Our Mission

The mission of Appalachian Access and Success is to ensure that area youth are both knowledgeable and motivated to pursue higher education. Recent studies by the Ohio General Assembly have found that although 80% of Ohio Appalachian seniors wanted to attend college, only 33% of them actually enrolled. Participation in Higher Education is lower among students in Appalachian Ohio (43.4%) than the rest of Ohio (53.8%).

What Appalachian Access and Success do for you.

"We will try and do everything but actually put you in the car and drive you to school."

Angela Kirtdoll-AmeriCorps USA

AmeriCorps members with the Appalachian Access and Success program provide individual and group career counseling services through the use of interest surveys and computer guidance systems. They have access to information on over 416 college majors, over 3000 colleges, universities, and trade schools and over 2000 available scholarships. through the use of the COIN computer system, they can help students pick the career best for them by answering questions on such things as majors, cost, religious affiliation, size, accreditation, etc.

Workshops

In addition to higher educational information we also offer workshops that are valuable to students pursuing higher education whether for college, vocational schools or for job searching. This workshops can be set up at your schools at your convenience.

• Teambuilding
• Self-Esteem
• ACT Planning
• Career Planning
• Goal Setting
• Writing Skills
• Leadership
• Pre-College Planning
• College Life

One-On-One Counseling

AppalCorps offers local high schools the opportunity for AmeriCorps volunteers to come into their schools and provide information and assistance to students on higher education. Information provided includes, college major decision, financial aid information, college choice, what to expect at college, etc.. This program can be applied as a one day or a week long arrangement depending on the time and assistance needed. If the student needs additional help we stay in contact on a one on one basis to provide additional service as needed.

Members

Presently we have three Access volunteers located at the Shawnee State University office. The diversity of the backgrounds of the volunteers serves as another key to our success to reach out to the students. A background follows each volunteer's name.

Brian Saul

Brian graduated from West Portsmouth High School in 1987. After a rough start in college he joined the US Army in 1988. This four year tour found Brian in such places as Panama during Operation Just Cause and Iraq during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Realizing the need for higher education and armed with a new attitude for learning, Brian entered Shawnee State in 1992. Looking back, he discovered that the reason he hadn't changed earlier was that he simply didn't know how. Brian credits learning about goal setting, study skills, problem solving, and self- esteem as the foundation of such accomplishments as becoming a pilot and graduating college. If these topics look familiar, it might be because they are some of the many workshops that Brian and AmeriCORPS presents throughout the year. One of Brian's major motivations is being able to teach students many of the things that he had to learn the hard way.

Jacki Pettigrew

Shane Kamer

Shane graduated from Lewis County High School located in Vanceburg, KY in 1989. Upon Graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in the field of heating and air conditioning. While in the Air Force he was stationed in Texas and also at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton Ohio. While at WPAFB he attended Classes at Sinclair Community College and at Wright State University. In 1991, after his Air Force service, he enrolled at Shawnee State University and completed an Associate Degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering in May of 1995. While holding a position at CSX transportation, he re-enrolled at Shawnee to complete a Bachelors of Pre-Med Biology. In June of 1997 he enlisted in the 121st Air Guard Unit as a Medical Service Technician, completing an Associate Degree from the Community College of the Air Force in Allied Health Services. He is now working as an AmeriCorps member and works two nights a week in the emergency room at Southern Ohio Medical Center while finishing his Bachelors Degree.

Programs We Support

Shawnee State University Bear Cubs

A grant from the Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education provides funding for one full-time coordinator, who is assisted by AmeriCORPS volunteers and several college students. Together, they conduct classroom and evening presentations, arrange and host visits to the Shawnee State campus, and provide information about early preparation for college to Scioto and Pike County students and their parents-many of whom may not otherwise have the opportunity to receive such information. The program is made up of talented, caring people working to ensure the future success of students. All of those involved in the operation of the BEAR CUBS program -coordinator, AmeriCORPS volunteers, and tour guides- treat students and their future as PRIORITY ONE. The program serves fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth graders. For more information contact the full time coordinator, Lois Rase, at ---------(740) 355-2543

Upward Bound

The Upward Bound program is designed for Scioto County high school students who are interested in attending college but may need an extra "push" to turn that interest into a reality. The Upward Bound Program provides academic, social, recreational, cultural, and counseling services in order to generate the skills, motivation, and self-confidence necessary for success in college.

Educational Talent Search

The Talent Search program, Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, helps students graduate from high school and enroll in postsecondary educational programs. All services provided by Talent Search are free to participants. Services provided are:

• Educational counseling
• Career counseling
• Financial Aid
• Information and assistance
• Assistance with special needs