A fair that covers the ABC’s of college is a valuable tool and Monday, Nov. 19 was the first time the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS), in partnership with the Greater East St. Louis Community Fund (GESLCF), offered the opportunity for its students.
More than 100 CHS students, from grades 9-12, participated in the comprehensive college fair. The students were divided into four groups that rotated to the following four sessions:
- Visiting with representatives from 20 colleges and universities
- “College 101 – Selecting Your Perfect College,” presented by Maya Sansard, of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission
- “Writing Your College Essay,” presented by Julie Fix Meyer, of the Greater East St. Louis Community Fund
- “Financing Your College,” presented by Robert Elam, of the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis
“This fair makes us competitive with other schools in the area,” said Gina Jeffries, CHS director. “I especially love that we are exposing ninth graders to college choices and planning. For many of our students, this will be their first opportunity to learn about college opportunities, strategize how to get there and envision themselves as college students.”
CHS senior Anaiah Brown wants to major in business, with an emphasis on culinary arts. She is considering attending SIUE, Southern Illinois University Carbondale or Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.
“I want to open my own restaurant,” said Brown. “I also want to help people with health problems. Diabetes runs in my family, and it is a common problem among African Americans. There are many health challenges that come from not eating healthy.”
Keenan Collier, CHS junior, wants to major in business and minor in medicine.
“I want to have my own real estate business, and I like medicine,” said Collier, who plans to head to the West Coast for college.
Fourteen-year-old Allen Searcy visited the Ranken Technical College table at the fair. “I want to learn the plumbing trade, so I can help people with their bathroom and kitchen problems,” the CHS freshman explained.
“Exposure is key to envisioning the possibilities of the future,” said Pamela Saffore, CHS guidance counselor. “We want to expose the students to everything they can dream of. This college fair and workshops was an opportunity to keep the mission of our school in the forefront. We are preparing students to be college and career ready.”
“The students were engaged and appreciative of having the fair,” said Makesha Harris Lee, EdD, assistant director for Pre-Collegiate Programs at SIUE. Harris Lee staffed the SIUE table with Ashlei White, SIUE admissions counselor and recruitment coordinator. “A few freshmen expressed their gratitude in having this type of investment made in their educational journey at such an early stage in high school.”
“Many students we talked to knew what they wanted to major in already, which is a good sign they are focused on their goals,” added White.
“When it comes to writing your college essay, what things should you include? What are your interests? What makes you unique?” Fix Meyer asked the “Red Group.”
Freshman Evan Bonner, who likes to play the piano and draw, wants to be an animator.
Senior Maliyah Brown wants to be a lawyer. “I like to argue, analyze, think and write,” she said. “I want to be a prosecutor.”
“Our partnership with the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School helps strengthen our services to students so they make informed college decisions,” said Pamela Coaxum, GESCF executive director. “Our goal is to support high school students as they navigate their way through the process of selecting and financing their college education. We want to give students good information, so they can make informed decisions.”
The efforts of the Greater East St. Louis Community Fund center on two primary approaches: Collaborations and Partnerships – The Fund looks for projects which involve a broad base of community organizations working together to yield a comprehensive approach to benefit the residents of East St. Louis and Brooklyn. The Greater East St. Louis Community Fund provides scholarships to East St. Louis and Brooklyn residents who meet eligibility requirements.
The SIUE Charter High School is a school-of-choice for families in the East St. Louis School District 189. The mission of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School is to prepare students who are career- and college-ready upon graduation. To achieve this mission, the school and its staff will positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis, Illinois youth through individualized instruction in core academic subjects, exploration of career interests and aptitudes, assistance in realizing students’ talents, high academic goals, and expectations that graduates will become competitive employees for the 21st century.
Photos:
Giving information about SIUE (L-R) are Ashlei White, SIUE admissions counselor and recruitment coordinator, and Makesha Harris, EdD, assistant director for Pre-Collegiate Programs at SIUE. CHS students are junior Michael Townsend and sophomore Makayla Scott.
Pamela Coaxum, Greater East St. Louis Community Fund (GESLCF) executive director, explains the day’s College Fair to CHS freshmen Allen Searcy.
Maya Sansard, of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, talks to students on how to select the best college for them.