College-assist program wins grant of $10,000
Richland County middle school students have another tool to help them pick a career path.
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University College Access Network of Richland County (U-CAN) has received a $10,000 grant as part of the Invest in Success program. This grant is designed for community-based Ohio College Access Network members to add or enhance programs or strengthen their overall operations.
The Ohio College Access Network announced awards of more than $200,000 Monday, which included U-CAN of Richland County’s grant.
Larry VonBlon, president of the governing board of U-CAN, said the group helps underserved populations.
“Although the U-CAN High School Advisor Program has successfully increased the number of Richland County students who elect to pursue post secondary education, we still experience an education deficit in the county,” he said. “The school districts where U-CAN adviser programs are present have increased the college-going rate from the low 40 range to the 50 percent range.
“It is quite evident however, that students need to better prepare themselves by picking the proper curriculum as they go through high school to ready themselves for their career choice.
VonBlon said the grant will bolster counseling programs.
“What we found with our high school advising program is some of the students are not really ready for college and as they look back, they didn’t really take the right courses,” he said. “This isn’t just U-CAN, it’s statewide. We’re going to be talking to middle school students and get them thinking at earlier ages about college.”
VonBlon met with Richland County superintendents Friday at the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center.
“They were pretty excited about it,” he said.
Local students will take the assessments beginning in the fall.
