Blue Water College Access Network
St. Clair County's College Resource | December 2021
College Knowledge for EVERYONE
Welcome to your resource for planning, preparing, and going to college after high school. Blue Water College Access Network is here to provide information and opportunities that will ensure you graduate confidently prepared, with plans for career and college beyond high school. Whether you choose to go on to earn a bachelor's degree, an associate degree, or an industry credential, we can help you get there!
Each month, we will publish a newsletter to keep you on track, informed, and engaged in college activities provided by organizations across the county. To subscribe to the newsletter, submit your email address using this form. Past editions of the newsletter can be found at bwcan.org. Contact Nick Beaudry with any questions you might have at beaudry.nick@sccresa.org.
How do you plan, prepare, and pay for college? Local grads will tell you how!
Beginning this month, St. Clair County graduates will share their personal college-going stories, along with tips for getting to and going through college, including candid details of the ups and downs along the way. Meet local grads with very different stories to tell of how they each made it to college - through poverty, divorce, challenging academics, and more. Be sure to follow
@BlueWaterCAN on
Facebook and
Twitter for the latest college story as it's shared.
In this month's newsletter, we introduce Jeremy Lippitt and listen to grads talk about the people who helped them prepare for college.
College Advisers are Here to Help
Please welcome three of St. Clair County's new college advisers: Felicity Roman-Pelvas (Memphis), Kailee Rakes (Port Huron Northern), and Brandon Wardlow (Port Huron High). Our advisers can help you navigate the enrollment process, apply for financial aid and scholarships, and much more in order to successfully transition to post-secondary education or training, including four-year, community college, or technical school. Click on each spotlight below to learn about Felicity, Kailee, and Brandon.
December is Career Exploration Month
Top 50 Careers
Explore Michigan's Top 50 high-demand, high-wage careers that show a favorable mix of long-term job growth, projected annual job openings, and median wages with Pathfinder. Follow your path through career fields and colleges choices while you explore.
Pay For Future Tuition at Today's Price with the Michigan Education Trust
OPEN A NEW MET IN DECEMBER AND GET A $150 MATCH!
The Michigan Education Trust (MET) is here to help make saving for college easier. Avoid rising tuition rates and save on college tuition by buying college credits at today's price with a MET 529 prepaid tuition savings program. To help families start saving earlier for their child's future education, we are returning to a discounted, age-based pricing structure for the first time in more than a decade. Switching to a discounted, age-based pricing structure--as opposed to charging one price across all ages--means families will realize significant savings the earlier they start saving with MET.
In addition to the new pricing structure, MET is waiving its $25 online enrollment fee and offering a $150 match for new Beneficiaries when you use coupon code HOLIDAY21 during the month of December when you enroll online*.
Enrollment is open through September 30, 2022.
* Read match rules and eligibility requirements
PURCHASE TODAY
MCAN Launches Michigan ECHO Scholarship
Inspired by the Futures for Frontliners scholarship program, MCAN is proud to announce the Michigan Equity, Courage, Hope, and Opportunity Scholarship. The MI ECHO scholarship provides a tuition-free pathway to an associate degree or certificate for frontline workers who are excluded from most traditional federal financial aid. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals who are:
- Recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
- Granted Temporary Protected Status.
- Classified as Special Immigrant Juveniles.
Learn more →
Visit the MI ECHO website →
Scholarship Available for High School Seniors
St. Clair County Association of School Boards (SCCASB) is once again offering three $1000 Scholarships to three deserving high school seniors. These are competitive scholarships that will be awarded countywide. Any graduating senior student attending a high school or alternative high school
in any of the seven local districts are eligible to apply.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND APPLICATION
View Class of 2021 scholarship winners here.
Colleges with Free Applications 2021-22
The Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) has compiled a list of
Michigan colleges with no application fee during the 2021-22 school year. In addition, they have a list of colleges with no fee during Michigan College Month in October 2021.
Each month, counselors can find current college and career counseling information and professional learning opportunities in the Counselor Corner section of the BWCAN newsletter. A running compilation of opportunities can also be found on the Counselors page at
bwcan.org.
Military Career Course - Michigan Department of Education
Explore Military Career Options
Are you interested in learning about the career opportunities for students who are considering joining the military? Earn 5 State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) by exploring Military Career options! Visit Military Course Directions (michigan.gov) for further details!
Xello and MCAN Professional Development Webinar Series
Michigan College Access Network is proud to partner with Xello to host a new series of professional development webinars for K-12 educators in Michigan. Together with Xello, a modern college, career, and future readiness software, we are excited to offer this opportunity to our network.
Starting in October, we will be co-hosting a free 8-part monthly webinar series that will focus on timely topics like how to address disrupted learning and how to use your limited time to best serve students applying for college. You don't need to commit to the whole series; register for the topics that fit your interests and schedule. Earn SCECHs while learning how to use Xello to meet Michigan's Career Development Program requirements and help your students build their Educational Development Plans.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER
REGISTRATION OPEN: Foundations of Equity in College and Career Counseling
Registration is now open for the Winter 2022 session of the Foundations of Equity in College and Career Counseling course. Designed with school counselors in mind, participants will build upon their knowledge of equity-centered counseling and advising practices that support student postsecondary exploration, planning, enrollment, and persistence.
Course Details
The Foundations of Equity in College and Career Counseling course will run Jan. 19-May 6 and include five virtual sessions, which are held monthly. The online course will be co-hosted by MCAN and San Diego State University. Dr. Laura Owen, school counselor educator and director of the Center for Equity and Postsecondary Attainment at San Diego State University, will serve as the facilitator.
Learn more →
SCECHs Available
For the Winter 2022 course, we anticipate 30 SCECHs will be awarded to individuals who complete the entire course, including participation in all virtual sessions. Of those 30 hours, 15 will fall under the college preparation and selection category, and 15 will fall under the career exploration category.
Registration
Registration for the Winter 2022 section of this course is now open, and applications will be accepted through Dec. 17. Participants will receive a $250 scholarship to complete the course at no cost. The course is open to all school counselors, college and career advisers, and educators. However, a limited number of seats are available, and priority consideration will be granted to school counselors.
REGISTER
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kiersten Nolan, strategy assistant for high school innovation, via email at kiersten@micollegeaccess.org or by calling 517-896-1678. We hope to see you online!
College Bound Michigan
Register soon for timely access to resources!
Don't forget to register for College Bound Michigan, a suite of initiatives that includes Michigan College Month, College Cash Campaign, and College Decision Day. Registrants gain access to grant opportunities, cash incentives, promotional materials, toolkits, and more.
Register for CBMI 2021-22 →
Contact Nick Beaudry, Supervisor of Career and College Programs, St. Clair County RESA
