Featured stories.

• Get Ready Hosts Future Postsecondary Pathways Conference

  

  On November 28th, the University of Minnesota's Coffman Memorial Union buzzed with energy as more than 200 high school students from Get Ready's affiliate high schools gathered for the inaugural Future Postsecondary Pathways Conference.

  The event commenced with an inspiring opening speech delivered by Madyson Sklar, recent Drake University graduate and recipient of the Oreon E. Scott Outstanding Senior of the Year Award. Sklar's words resonated with attendees as she urged them, "Remember, don’t miss out on the gems that are being given to you." This set the tone for a day filled with exploration, enlightenment, and empowerment.

  The students embarked on a personalized journey through a variety of informational sessions, panels, and workshops. Topics ranged from a variety of postsecondary and career paths to scholarships, skillsets, and the art of navigating life after high school. A pivotal highlight was the college and career fair, where students engaged with representatives from over 25 diverse colleges and organizations, broadening their horizons. As the day unfolded, it became evident that the Future Postsecondary Pathways Conference not only ignited passion but also provided tangible resources for students to carve out their academic and professional trajectories.

  Get Ready anticipates hosting an additional Future Postsecondary Pathways Conference specifically tailored for high school juniors this coming March. These conferences stand as a testament to Get Ready's unwavering commitment to achieving a 100% graduation rate and enrollment in postsecondary programs. By continuously supporting students across Minnesota, Get Ready is fostering a brighter, more empowered future for all.

   

• Get Ready Avoids Summer Melt!

  by Mai Chue Ozcan, Como Postsecondary Pathways Coordinator

  Although school ended on June 14, 2023 for Como Park Senior High School students, the work continued on for a highly dedicated group of Como teachers and counselors this summer, as they supported the Get Ready Summer Melt Advising initiative. According to the U.S. Department of Education “about 10 to 20 percent of college eligible students [nationally] melt away, most of which are low-income minority students planning to enroll in community college,” (Summer Melt | U.S. Department of Education). To help combat this, the Get Ready program partnered up with capacity school staff and counselors to provide ongoing summer support to help students navigate through the unfinished challenges of financial aid, enrollment verifications, course registration, move-in logistics, and more. Here are staff testimonials from these education champions and their experiences as Summer Melt Advisers.

  Testimony from Erik Erickson, Como History/Social Studies Teacher:
  “My work with the Get Ready program this summer revealed the numerous barriers many students face when attempting to start ... Read more

  Testimony from Erik Erickson, Como History/Social Studies Teacher:
  “My work with the Get Ready program this summer revealed the numerous barriers many students face when attempting to start college. It's easy to say, "I'm going to college" and complete applications during senior year but connecting all the dots to make it happen is daunting - especially for first generation college students. From completing and understanding the FAFSA, accessing college online systems to accept grants and aid, to sending in transcripts, to registration for classes, to securing housing, to navigating and making tuition payments; it becomes easier for potential students to do nothing and miss their chance.

  Reaching out to students this summer and letting them know support is available helped countless students stay on track and keep their college dreams alive. The gratitude of our students made the work we were doing rewarding. I was inspired by students who responded with specific questions and concerns - they demonstrated commitment to their educational goals. And knowing they could reach out was the encouragement they needed to persevere through the bureaucracy of getting onto their college campus. I am hopeful that data will reveal a decrease of the traditional "Summer Melt," but regardless of the numbers, I know the effort to assist our students was worth the effort and I appreciate the state's investment to help our scholars "Get Ready" for their academic futures.”

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  Testimony from Jeff Caulum, Como English & ESL Teacher:
  Before working with the Summer Melt initiative this past summer, it had never even occurred to me that students who had ... Read more

  Testimony from Jeff Caulum, Como English & ESL Teacher:
  Before working with the Summer Melt initiative this past summer, it had never even occurred to me that students who had the ability to navigate high school and graduate would be unable to navigate the road to college or career. FAFSA forms, multiple copies of high school and college course transcripts, orientation, registration, communication with college advisors, finding transportation to college, crafting a resume, and more. For those who are the first in their family to attend college, just one of these possible roadblocks can cause these students to simply give up on their plans. Many of them feel uncomfortable asking for help, and don't know where to turn. That is where the Summer Melt initiative steps in.

  I have been taken aback by the appreciation shown by almost every student I contacted. I think once they graduated, they felt Como Park High School was behind them, so our check-ins with them were often just a simple hello, but even in those cases many students mentioned their appreciation for the contact. Those who were stuck and unable to move on to their transition to college or work asked for help and many were able to move on and enroll in college or finish those job applications. This program was surprising, thoughtful, and absolutely necessary. I am so glad to have been able to be a part of it!”

