Wednesday, Logan County High School juniors and seniors took part in the school’s third annual Close the Deal event. The Close the Deal initiative is a statewide program, managed by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA), designed to create a college-going culture in high schools for students who aren’t necessarily considering higher education.
The program’s creator, former Kentucky Lt. Governor and current Director of Intergovernmental Affairs in Washington D.C., Jerry Abramson believed “if we truly want to prepare Kentucky’s next generation of leaders for the demands of the 21st century workforce, we must continue to find ways to encourage and assist our high school students to seek additional education.” Since its involvement with the Close the Deal program, Logan County High School has seen its college and career readiness index increase from 62.4 percent in 2012-2013 to 100 percent in 2013-2014.
In his address to the senior class, Logan County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kevin Hub outlined the four main purposes of the day’s event: to help create a college/ career culture in the school, to inspire students to further explore educational and training opportunities, to assist students with the college application and enrollment process, and to provide opportunities for students to engage with community partners. Hub then challenged students to use the day to “help create a sharper focus for what you want to do in high school and life beyond.”
To achieve these lofty goals, the school provided students with representatives from 16 colleges/ universities, 10 LCHS alumni currently enrolled in college, representatives from four branches of the military, a collection of community business leaders, and representatives from KHEAA—the state agency that administers the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES). Students were given opportunities to visit different booths which were set up around the school’s Auxiliary Gym and then meet in informal “table talk” discussions.
At the table discussions, business leaders addressed employability skills, the job market, interviewing tips, and communication skills. College representatives discussed choosing the right college, the importance of college visits, the application process, and scholarships. LCHS alumni shared with seniors things they wish they’d known before entering college-- including academic expectations, social opportunities, using good judgement, and time management.
The event’s featured speaker, Western Kentucky University Track Coach Erik Jenkins, encouraged his audience to take advantage of available opportunities. He told students that the university experience is not for everybody but there is something for everyone. And, anything you are going to do will require you to have higher learning.
When asked, senior Kyle Vaughn said the event “helped open our eyes to see new opportunities and different approaches for our future.” Mission accomplished.