When Darla Krugs’s oldest son Trevor was beginning the process of applying for colleges, Darla felt completely overwhelmed. Navigating the complicated process was stressful for both her and her son. “I remember thinking, how on earth do kids who come from challenging backgrounds or are the first generation in their family to think about attending college figure this all out?” she shares. If you have been through it, you know exactly what she is talking about. The combination of a busy working parent, a stressed out senior and no real roadmap to the correct path can be tremendously daunting. Darla was a board member of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southwest Washington (BBBS) and she knew that the families they serve could really use some help in the process of helping students understand their choices after high school.
Fast forward a year later and Darla reached out to Anne Larsen, development director at South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) Foundation to see if there was a way to reach out to kids and families to show them what is possible and how to get there. “I knew that Anne was my go-to person to make this happen!” shares Darla. “We both have college freshman and having been through the process we felt very passionate about giving the families and the Bigs support and encouragement to understand their options, including all the scholarships that are available to students in Washington and even more importantly, how to access them.”
Fortunately, Anne and her colleagues at the SPSCC Foundation loved the idea and College Information Night was created. On May 2, the SPSCC Outreach and Advising team will present crucial information on various topics regarding college and beyond. They will discuss the benefits of a two-year community college experience leading to the professional workforce or the option to transfer to a four-year college. “We are so happy that the community reached out to us to support these important mentors, the Bigs, and the students that they are guiding along the way,” says Meg Estep Woolf, director of student outreach, recruitment and assessment.
Speakers will discuss the Running Start program that is available to high school sophomores. Obtaining a two-year degree while still in high school or earning dual credits can give students a real leg up when it comes to success after high school. “It fits right into our mission to support the adults that are role models to our youth to understand the opportunities that are available to them,” shares Meg. “There are so many resources available to pay for college that lack of finances should never be a barrier to attending a two- or four-year college.” Meg is excited to add college knowledge to the long list of ways in which the Bigs support the young people in their lives.
Washington State has a needs-based program for students entering the eighth grade. This program, called College Bound, guarantees a college education to those enrolled in it that meet certain grade requirements. Students in foster care can apply for the Passport to College, another program. “We want to open the students’ and their guardians’ or mentors’ eyes to the possibilities,” shares Meg. A two-year degree at SPSCC can lead directly to a professional or technical degree.
This inaugural event could be replicated for any other non-profit youth organizations and the families they serve. Anne’s close ties with board members of the BBBS really ignited a fire to create this program that SPSCC would like to open up to other organizations in the community that are mentoring our youth. Anne hopes that it will become an annual event for students and their families.
As Darla says, “Even if we can reach just a handful of students who thought that college was not an option for them, it will be worth it!”
College Information Night will take place on May 2 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at SPSCC Olympia Campus, Building 35, Room 151. For more information or to RSVP email LeAnn@swwabigs.org
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