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  Testimony from Annie Strupeck, English & ESL Teacher:
  The Summer Melt Initiative is a great way to connect students with support and resources, to help them achieve their life goals and move ... Read more

  Testimony from Annie Strupeck, English & ESL Teacher:
  The Summer Melt Initiative is a great way to connect students with support and resources, to help them achieve their life goals and move on to their next journey. There are many moving pieces when transitioning from high school to college, and they can be challenging to navigate for some people, especially those who may be 1st-generation college students. For some students who are looking for full-time employment, filling out job applications and interview skills can be daunting. The Summer Melt Initiative is supportive, student-focused, and collaborative. It helps bridge gaps and helps keep young people moving forward. Many students were very appreciative of the reach outs and connections. They were grateful for the offers of support and help. I was honored to be a part of a team that helps young adults transition to their next phase in life.

  Much of this work was supported behind the scenes by Como counselor Kia Thao, who also provided Summer Melt Advising to students. Ms. Thao was instrumental in resolving the students’ needs for high school transcripts, grades, and enrollment verification for their colleges. This typically can be challenge with staffing changes in summer who don’t always have the relationships with the recent graduates. The Summer Melt Advising initiative was administered across other Get Ready schools that included Copper, Fridley, Apollo, Tech, and Hiawatha. ... Show less

   

• Get Ready Recognizes Scholars at Student Success Scholarship Ceremony

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  Inspiration ran high in Brooklyn Center on July 31st as the Heritage Center was flooded with students, faculty, staff, and proud family members for the first annual Get Ready Student Success Scholarship Ceremony. The ceremony celebrated 226 students from thirteen Get Ready outreach and partner schools throughout the state who received a scholarship.

  Festivities began with a social hour, where screens flashed with student quotations on the changes they wanted to make in the world. Get Ready's Program Innovation and Research Manager, Veronica Deenanath, and Director Patrick Milton delivered welcoming remarks, followed by an inspirational keynote speech by Commissioner Dennis Olson, who concluded with a reminder to students: "Be proud of yourself, because your family and community are proud of you."

  Each school was represented with a celebratory opening from their Get Ready Pathways Coordinator or faculty member before scholars were applauded for their achievements. Students were also supplied with professional headshots to support their future career paths.

  Each scholar received awards (ranging from $2,000 to $4,000) to attend a postsecondary education program within the state of Minnesota, as well as wrap-around services such as advising and access to support during their first year. In total, $800,000 was awarded to the 2023 class of Get Ready Student Success Scholars. The impact of this scholarship will boost our students' abilities to pursue their postsecondary pathways and persist.

  "We are so proud of each and every one of you," Deenanath expressed in her speech. "By receiving this scholarship, scholars will have access to a success coach and resources to navigate the first year of their program. We recognize how stressful the first year can be and we want to do our best to fully support you. We will be one phone call, email, and text away on this journey with you. All of you are trailblazer, and I am looking forward to see the legacy that you will leave for the next generation."

  This year, 91% of the Get Ready Scholars are students of color, 65% are first-generation college students, and 100% have demonstrated financial need.

  The Student Success Scholarship is just one way that Get Ready strives to reach our goal of 100% graduation rate and enrollment in a postsecondary program, all while continuously supporting the students and families of Minnesota.

   

• Get Ready Attends Annual NCCEP Conference

  

  In July, the National Council of Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) hosted the 2023 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in San Francisco. This event, known as the largest convening of GEAR UP professionals, attracts over 2,000 attendees from across the country every year, including 11 staff members from Minnesota Get Ready.

  Themed “The Power of Possibility,” the three-day conference featured daily keynote plenaries, 120 concurrent sessions led by industry experts, and special programs for The Parent Leadership Institute and The Youth Leadership Summit.

  “What stood out for me is how strong and committed the GEAR UP community remains,” shared Patrick Milton, Director of Get Ready. “We all struggled to reengage our students, families, staff, and partners over the past few years as the post-pandemic issues challenged us. But, the NCCEP team stepped up to enhance the program by introducing more content experts and inspirational speakers, leaving grantees feeling re-empower to double-down on guiding our students to success!”

  “The NCCEP/GEAR UP Conference was reaffirming and grounding in the work that we do everyday to serve students and the State,” said Jessica Yang, Program Supervisor at Get Ready. “It was great to connect with GEAR UP professionals across the nation and learn from others and share the incredible work we are doing.” When asked about the impact of the event on her perception of Get Ready/GEAR UP, Yang shared, “Get Ready/GEAR UP is a national movement. We’re here to work collaboratively together to serve students.”

  Attending the conference not only provided attendees with newly learned skills and resources, but also offered the benefits of team building and increased motivation. Morgan Barrett, the Executive Assistant at Get Ready commented, “The NCCEP Conference is a great way to connect with coworkers and other GEAR UP professionals. The team comradery and energy of the group feels renewed after returning and we feel ready to move into this next school year to help our students and reach collective goals.”

