Group promotes college success

A coalition is forming with a common goal: Seeing more Jay County young people successfully pursue higher education.
“It’s a collaborative effort between the Vision 20/20 education group, Jay Schools, the Jay County Chamber of Commerce business education committee, and the John Jay Center to increase college success,” says Cindy Cash, executive director of John Jay Center for Learning.
The Indiana College Success Coalition is a statewide network of organizations working toward that same goal, and the Jay County Coalition is now taking shape.
“Twenty counties are invited to each year to participate in this coalition,” says Cash.
She and representatives of the Jay School Corporation attended a meeting of the Learn More Indiana Coalition in October, and John Jay Center applied for and received a grant of $1,000 to cover start-up costs and another $5,000 to fund activities.
“Now the goal is to find members to join our coalition,” she says.
Virtually any organization — corporations, non-profits, and others — can participate.
Cash notes that the statewide effort defines “college” in the broadest of terms.
“It means a vast variety of learning experiences, not just a four-year college,” Cash says. Two-year colleges, career colleges, apprenticeship programs, and job training in the military also fall under that broad umbrella.
The important thing is for young people to be encouraged to pursue post-high school education and that they be given the tools to succeed when the do so.
The initial committee forming the coalition includes Dunkirk City Council member Judy Garr, chamber executive director Vicki Tague, Portland Foundation executive director Doug Inman, Jay County High School guidance counselor Vickie Reitz, John Jay Center’s student services adviser Debbie Howell, Youth Service Bureau executive director Reda Theurer, Jay County Christian Academy board member Emily Roberts, and Kathy Carpenter of the Optimists, in addition to Cash.
“The goal is to have 16 members,” says Cash. “We want businesses to join.”
The coalition expects to have three meetings per year.
Its next one is set for noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13, at John Jay Center. For more information on how to become involved, contact John Jay Center for Learning at (260) 729-5525.[[In-content Ad]]