Caldwell County High School will host a College Night event Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 5-7 p.m.
High school juniors and seniors from across the area are invited to attend, along with their parents, and start making plans for the future.
“We are extending an invitation to students from Lyon County, Crittenden County High School, and Dawson Springs High as well as Caldwell County,” said Mitzi Englebright, College Coach at Caldwell County High.
Students and their parents may come and go anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. and will be able to meet with representatives from several colleges, as well as military recruitment personnel and some companies offering career opportunities.
Englebright said financial aid and scholarship information will also be available during the event. Refreshments and door prizes will be provided by Farmers Bank, the annual event sponsor.
“One thing we are really excited about is the KHEAA College Road Show bus will be here,” said Englebright.
CCHS students had an opportunity to visit the bus and meet with Steven Held of the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) in the spring.
“But now their parents have a chance to visit this mobile classroom and have their questions answered,” said Englebright.
Matt Jones, who serves as the KHEAA outreach counselor for this area, will also be on hand for College Night at CCHS.
“He will have a table set up and will be talking about financial aid with parents,” said Englebright. “He comes to our school quite often and the students recognize him. Now parents have a chance to sit down with him.”
Englebright said she is expecting representatives from Murray State University, Eastern Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University, UK, Campbellsville, Austin Peay, Brescia, Southern Illinois University, area community colleges, military recruiters and more.
“We have both in-state and out-of-state schools, several private institutions, coming. We will have about 15 colleges here at least,” said Englebright.
“We also have representatives from UPS who will be here to talk about their program that is affiliated with UofL. If you work part-ime for UPS, they pay your tuition. Not a lot of people know about that.”
Englebright said she is also expecting representatives from the UK College of Engineering who will be available to talk about their program offered at the Paducah campus.
“And we have people from Lake Cumberland CDL School who will offer information on their career opportunities,” said Englebright.
College Night is a good time for parents and students to have their questions answered.
“And there are many questions — financial aid, ACT requirements — that parents and students need to start asking,” said Englebright.
“We hope high school juniors and their parents will be here because by this time next year they will have completed applications for colleges and applications for financial aid. They really need to start planning and preparing for that now.”
Englebright said when students enter high school during their freshman year, that is a good time for parents to start talking to their children about college.
“It’s a conversation they need to start having as freshman. Talk about their grades, the ACT. Look at what career paths they want to take and find schools that offer those programs. Look at colleges they are interested in and find out about GPA and ACT requirements,” said Englebright.
“It is better for the students and the parents to start looking at these things early so they realize what it is going to take to get into the college of their choice.”
Englebright said she is available anytime to talk with students or parents who have questions about college/career paths and planning for the future.
Contact her at Caldwell County High School at (270) 365-8010.
