Students from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District recently got the chance to dip their toes into college waters, thanks to a collaboration between the district and Cleveland State University. The initiative, led by CSU's Division of Student Belonging and Success, aims to demystify the transition to higher education for high school students. Kristina Artino, Senior Academic Coach for Special Populations at CSU, partnered with Brandi DuVall of College Now Greater Cleveland to offer a firsthand glimpse of campus life.
The collaboration is a serious effort to bridge the gap between high school and college for prospective students, providing them not only the opportunity to tour the CSU campus but also to interact with current students and academic coaches. Nearly 100 CMSD students were swiftly engaged in this program, showing a significant uptick from last year's 15 to 20 participants. "College Now's mission is to increase postsecondary educational attainment through college and career access advising, financial aid counseling, and scholarship and retention services," Artino said, according to a CSU news release.
During their visit, students from Rhodes, Max S. Hayes, and Lincoln West high schools experienced a dynamic and engaging panel discussion with CSU students Temiah Ellis, Faith Pettit, and Kiomara Montanez Vazquez, who shared their academic journeys and personal experiences on campus. These interactions are crucial in building a sense of community and shedding light on the reality of day-to-day student life. Moreover, these campus visits aim to foster a feeling of belonging, crucial for the students' potential transition to the college environment.
The day's activities included attending men's & women's basketball practices, dining at Viking Marketplace, and taking a campus tour of Cleveland State University. The CMSD/LLC Special Population Academic Coaching team, with members Michael Nelson-Garcia and Torrance Nowden, organized the agenda to ensure the students would have a comprehensive experience. "We hope students leave feeling a sense of belonging, feeling like they are at home," shared Artino in the CSU announcement. The initiative is part of a broader endeavor by College Now Greater Cleveland, which has been dedicated to increasing postsecondary educational attainment since 1967, and has awarded more than $111 million in scholarships to students.
