Visit our website at www.Ohiocan.org/Greene

Program History

Greene County Higher Educational Opportunities (GCHEO) was started through the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee who saw the need for an increase in college enrollment in Greene County. As committee chairman Rick Kolmin took on the responsibility of this initiative and formed Greene County Higher Educational Opportunities.

Program Mission and Vision

The mission of Greene County Higher Educational Opportunities (GCHEO) is to help Greene County residents access higher education.  Through the promotion of financed aid awareness GCHEO will strive to help individuals finish high school and enter into postsecondary education either right out of high school or after an individual has been in the workforce.

The vision of GCHEO is to affect public initiatives, to promote administration of student aid programs, and to encourage an environment of cooperation between individuals, agencies, organizations and educational institutions to better serve all students.

The goal of Greene County Higher Educational Opportunities (GCHEO) is to work with all seven Greene County school districts and the Greene County Career Center to provide college access programs for all Greene County high school students as well as those who have been in the workforce and not pursued higher education.

GCHEO aims to have one advisor in each of the district high schools as well as the Greene County Career Center who will assist the students in their pursuit of higher education thereby increasing the number of students pursuing education beyond high school.

Staff and Volunteers

James Mescher is the Executive Director for GCHEO and works on a part time and volunteer basis. GCHEO currently has two advisors, Linda Tortorici who serves at Bellbrook High School and Georgette Coleman who serves at Xenia High School and Greene County Community Center. The advisors are paid $2500 a year and work mainly on a volunteer basis except from November to March when they are paid $500/month.

Greene County Higher Educational Opportunities is planning on having one advisor in each district high school as well as the career center as the program develops.

2007-2008 Plan

GCHEO has had advisors working in 3 of the 7 school districts and at the career center during the 2006-2007 school year. GCHEO is continuing to contact the guidance offices at the other districts and the career center to offer them an advisor to serve in their guidance office to assist in FAFSA, college selection and college applications. GCHEO is planning to work with the business communities of the seven school districts to help increase the scholarships available in Greene County. A Last Dollar Grant fund has been built with funds to be distributed by Greene County Higher Educational Opportunites.

For more information on the Greene County Higher Educational Opportunities Program, contact:

Mr. James Mescher

Executive Director

Greene County Higher Educational Opportunities

360 East Enon Road

Yellow Springs, OH 45387

Phone: (937) 767-1303 ext 134

Fax: (937) 767-1025

E-mail: gcbo_gcheo@k12server.mveca.org

Website: www.Ohiocan.org/Greene

College Access Program Map