Preparing for college can be viewed as a daunting task. For students, some who will be the first in their family to attend college, a little help in preparedness can go a long way in determining success. Communities In Schools (CIS) of Georgia, in partnership with the College Access Challenge Grant, hosted a “Preparing for College Summer Boot Camp” for rising seniors and recent graduates to help prepare them for post-secondary education opportunities.
Students from the metro Atlanta area got a taste of college life at Clayton State University through workshops focused on topics such as transitioning to college, financial aid, classroom tips, return on investment from a post-secondary perspective and the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) majors and careers. The students also took time to tour Clayton State University, as well as the University of West Georgia.
Terrell Monroe, a site coordinator for Stone Mountain High School in Atlanta, has been a driving force in helping his students realize their potential, including continuing their education beyond high school. As a school-based site coordinator, he helps connect disadvantaged students with resources and services from within the community. For the past two-and-a-half years, Monroe has worked with 80 students to help them find success in and out of the classroom. Through job shadowing, career fairs and college tours, he has opened his students’ eyes to what is available upon graduation.
Nicholas Collins, a recent graduate of Stone Mountain will be enrolling at Clayton State this fall. He credited Monroe with providing opportunities that would otherwise have missed. “Mr. Monroe has been influential in making sure I have had opportunities to experience different things,” Collins said. “Even though I have graduated high school already, he knew that he was coming to my future school and gave me this opportunity.”
Olanike Oyedepo saw this camp as the perfect way to begin preparations for attending the University of Georgia, where she plans to major in genetics. The rising senior at Lithia Springs High School in Douglasville appreciated the chance to familiarize herself with a college campus and what was expected as a student. “I was looking for an opportunity to learn more about what college would be like and I believe this was that opportunity for me,” Oyedepo said.
Our dedicated volunteers were crucial to the success of this boot camp. We would like to thank the following individuals who took time out of their busy summer schedules to volunteer their time and talents to help our students. Those individuals include: Dr. Anthony Giovannitti, Clayton State; Donald Le, Southern Polytechnic State; Tony Mosley, Kennesaw State; Ashley Jackson, Kennesaw State; Dr. Mary Lamb, Clayton State; Jessica Johnson, The Scholarship Academy; Anna Tinoco Santiago, Southern Polytechnic State; Dr. Scott Bailey, Clayton State; and Dawn Cooper, Board of Regents.