March 18, 2018 – In 2017, National 4-H Headquarters released a new strategic plan with an outcome of preparing youth for college and career. This outcome is created to promote first-generation college access; to provide exposure to college and career opportunities, and to offer youth engagement in college and career readiness activities and programs. To address this outcome, the Cooperative Extension Program’s 4-H and Youth Development Unit, along with Texas A & M AgriLife Extension Services, held the first ever College Prep 101 Workshop Series in February.
The workshop series is a semi-annual event for 8th-12th graders to participate in workshops designed to provide pre-college outreach to 4-H participants. The topic of this workshop was Preparing for College and included workshop sessions on college preparation timelines, selecting a college major, writing personal statements for college, and transferring from a community college to a four-year university.
More than 50 youths and parents attended this event from several counties throughout the state. As a result of the workshop, 97% of participants surveyed agreed they (or their child) were more likely to apply and attend a college or university. One participant stated they learned, “going to college is worth it and not a waste of time.”
Joaquina Kankam
Program Specialist, 4-H and Youth Development
(936) 261-5165
jokankam@pvamu.edu