School wins grant to improve "College Access"

McCook Public Schools has been awarded a $60,000 grant to help its students make decisions about going to college.

High school counselor Fred Gleason told school board members Monday evening that "College Access" grants from Education Quest are designed to improve access to higher education for all Nebraska students. The grants will allow schools to provide free services to students in their search for colleges and scholarships.

Gleason said the program's mission is to improve the rate of students -- particularly first-generation college-goers, minorities and low-income -- attending college.

McCook's grant will fund activities for four years, providing $15,000 each year.

McCook's grant will fund:

* Paying the fee for students taking the ACT tests for the first time.

* Financial aid seminars for students and parents.

* A "faculty college day," during which McCook teachers will speak during their seminar periods about their alma mater.

* A college fair, open to area students, at McCook High School.

* A health careers day, co-sponsored with McCook Community College.

The largest portion of the budget, Gleason said, will pay for college visits. "We're in the process of arranging a bus for visits to UNL, UNK and Southeast Community College in Milford," Gleason said. Two other trips will be planned; Gleason will poll students to see what other colleges they want to visit.

McCook will be required to submit mid-year and end-of-year reports, Gleason said, and, because McCook is being used as a "guinnea pig" for the program, representatives will be asked to make presentations to other schools, "about what worked and what didn't."

The grant does not require a funding match, Gleason said; all activities will be at no cost to the school.

The program will target juniors and seniors the first year, he said, and expand to other senior high students during the next three years.