Area students explore college options

Submitted by Jackie Alleyne-McCants
Phone: (907) 474-6627
04/11/07

Fairbanks, Alaska--Approximately 700 students--fourth- through eighth-graders from seven Fairbanks schools-- will head off to college April 19-20, 2007 as part of the fourth annual I’m Going to College Program. The event will introduce children from diverse backgrounds to academic programs that will help them attend college.

In recent weeks, participants from Anne Wien, Arctic Light, Barnette, Crawford, Hunter, Nordale, and Salcha elementary and middle schools have studied career choices, explored college options and learned about financial aid. Their hard work earns them the chance to become UAF students for a day. They will arrive on campus at 9:30 a.m. for classes in Japanese, Spanish, theater, physics, biology, engineering, fire science and education.

Organizers say that studies have shown that the years from 10 to 14 are a crucial turning point in a child’s development. A college education builds on knowledge and skills acquired well before high school.

"I have watched how the young students interact with the professors during the class sessions and by the end of the campus visit, many students can be heard saying that they cannot wait to go to college"? said Jackie Alleyne-McCants, financial aid advisor at UAF’s Office of Financial Aid.

This year’s program is sponsored by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, Northwest Education Loan Association, UAF Student and Enrollment Services and ASAP Union Bank & Trust.

CONTACT: Jackie Alleyne-McCants, UAF financial aid officer, at (907) 474-6627, or via e-mail at financialaid@uaf.edu. Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at (907) 474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@uaf.edu.

ON THE WEB: UAF Student and Enrollment Services: www.uaf.edu/ses
The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education: www.alaskaadvantage.state.ak.us
Northwest Education Loan Association:www.nela.net
ASAP/Union Bank & Trust: www.asapubt.com