110 college bound high school students from Lanphier High School, Springfield High School, Springfield Southeast High School and Springfield Learning Academy who represented populations that historically have been disadvantaged and underrepresented in higher education attended the 4th annual College Prep Summit at LLCC March 3 hosted by the LLCC Office of Retention and Student Success. The event was designed to help these students become more aware of how to prepare for college and to inspire them to take on the mindset of college success.
The program included a motivational message from Tess Dooley, J.D. a faculty member and administrator at the University of Illinois, Springfield, who inspired the students with a message of resilience. She shared how she had overcome the many challenges in her life including poverty, murder, racism, anger and a lack of support to realize success becoming a vice president for a large insurance brokerage firm through her college education. She encouraged the students to support one another and to thank anyone who has said that they won’t be successful because they can use that as motivation, fueling them to even greater success.
Students also experienced special sessions from college experts on topics such as the financial impact of college, finding your path, and personal growth in a diverse atmosphere. Participants toured the state of the art Workforce Career Center and became aware of the enrollment process and support available through the student services center in Menard Hall. A panel of college students from local colleges and universities with similar backgrounds fielded questions and shared tips about how they successfully transitioned to college and have experienced academic success. Participants also enjoyed lunch and a drawing for door prizes. The event was a collaborative effort, which included presenters from Illinois College, University of Illinois – Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
In all, the summit was a success. Browsing over the evaluations, participants indicated that the intended learning outcomes were achieved. We plan to review this year’s event and continue collaborating with others to inspire, equip and empower prospective college students for postsecondary success.