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On
Thursdays, January 18, 2007, and March 8, 2007 and Wednesday
May 9, 2007 fifth grade students from Lea Hill Elementary,
Gildo Rey Elementary and Pioneer Elementary School, Auburn,
Washington attended Green River Community College for I’m
Going to College Day. Prior to coming, students from the
schools have been studying career choices, exploring college
options and learning about financial aid. Their hard work
earns them the opportunity to become Green River Community
College students for the day. They arrived on campus at 9:15
a.m. for classes, tours and activities.
In hopes of encouraging children from diverse socioeconomic
and ethnic backgrounds to attend college, the I’m Going to
College program, sponsored by Northwest Education Loan
Association® (NELA), introduces college preparation
strategies and financial aid programs that can help them
attend college.
Early planning for college increases the options available
when it comes time to apply for admission. High school
courses and grades count when applying for college
admission, but a college education builds on knowledge and
skills acquired much earlier. Studies have shown that the
years from age 10 to 14 are a crucial turning point in a
child’s development. These are the years when children begin
developing behavior patterns in education that can have
lifelong consequences.
“Every child deserves the chance to go to college,” said
Karen DeVilla, Executive Director of NELA. “By sponsoring
this program, we help children and their parents understand
that financial aid programs can make college affordable. The
sooner families begin planning and preparing, the better
chance they have of making higher education a reality.”
College graduates have higher average incomes and more
career options than their peers who don’t pursue higher
education. I’m Going to College educates children about the
benefits of a college degree and builds an understanding of
the choices available for education and financial aid.
2008 Field Trips:
- Lea Hill Elementary- Friday. February 01, 2008
- Gildo Rey Elementary- Friday, March 07, 2008
- Pioneer Elementary – Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Headquartered in Seattle, Northwest Education Loan
Association (NELA) is a not-for-profit company that assists
students and parents in planning for college and
understanding financial aid by providing information,
training and outreach activities. For 27 years, NELA has
successfully administered the Federal Family Education Loan
Program (FFELP) and guaranteed student loans against
default, helping more than 811,000 students pursue higher
education. More information is available at
www.nela.net. In 2003,
NELA opened the Center for Student Success in Seattle. A
second NELA Center for Student Success opened in Portland,
Oregon in 2004. These college access centers provide free
information, tools, counseling and expertise to build better
futures through higher education. For additional
information, visit
www.centerforstudentsuccess.org.
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