“Aspire Higher” month doubles senior college applications
Seniors who have applied to college so far. Pictured from left, bottom row: Gretchen Elder, Mackenzie Colby, Nicole Rice, Rachel Eimen, Camden Spear; middle row: Nick McCoullough, Marissa Farnham, Samantha Carter, Skyler Davis, Meghan Oakes, Angela Machon, Brad Tibbetts; back row: Sam Teele, Julian Aponte, Anna Baumm, Hannah Morley, Caroline Witwicki. Missing from photo are Kyle Wilson, Doug Steinmetz, Chris Simpson and Ellie Demmons. Courtesy of Kerrin Erhard
Skyler Davis and Meghan Oakes are the first seniors to be accepted to a college. Skyler was accepted to the University of Maine at Orono and Plymouth State University. Meghan was accepted to Unity College and Colby Sawyer College. Courtesy of Kerrin Erhard
Seniors who have applied to college so far. Pictured from left, bottom row: Gretchen Elder, Mackenzie Colby, Nicole Rice, Rachel Eimen, Camden Spear; middle row: Nick McCoullough, Marissa Farnham, Samantha Carter, Skyler Davis, Meghan Oakes, Angela Machon, Brad Tibbetts; back row: Sam Teele, Julian Aponte, Anna Baumm, Hannah Morley, Caroline Witwicki. Missing from photo are Kyle Wilson, Doug Steinmetz, Chris Simpson and Ellie Demmons. Courtesy of Kerrin Erhard
Skyler Davis and Meghan Oakes are the first seniors to be accepted to a college. Skyler was accepted to the University of Maine at Orono and Plymouth State University. Meghan was accepted to Unity College and Colby Sawyer College. Courtesy of Kerrin Erhard
At this time last year, 21 percent of seniors at Boothbay Region High School had applied to college. This year, that number is up to 42 percent.
According to College Access Counselor Kerrin Erhard, a lot of that has to do with the program “Aspire Higher” in November, coordinated by the Maine College Access Network.
“Each school does it differently,” Erhard said. “It encourages students to look seriously into their future and apply to college early.”
Students who applied to colleges (or any post-secondary program) were entered into a raffle drawing, with prizes drawn on Dec. 2 including passes to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens “Gardens Aglow” and college swag gear picked up by Erhard during school trips to colleges.
When the program began in 2013, only two schools were involved. Last year that number grew to four schools, and this year, a total of 27 Maine schools.
The month also included a presentation by Wendy Thompson, former assistant dean of admissions at Bowdoin College for 12 years; extended Monday afternoon hours in Erhard's office to help with applications; a Financial Aid Night for seniors and parents; college visits; and an “Alma Mater” day when staff members all wore gear from their college.
Erhard said the month was so successful they plan to continue the program through March. They will continue collecting prizes to be raffled, with students receiving more tickets into the raffle the earlier they apply. The tickets carry over month to month, with students applying in December getting four tickets, January three tickets, and so on. At the end of the year at least two big prizes will be drawn, including a college-sized refrigerator and a laptop.
Erhard also is teaching students to check their email frequently, by running a second raffle. She sends out an email, and students who reply within a day or two are able to earn a ticket. The most recent winner of a $20 gas card was Brad Tibbetts.
“This is all about helping students,” Erhard said. “A jumping-off point in the process. We're going to keep encouraging students. The FAFSA opens up January 1, and we're going to have a raffle for completing that as well. The prize will be two tickets to the prom.”
Students and parents can keep up with what's happening by liking the Facebook page BRHS College Bound at www.facebook.com/BRHSCollegeBound.
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Helping aspiring senior students at BRHS
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