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 as part of the Greene County Community Foundation doing business as Greene Giving.

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.

Staff and Volunteers

James Mescher is the Executive Director for GCHEO and also works as a College Access Advisor at Xenia High School. GCHEO currently has two other advisors, Linda York Tortorici who serves at Bellbrook High School and at the Greene County Career Center and a college intern advisor who assists at Xenia High School. The interns work primarily from November to March when they are paid $500/month.

Greene County Higher Educational Opportunities will be adding an advisor at Fairborn High School this year and continues to expand to other schools as our program develops.

2008-2009 Plan

GCHEO will have advisors working in 3 of the 7 school districts and at the career center during the 2008-2009 school year. GCHEO is continuing to work with the guidance offices at the other districts to offer them advisor services in their guidance office to assist in FAFSA, college selection and college applications. GCHEO has formed the College Success Partnership with local colleges and universities, county government, K-12 education and local businesses to promote post secondary education by increasing the scholarships and internships available in Greene County. A Last Dollar Grant fund has been built with funds to be distributed by Greene County Higher Educational Opportunities.

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