   

• Matt Kiefer Voted Commencement Speaker by Fridley Senior Class

  

  Matt Kiefer, the dedicated Pathway Coordinator of the Get Ready program at Fridley High School, received a heartfelt honor as the senior Class of 2023 selected him to deliver the staff speech at their commencement ceremony in June. Kiefer's unwavering commitment to the graduates since their freshman year earned him immense appreciation, beautifully expressed by the class emcee, who thanked him on behalf of the entire class for making a lasting impact on their lives.

  In his commencement speech, Kiefer reciprocated his admiration for the students, "This job has afforded me so many great things over the past four years, but the greatest thing I have done is getting to know the students in front of me, the class of 2023. I have watched you grow from awkward freshmen trying to find your place at Fridley High School, to confident seniors ready to take on the world."

  He imparted four invaluable pieces of advice to the graduates as they embarked on their new journey beyond high school. First, to be present - embracing the current moment and cherishing experiences. Second, to invest in those around them, recognizing the value of genuine connections and a supportive community. Third, to be kind - understanding the impact of small acts of kindness in the world. Lastly, he urged them to remember that they deserve to be happy, encouraging the pursuit of passions and fulfillment.

  "I honestly don't know what this school is like without you in it. You all have been the constant in my life during my time here at Fridley High School," Kiefer reflected. "But I can guarantee you one thing: next school year, as I walk the halls, I'll still be smiling because I know you'll be out in the world making it a better place."

  As Kiefer bid farewell to the Class of 2023, his speech left a lasting impression on both the graduates and the audience. His words encapsulated the transformative journey the students had undertaken during their high school years and encouraged them to embrace the future with confidence, kindness, and a commitment to making a positive impact in the world. The Class of 2023 is undoubtedly well-equipped for the next chapter of their lives, thanks to the support and guidance of a remarkable Pathways Coordinator like Matt Kiefer.

  Click here to view Matt's speech and the Fridley High School 2023 Commencement Ceremony.

   

• Minnesota Get Ready Program Pushes to Ensure All Students are Served

  Heidi Paulson is a Get Ready Pathways Coordinator who serves at Apollo High School in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Recently, she had a student approach her with a concern: he was struggling with what to do after graduation. He wanted to attend college, but he didn’t think he’d be able to because of a learning disability.

  Heidi got started by spending some time with the student, discussing his future and going over the results of his interest assessment together. This culminated in the student deciding to explore an HVAC program at a local community college. Heidi took the next steps by working with the college to set up a tour of the program for the two of them. She also arranged for meetings with the Director of TRIO/Upward Bound, an academic college prep program, as well as the college's Accessibility Services and Admissions Counselor. Heidi then helped the student complete the college application and additional paperwork.

  A few weeks later, Heidi received another visit from the student, this time with exciting news - he was accepted into the program and was looking forward to starting the fall after graduation!

  “He told me none of this would have happened without my help and encouragement and the Get Ready program," Heidi said. “He is so happy to have a plan and can see himself doing this career for many years."

• Get Ready Students Visit with Colleges

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  This fall, our Get Ready schools have had great success with college and post-secondary opportunity visits. These visits serve the students by spreading interest in the programs and activities available to them during their journeys after high school, and help determine what college or organization may be the right fit for their future. In addition, students are able to establish an initial point of contact with college or organization officials, ask questions, and acquire key resources. We look forward to the continuation of these events and providing students a firsthand view of all the opportunities they have post-secondary.

  Get Ready would like to thank the following colleges and organizations for their participation: Concordia University, Dunwoody College of Technology, Hamline University, Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps Center, Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center, Minnesota National Guard, Minnesota State University – Mankato, Moorhead State University, Saint Paul College, Southwest Minnesota State University, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud Tech & Community College, St. John’s University Student Ambassadors, The College of St. Scholastica, University of Minnesota – Duluth, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, University of North Dakota, US Army.

  And a big thank you to all who helped with the events and encouraged students to participate!

   

• MnACC College Fair

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  The Minnesota Association of Counselors of Color (MnACC) is a post-secondary collaborative dedicated to improving access to higher education for Minnesota's students of color. Each year, MNACC hosts college fairs at high schools within the Twin Cities metro. Three of Get Ready's schools, Tech High School (St. Cloud), Apollo High School (St. Cloud), and Harding High School (St. Paul), partnered with MnACC for their fall fair circuit this past November, in which each were met with a great turnout. We look forward to partnering with MnACC during their spring circuit where more Get Ready students will be able to explore higher education opportunities!

