USA Funds-Sponsored Workshops Help Students Prepare for College

More than 1,000 students from Indianapolis-metropolitan school districts and throughout Indiana attend the 2007 Circle City Classic College Readiness Workshops held in Indianapolis throughout the year. The workshops are affiliated with the annual Circle City Classic, whose 2007 weekend event was held in Indianapolis in October.

USA Funds^® recently awarded a $50,000 grant to support the college-readiness workshops.

The Circle City Classic College Readiness Workshops target high-school students from the greater-Indianapolis area and draw participants from around the state. The workshops prepare students for college by providing educational tools, such as SAT and American College Testing-exam preparation, and scholarship and financial-aid information. Students participate in a study session and then take an abbreviated version of the SAT or ACT. After the test, students and facilitators discuss the test, and review test-taking strategies.

“This is an opportunity for students to become familiar with the standardized testing and ask questions about the test,” says Tiffany Turner, Circle City Classic Coordinator of Youth Initiatives and Fund Development. “In the end, they are more comfortable with the test and more confident in themselves.”

Students also have the opportunity to discuss topics such as dealing with college life, setting a college schedule and college credits.

The workshops are held four times a year, on Saturdays. At the end of each workshop, 10 scholarships of $500 are awarded.

“Once the kids get here, they really do enjoy it,” says Turner. “I often hear the students say that the SAT portion is tough, but you can see them become engaged, and they truly take away great information.”

In the future, organizers hope to add new components to the workshops. Turner says they hope to add a job-preparation component, involve community leaders and teach students how to build their resumes while in college for further success.

“We not only want these students to be successful in college, but we want them to be involved,” says Turner. “We want them to be well-rounded students when they graduate and be ready to enter the work force.”

Kyle Malone, USA Funds manager, access and outreach, says USA Funds’ support of the Circle City Classic College Readiness Workshops is consistent with USA Funds’ mission to enhance higher-education preparedness, access and success. “The workshops are having a positive effect on the students who attend. After attending, students are better prepared to pursue postsecondary education.”