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OVU Partners In State, National Initiative To Increase College Enrollment
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VIENNA, WV – High school seniors from across West Virginia will gather at Ohio Valley University June 10-16 and July 29-August 3 for College Summit, a four-day conference aimed at guiding students through the college application process.
Nine West Virginia colleges and universities will partner as part of a national initiative to increase college enrollment, ensuring that more West Virginia students who can make it in college, make it to college.
“College Summit is the fastest-growing educational initiative in West Virginia and is proud to partner with Ohio Valley University to help more West Virginia students enroll in college,” Randy Shillingburg, executive director of College Summit-West Virginia, said. “The Energy Corporation of America (ECA) introduced the program in 2001 to West Virginia, since that time it has expanded to help 3,000 West Virginia youth in more than 11 counties. The program helps bridge the gap between high school and college for these students and provides institutions of higher learning with a way to connect with students who otherwise might not enroll in college.”
“The program addresses three key components within West Virginia’s secondary and higher education systems,” OVU Associate Director of Admissions Amy Bortell said. “First, the program provides students step-by-step curriculum that will assist them in choosing a career, selecting a college, and completing entrance applications and financial aid forms. Secondly, the program works with high school teachers to better equip them to assist students interested in attending college. And third, the program allows for more exposure for higher learning institutions, such as OVU, among students statewide.”
Participants of the conference will complete key components of the college application process (e.g., Personal Statement, Application, College List), and learn effective ways to finance their college education; learn skills and techniques to positively influence their peers; and develop methods to overcome the challenges they will face as they work to enroll in college.
Colleges and universities participating in the initiative this year include Bluefield State College, Concord University, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, Ohio Valley University, West Virginia State University, West Virginia Wesleyan College, West Virginia University and WVU-Tech.
“For the vast majority of students participating, this will be their first time on a college campus,” Bortell said. “College Summit will bring tremendous resources to each campus – including writing coaches, college counselors, mentors and other staff members – so that students will complete the majority of paperwork necessary for college, begin to believe they have the talent to succeed in college and learn how to influence and help other students enroll in college.”
Established in Washington, D.C. in 1993, College Summit is a non-profit organization that currently operating in 10 states, including: West Virginia, the National Capital Region (DC, VA, and MD), and South Carolina. The comprehensive initiative includes a post-secondary planning course offered in participating high schools during the senior year, teacher training, summer workshops, on-line tracking and data management tools, and on-going support from a professional staff. Four years in a row, College Summit has been named by a leading business magazine, Fast Company, as one of the nation’s leading non-profit organizations.
To learn more about the program visit www.collegesummit.org
To learn more about OVU visit www.ovu.edu
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