• Pathways Coordinator Steven Roenfeldt Represents Get Ready

  October is College Knowledge Month and Steven Roenfeldt, Pathways Coordinator at Tech High School, represented Get Ready in an informational video created by St. Cloud Area School District 742. The video highlights all of the programs and opportunities available to students, including access to the Get Ready program and our amazing Pathways Coordinators!

   

  
  

   

• 2022 Rising Senior Summer Success Program

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  Get Ready students from the Class of 2023 were invited to attend the Rising Senior Summer Success Program (RSSSP), which was held on three separate days over the summer.

  The program gave students the opportunity to visit one of three local colleges: St. Paul College, North Hennepin Community College, and St. Cloud Tech and Community College. During the visits, students were able to tour the campus, meet with advisors and subject matter experts, explore college and career options, and attend hands-on workshops that covered topics such as: writing personal essays and statements for college and career applications, introduction to Federal Student Aid and accessing money for college, how to find and apply for scholarships, and utilizing free training programs.

  The students left the program with tools and resources to continue their career and college planning – but not without expressing the positive impact of the program.

  "The tour was really fun," one student expressed. "I liked all of the cool, different classes, and the presentations were enjoyable."

  "All of the presenters did a great job. One thing I learned was during the Searching for Scholarships presentation; scholarships are everywhere, and people will be able to help connect you," another student commented.

  Staff also found the program impactful, "I was inspired by the job shadowing discussion. I will be setting that up for my students. And the career interest survey was fun!"

  Thank you to the colleges and staff for helping make the RSSSP a success, and welcoming Get Ready back for future programs and events. We look forward to these opportunities, and continuing to see our students succeed down their college and career paths.

   

• The National Council of Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP)

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  Last month in our nation’s capital, the National Council of Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) hosted the largest convening yet of GEAR UP professionals at the 2022 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference, an annual event which saw over 2,100 attendees, including 11 Minnesota Get Ready Staff.

  The three-day event included a new member orientation, daily keynote plenaries, and over 120 individual sessions taught by industry experts.

  "It was a great experience attending in person," commented Lisa Thao, Get Ready Pathways Coordinator. "I’ve attended the conference in the past virtually, and as great of an experience as that was, the in-person experience was so much more engaging. It was great to see the 2,000+ GEAR UP professionals. It was a good reminder that we don’t do this work alone, not in our successes nor in our struggles. There are so many programs out there and everyone does it a little differently but our goals are the same, to help our students and that’s a reminder of the hard and yet rewarding career we choose. The conference for me was reaffirming the importance of our work and why we choose to be in this field."

  The conference also included a set of moving presentations by the 2022 Youth Leadership Summit, which was made up of 150 high students from across the country. The students touched on passion topics such as postsecondary education access and affordability, mental health, environmental sustainability, education reform, and gun violence.

  "Hearing from students and parents who have participated in the GEAR UP program reaffirmed for me that what we do as a program does work and is making a difference," said Mai Chue Moua, Get Ready Pathways Coordinator. "To hear about the issues that are important to students such as gun violence and school safety to the value of developmental and life skills taught through GEAR UP workshops have been an incredible insight. Hearing how parents have been empowered through their GEAR UP participation, paired with data showing how 3 hours of family engagement can influence the probability of students to pursue post-secondary education by three or four times is astounding and inspirational."

  "This was a great way to bond with coworkers," shared Morgan Barrett, Get Ready Executive Assistant. "With everyone working from home, it has been difficult to get know my colleagues. I was thankful for that opportunity this conference provided."

  In anticipation of the upcoming school year, the Get Ready team looks forward to using their new connections and resources, in addition to applying the ideas and skills they learned at the conference.

• Como Career & Trade Fair

  The 2022 Como Career & Trade Fair hosted 29 organizations – a diverse mix of businesses, industries, and companies – which provided students with a holistic view at how organizations operate and what kinds of career avenues and students can pursue after high school and college.

  Some organizations and businesses included Best Buy, Metropolitan Mosquito Control, MHealth Fairview, MacDonald & Mack Architects, Ltd., Iron Works 512, small business owners Jen Calero and Gina Watkins from FLUX Studio, and artist Willian Wood from Phresch. Each organization and business were there to share their unique perspectives, and Como Pathway Coordinators noticed many had a constant stream of students visiting their tables.

  The Como Pathway Coordinators were consistently reminded by presenters how much they enjoyed meeting with the Como students, and how thoughtful and engaging the students were with their inquiries. Many of the presenters commented how they look forward to returning to future career fairs. The enthusiasm was not one-sided; the students reciprocated with excitement, and the Coordinators mentioned hearing multiple positive comments from the kids.

  Many thanks to the Como counselors and staff who helped the Coordinators get the word out to both recruit presenters and promote the Career & Trade Fair. In anticipation for next year’s event, the coordinators are already thinking of ways to grow and make this event even better. We look forward to seeing continuing success with the Como Career & Trade Fair!