Hot Springs adds grant for college readiness
HOT SPRINGS – The Hot Springs School District has been awarded another grant for the school year.
This time Hot Springs received a grant from Student Assistance Foundation in the amount of $2,250 from Graduation Matters Montana. The program is aimed at getting students into college after high school graduation.
“It is exciting to see Graduation Matters communities like Hot Springs setting high goals to reach out to and engage students and families as they prepare for life after high school,” said State Superintendent Denise Juneau in a press release. “These efforts are going to have a significant impact on the students and families in their community.”
The grant is intended to help Hot Springs increase the number of students who apply for federal student aid through FAFSA and increase the number of Hot Springs students who go to college.
“The grant will be used for college readiness, financial readiness, and FAFSA meetings plus graduation matters events,” School Counselor Sher Loberg said. “I would say at least 90 percent of Hot Springs students are applying to go to college.”
The grant will also allow Hot Springs to host a college fair, go on campus visits and participate in College Application Week in November.
“In addition to a college application, we want to host events during College Application week,” Loberg said. “Our students will pledge to graduate from high school and continue their education.”
The grant will also be used to help fund visits to colleges for Hot Springs students. Later in November they have two trips planned to see college campuses.
Students can travel to Bozeman and Helena on November 14th for college visits and Butte and Dillon on November 18th for other visits to campuses.
This is the state of Montana’s second year offering College Application Week. The event allows for students to fill out one college application during the school day. Many Montana colleges waive the application fees during the week to increase the number of students applying for college.
Application week is intended to increase the number of students who go to college in the State of Montana. The grant from the Student Assistance Fund will be used in Hot Springs to help encourage all students to apply for post-secondary education.
“I actually heard about the grant from Mary Howard at the SAF,” Loberg said. “We were doing things to help make our students ready for college, and the grant will help.”
Hot Springs students will now have the opportunity for FAFSA education to better prepare the students for financial assistance. The State of Montana estimates that $3.9 million in student aid goes to Montana students each year. Hot Springs students can hope to get a portion of the federal dollars that go for education.
“In addition to funding the important work that will be done through these grants, SAF outreach staff will be participating in many of the activities that will be carried out by our grantees,” said Vice President of Foundation Activities at Student Assistance Foundation Kelly Cresswell. “Understandably, students are concerned about the cost of higher education. All of us working together will ensure that more students have access to college - socially and financially.”