PL Page: Big Impact!

Have you ever been a mentor? Ever wondered about the difference you make? Could make? In honor of National Mentoring Month, Grant County’s Twenty-first Century Scholars reach out to their Project Leadership mentors to explain why what they do matters.

To keep up to date with Project Leadership's programming, be sure to check out the PL page in the Chronicle-Tribune!

Countdown to graduation

Start thinking ‘FAFSA’

Seniors have a lot to think about as they enter the last semester of their high school careers. Starting with today’s PL page and continuing throughout this school semester, look for timely tips for seniors during this busy and crucial time in their educational careers.

Today’s focus is on preparing for the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Every student who plans to further their educations after high school needs to complete the FAFSA. During February there will be plenty of one-on-one help available at each of Grant County’s five high schools. Look for a complete listing of FAFSA lab hours at your local high school in upcoming PL page editions.

What seniors need to be focusing on now is getting together the necessary documents and paperwork that they’ll need to complete the FAFSA. Below is a list of materials students should have on hand when it is time to complete the FAFSA:

Your Social Security Number
Your driver's license or state ID (if any)
Your W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
Your 2010 Federal Income Tax Return
Your parents' 2010 Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
Your untaxed income records - Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records
Your current bank statements
Your alien registration or permanent residence card (if you are not a U.S. citizen).

New coalition focuses on college success

What could your business do to help get Grant County students to complete college? Does your church or organization have a program that assists college students? What can you, as an individual, do to make a difference in getting local students on a college campus?

These are some of the questions being asked by the Grant County College Success Coalition. And the coalition wants you to be involved in finding the answers.

The Grant County College Success Coalition is a network of local schools, businesses, churches, non-profit agencies and community service organizations interested in making higher education a priority for Grant County’s students. Made possible by Indiana’s Learn More Indiana partnership, the Grant County College Success Coalition is part of a comprehensive statewide effort to increase the percentage of Hoosiers who attend college and complete a college certificate or degree within four years.

The first Grant County Coalition meeting will be held at 6 p.m. January 19th at the Mississinewa High School library. Coalition members and those interested in learning more about this new initiative are to the hour long information session. Assistance will be available for those interested in registering for Coalition membership.

Organizations from around the county are invited to become a part of the Grant County College Success Coalition by visiting the coalition website at: www.grantcountycsc.org

Here, interested organizations can register to become a part of the coalition, view local school data, share college success activities, and learn about upcoming coalition meetings.

“Our hope is that the Grant County College Success Coalition will come to represent the different facets of our community,” said Tammy Pearson, Project Leadership director. “We would like schools and youth serving organization represented in the group, but we’d also like to see churches, businesses and civic organizations making a commitment to promote college attendance and completion to local students.”

Member organizations will learn about academic rigor, college opportunities, financial aid, and college access mentoring. They will also explore small and comprehensive activities that organizations can implement to help students and adults get to college.

“Promoting college access can be as elaborate as planning a campus visit or as simple as distributing flyers,” said Steve Gibson, Project Leadership education liaison. “Every organization has a part to play in establishing high expectations for the students in our county. Through the coalition we can serve as a resource for one another in developing this community wide push.”

BY THE NUMBERS: Twenty-first Century Scholars

There are approximately 1,507 high school students in Grant County this year who are Twenty-first CenturyScholars. Below are the number of Scholars who are at Marion High School. The state’s Twenty-first CenturyScholars program is available to eligible 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Contact your school or Project Leadership at651-0650 to enroll.

There is 800 Marion High School students who are Twenty-first Century Scholars.

Potential tuition for students: $19,200,000