The program, geared toward children age 8 to
11, focuses not only on improving math and science
skills but giving students a taste of higher education
at an early age, according to Ula Jean Metzler, county
commissioner and organizer of the Kids on Campus
program.
“I was thrilled this year,” she said. “This is the kind
of thing we have to keep doing to improve our academics
in Pickaway County.”The
group is the largest number hosted by Kids on Campus in
its three-year history, she said, and was a resounding
success with students who participated in the hands-on
lessons and activities.“The evaluations from the kids
were outstanding,” Metzler said. “We asked things like
if they liked the classes, if they had fun learning and
most importantly if they would recommend it to a friend.
That’s a key question, and when they can circle yes,
that’s pretty impressive.”
This year’s program, “Wacky Olympics,” allowed
participants to create two- and three-dimensional
figures, build electrical circuits and produce
electricity as part of the hands-on experience. Linda
Diltz, retired Westfall math teacher, and Yolanda Hurtt,
math and science teacher at Court Street
Intermediate
School, served as
instructors for the week-long event. High school
students Katie Howard and Samantha Johnson also assisted
with the program, Metzler said.
Kids on Campus is coordinated by Metzler, the Pickaway
Higher Education Learning Partners (HELPS) and the
Ohio
Christian
University. Funding for the
program is provided through student tuition and an
annual grant from PPG Industries.
Metzler said higher education is a statistic that must
be improved in Pickaway County, where 22.8 percent of residents
over age 25 do not have a high school diploma and only
11.4 percent of residents have achieved a bachelors’
degree or higher beyond high school, according to
statistics from the Ohio Department of Development.
“Education is something we’ve just got to keep in the
forefront,” Metzler said. “If we’re going to raise our
higher education level for Pickaway County,
we need to continue with strong programs like this, and
I’m really looking forward to next year.”
By TRISH BENNETT
STAFF WRITER
Published: Saturday, June 27, 2009 12:03 AM EDT
Circleville Herald
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Spring ACT workshops
help local students prepare for upcoming college
entrance tests.
NEED SOME CASH FOR
COLLEGE?
Plan to attend the
FAFSA Day Workshop
February 13, 2010
Download Flyer
ACT Prep Workshop
Saturday, March 27th, 2010
Download Flyer
FREE ACT Parent Workshop
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
6:00 PM
Download Flyer
Pickaway HELPS Awarded $20,000 to
Prepare Local Kids for College
Pickaway HELPS (Higher Education
Learning Partners for Students) was recently awarded a
$20,000 grant from the Ohio College Access Network as
part of the competitive Invest in Success process. One
of 14 college access programs across
Ohio
awarded grants totaling $300,000, Pickaway HELPS’
mission is to assist students and families of
Pickaway
County in accessing
education opportunities beyond high school. Many
students served by this program are low income students
or would be the first in their family to attend college.
In collaboration with local schools
and community partners, Pickaway HELPS provides hands-on
assistance and resources for career and college choices,
including financial aid. In addition to one-on-one
services, other activities include ACT workshops,
college visits, financial aid workshops, classroom
presentations, and Kids on Campus summer enrichment
camp.
The Invest in Success grant has
enabled Pickaway HELPS to leverage at least $40,000 in
additional local funding and in-kind services. “Strong
support from our schools and community partners make it
possible to continue our work to help students pursue
education beyond high school. It’s a real collaborative
effort,” said Christy Mills, executive director of
Pickaway HELPS.
Pickaway HELPS was established in 2006 by the Pickaway
County Board of Commissioners, working with Pickaway
County Job and Family Services. Led by county
commissioner Ula Jean Metzler, Pickaway HELPS is one of
36 college access programs in Ohio that serve nearly 300
school districts in 46 counties, impacting over 175,000
students annually. “By helping more people complete
education beyond high school, we are strengthening the
workforce and economic stability of our community,” said
Metzler. “This improves the quality of life for all
residents of
Pickaway
County." |
Pickaway H.E.L.P.S. is
a collaborative higher education initiative between the Pickaway
County Board of Commissioners, Pickaway County Job and Family
Services and OCAN -
Ohio College Access Network.
Pickaway HELPS promotes higher education opportunities among
students and families of Pickaway County. Services include help
with career planning and choices, assistance with financial aid
for education and training, and any related support needed to
remove barriers to higher education.
Who We Serve
● Teens
wondering what to do after high school
●
Parents
and students with questions about the college
process and financial aid
●
Adults
changing careers or going back to school
●
Any
resident of Pickaway County, including low income and first
generation college students, who would like
“HELP” with career choices
We can HELP with Answers to Common
Questions
-
What are my plans for the future?
-
Why should I spend more time in school?
-
What are my interests?
-
What careers match my interests?
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What type of school is best for me?
(Trade school, technical school, 2-year
community college, 4-year college)
-
How much money will I need?
-
What types of financial aid are there?
-
Who can help me?
-
WHERE DO I START ???
Arrangements can be made to meet with
students during school hours, after school hours, or by
appointment at the convenience of families and students.
Christy Mills, Coordinator
Phone: (740) 474-5383
highered@pickawayboc.org
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