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Grant Offers Students a Glimpse into College Life
Reno, NV (Dec. 2, 2011) - With financial assistance through a grant, 30 high school students who are considering whether college is for them will participate in College for a Day. The activity will take the students on an all-day visit to the University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College.
The program targets first-generation high school juniors and seniors. The focus is on recruiting at-risk students who, without this kind of activity, may not see themselves as college-bound.
"This experience will expose the students to higher education and they will learn that it is attainable and within reach," said Peggy Cullinane, a program consultant for the Transition Programs. "They will also learn that financial aid is available as this is considered a barrier by some students. The desired outcome for this activity is the exposure to the colleges, resources and student life that may encourage those that would not have thought college possible with new insight."
The $5,000 grant from the Nevada Public Education Foundation will help fund a tour of each college campus including visits to the disability resource centers, tutoring centers, counseling centers, academic advising, and financial aid. At UNR they also will visit TRiO, an undergraduate first-generation program, and undecided academic advising. Students will have lunch at Argenta Hall, one of the UNR dorms, so they can experience firsthand what it might be like to live on campus.
Students also will receive a portfolio with all pertinent information regarding each site visited that can be shared with parents and guardians. In addition, students will also walk away with a flash drive of their own attached to a college key chain.
The Transition Programs, a department of WCSD Student Support Services, provides transition programming to students receiving special education services. These services focus on postsecondary outcomes for students when they leave the K-12 system. The Transition Programs offer job development, job training, work experience and a self-determination curriculum for students on an individualized education plan. In addition, the District provides TMCC and UNR registration support to graduating seniors.
Students will be visiting UNR on Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and TMCC on Thursday Dec. 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. For more information on College for A Day contact Peggy Cullinanne at pcullinane@washoeschools.ne.
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About Washoe County School District: The Washoe County School District includes the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, Incline Village, Gerlach, Empire and Wadsworth, Nevada. The District provides each of its 63,000 students with a superior education in a safe and challenging environment and is committed to graduate every child career and college ready.
For more information visit www.washoecountyschools.org. Follow us on Twitter at WCSDTweet.
Washoe County School District
425 East Ninth Street
Reno, NV 89520
