 |
|||||||
|
January 2006 IN THIS ISSUE
|
||||||
|
Minnesota’s challenge: Our response Research conducted by the Minnesota Private College Research Foundation in 2004 shows that the number of high school and college graduates in Minnesota and the surrounding region will decline in the next decade. While this is happening, new job growth and retiring baby boomers will increase the demand for college-educated workers. Without an assertive plan to address these trends, Minnesota will face the prospect of declining economic competitiveness. (See A Challenge That Speaks For Itself ) Over this period, we have hosted two community meetings and made dozens of presentations to share the information with stakeholders, engage discussion, and search for solutions to the challenges we face. The response has been encouraging. More than 70 corporate, state, education and community leaders are involved and already making new connections and advancing the common cause with greater intention (see Summary notes: Community meeting on August 18, 2005). Buoyed by the gathering energy around a shared vision for rendering the projections into false predictions, the Minnesota Private College Council is committed to joining with others and doing our part to effect the change we need. If you are not already on board, we hope you'll join us in this endeavor now. Guided by a broad community alliance, we are advancing plans for a multi-faceted, statewide program to address these demographic challenges. Each component of this public engagement campaign is designed to inform, encourage, empower and sustain community dialogue aimed at increasing college access and success for Minnesota's young people and creating a positive future for our state. Elements of the campaign include statewide community meetings of leaders and stakeholders who can effect change in their communities; a community Web site — a virtual well where research, information and promising practices can be shared and dialogue fostered; a series of town hall-style meetings to engage the public and regional response and insight throughout the state; and public information advertising that stimulates active participation in the overall campaign. This campaign is about a shared vision for Minnesota's future and its success will be in wide participation. It will link to and build on other related efforts and provide a commons, the virtual village well Web site serving a wide range of community interests to exchange ideas and support action. Teams are taking up various pieces of the campaign. As we move forward, we will be asking others to join in supporting these efforts. If you would like to be involved or if you like to lend your name to our official list of supporters, please contact Phillip Miner, director of community initiative, pminer@mnprivatecolleges.org. In the meantime, we will keep you informed of progress on our Public Engagement Campaign page. Admission Possible promotes access, bolsters success
“This spring, thanks to programs like AP, I’ll be the first in my family to graduate from college. I will receive a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College — a n institution I never thought was an option because the price tag is higher than what my mother will ever make. As an AP student, I was given the tools to prepare for college and to approach the ACT/SAT examinations. Most importantly, I was assigned a coach who provided personal advice and workshops that guidance counselors didn’t have enough time to provide with their high student ratios. During my junior year, my peers and I worked on building vocabulary and math techniques to improve our math and verbal scores and on special weekends/breaks, we visited Minnesota college campuses. My coach Chuayi Thao and I often met at local coffee and bubble-tea shops to talk about college and scholarship essays, applications, financial aid, homesickness tips, study abroad opportunities, and lots more. She even gave me wonderful survival tips on overcoming college obstacles. By April of my senior year in high school, I was awarded 10+ scholarships and accepted to all the institutions Chuayi had helped me apply to — I chose St. Olaf. My liberal arts education has transformed my ability to think, react, and shape the world. It has led me to study in China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Tanzania; to explore the importance of my Hmong heritage at UW-Madison, and to understand public policy and international affairs at UC-Berkeley. My future goal is to achieve my master’s degree in public policy so that I can make sure that every child has equal access to education and health care. My coach and I still go out on bubble-tea dates and have simple talks about life. I have been so fortunate to have this mentorship that I will treasure forever. Thank you, Admission Possible, for believing in me and supporting me to reach my highest potential!” More on Admission Possible Making a case for supporting scholarships
Minnesota Power funds a Named Scholarship that has been awarded to nearly 100 students within its northern Minnesota service area. In 2005 the company gave $20,000 that was distributed to 17 students. The average financial need for each student was $24,134 and their average GPA 2.99. These scholarships along with other financial aid help lessen the financial load and allow students to concentrate on their studies while experiencing the wealth of opportunities at their institutions. Misty Hlava, a junior at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth who received one of the scholarships, spoke at the event honoring Minnesota Power. Misty is from Holyoke, Minnesota, population 292. Going to college is a huge accomplishment in her family. She is a responsible and accomplished student who will be applying to the rigorous Physical Therapy program at St. Scholastica in the spring. “Neither of my parents had the opportunity to go to college and they definitely want their three children to graduate from college,” says Misty. “My scholarship assistance has allowed me to be just a regular student. I have been able to do things that I never dreamed I could afford to do while attending a private college. Thank you Minnesota Power for this opportunity.” Learn more about the Minnesota Private College Fund St. Olaf professor receives prestigious great teacher award
|
|||||||
