The Ohio State University at Marion
I CAN Center of Excellence NEWS
By Wayne Rowe
Jun 2, 2008, 16:45

Rotarians spark interest in college among young Annual reading day now focused on setting goals for higher education and career

Members of Marion Rotary Club in conjunction with the I CAN Center of Excellence, a regional college access program, recently helped send a positive message about the impact of higher education and career goals to hundreds of local fifth graders across Marion County.

Marion Rotary's I CAN Go to College Day included personal visits from a group of volunteer Rotarians to fifth grade classrooms in Marion City Schools, River Valley Elementary, Pleasant Elementary, and St.
Mary's Elementary schools.

The importance of the I CAN Got to College Day event, first and foremost, was to positively influence young local minds to attend college and work towards the career of their choice.

According to figures from the 2006 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 11.8 percent of Marion County residents over the age of 25 have attained a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to over 23 percent statewide and 27 percent nationally. Ohio is a paltry 39th nationally in the percent of residents attaining a bachelor's degree or higher. Among a seven county area in north central Ohio, which includes Crawford, Delaware, Hardin, Marion, Union, and Wyandot Counties, only Delaware County residents meet or surpass the state and national averages for those obtaining a college degree.

"With resources such as Marion Technical College and The Ohio State University at Marion within a 20-40 mile radius of most people in north central Ohio, those statistics are mind boggling," said C.
Michael Short, director of the I CAN Center of Excellence and student affairs director at The Ohio State University at Marion,

Short feels I CAN's organizational mission of making higher education more accessible in conjunction with events like these will have a positive impact on Marion and surrounding communities mindset toward the importance of education.

"I CAN Go to College Day is a wonderful way to reach young people about the importance of education to their future," said Short. "I only wish this message was repeated to kids on a daily basis," he added.

During the special one day event, Rotary members spent time with students emphasizing the importance of education in their lives and careers. Presenters also shared information about college from a booklet entitled, "I'm Going to College" (written by the California Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators), encouraged students to set goals for their education and career, and to work toward those goals.

Students who participated in the presentation were given a folder to help them stay organized and record their steps toward educational progress. Students also received information to take home to their parents regarding ways to save towards college in affinity programs such as www.upromise.com and in 529 plans at www.collegeadvantage.com.

According to Rotary I CAN Go to College Day volunteer and Marion Technical College public relations director Nicole Workman, events like these, the continued progress of the I CAN Center of Excellence, and increased access to affordable quality higher education programs in our local community seem to be making a difference with kids and their parents.

"I was surprised to see so many hands go up when asking the question
-- "Who wants to go to college?," Workman explained.

"It was so fun to talk to the kids and remind them that they can go to college and achieve their dreams," she said.

"They were more educated than I thought they would be," said Workman. "I'm sure this is, in part, due to the I CAN Center for Excellence."

The I CAN Center of Excellence, which was given its start as a local college access program by Marion Rotary Club, is now based on the Marion campus and serves students regionally in seven counties. The organization has sponsored several college access programs in elementary schools, such as "I'm Going to College" and "Adopt A College Student" letter-writing projects.

For more information on college access or assistance from the I CAN Center of Excellence call C. Michael Short at 740-725-6273. For information on bringing an I CAN Go to College day presentation to your school contact, Sandy Winland at 740-360-4557.

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