Clark County - The Quest for College
The Quest for College
Visit our website at www.ohiocan.org/Clark
The College Quest is also a GEAR UP Lighthouse sites. GEAR UP Ohio envisions every student, regardless of his or her parents’ wealth, ethnic background or geographic location, graduating from high school with the knowledge and skills he or she needs to succeed in college and the workplace—and it sees a future in which fewer students need remediation during their first year of postsecondary education. For more information, please visit http://www.regents.state.oh.us/gearup/index.html
Program History
The initiative was designed as a partnership with the Springfield City Schools, Aid for College Opportunities, Clark State Community College and the Clark County College Tech Prep Consortium. During the program’s initial year, each organization served as an effective and essential resource in attempting to increase the significantly low numbers of Academic Emergency Springfield City high school students aspiring to post-secondary education and training.
Program Goals and Objectives
The overall goal of the college access program is:
- To motivate and encourage students to pursue post-secondary education/training.
- To help make students and their parents aware of the benefits of training and education after high school.
- To advise students and their parents regarding school selection, scholarships, financial aid.
- To provide follow up as students go from high school to college.
Staff and Volunteers
GEAR UP advisors spend their time at Springfield City High School. These individuals have built amazingly effective relationships with the high school counselors, administrative teams, and teachers, and are seen by all as being an integral part of the school’s support and outreach team. They report to the GEAR UP and Director of Career Management and Community Outreach at Clark State Community College. While the College currently serves as the fiscal agent for the grant, it does not receive any of the actual funds.
Time-line of Program Implementation
Throughout the year, the advisors will:
- Visit all homeroom classes.
- When appropriate, make presentations at assemblies.
- Meet with teachers whenever possible.
- Visit all English classes.
- Educate themselves to current financial aid and various college application requirements.
- Attend local college fairs.
- Provide financial aid seminars to parents.
- Organize field trips to area colleges.
- Correspond with students and parents as needed.
For more information on the The Quest for College, contact:
Ms. Mary Patton
Director Career Management and Community Outreach
The College Quest
Clark State Community College
P.O. Box 570
Springfield, OH 45501-0570
Phone: (937) 328-6073
Fax: (937) 328-6133
E-mail: pattonm@clarkstate.edu
College Access Program Map