Starke County Career and College Success Coalition Members Discuss Fall Activities

Posted on September 7, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

Several local organizations are working together to help Starke County residents build successful careers.

Members of the Starke County Career and College Success Coalition met Tuesday to share their plans for the coming months, according to member Shirley Fosler. “The Starke County Youth Club was there,” she says, “and they were talking about how they have homework help and tutoring help, so they can make sure that their students get their work done, so they can reach the goal of passing to the next grade level and graduating. They also have STEM activities, which is a big push now across the State of Indiana, which is science, technology, engineering, and math. That’s the way a lot of the career fields are going, and of course, they have career discussions, as they do different activities with the kids.”

For students thinking about going to college next year, many organizations are offering help with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Fosler says Ancilla College is once again planning FAFSA meetings around the local area, including one at Knox High School on October 4. North Judson-San Pierre High School will also hold a FAFSA night, and Knox United Methodist Church will have a FAFSA workshop for people who need access to computers.

Another big event coming up is the annual Manufacturing Day celebration, hosted by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. This year, seventh graders and high school seniors from around Starke County will take part in the event at Knox Middle School on October 12. A job fair will also take place there October 11 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Fosler says a couple new organizations joined the coalition for the first time Tuesday. The Starke County Adult Learning Center offers free help to people who want to take the TASC, a replacement test for the GED. They also offer resources to those who simply want to improve their math or reading skills to further their careers. Meanwhile, Key Counseling highlighted their efforts to help teenagers and adults make better decisions, leading to better careers.

Fosler says the Starke County Career and College Success Coalition could still use some more help. “We’re always looking for more people to get involved and to do things in Starke County to promote higher education,” she says, “and to get better jobs and careers to better support their family and make a better life for everybody.”

She encourages anyone interested in helping out to call Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation at 574-772-5627.

The Starke County Career and College Success Coalition’s next meeting will take place January 9 at 6:00 p.m. at the Starke County Economic Development Foundation office.

The Starke County Career and College Success Coalition Looking for Community Input

August 21, 2017
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

The Starke County Career and College Success Coalition wants to hear from you during their meeting open to the public on Tuesday, September 5. This coalition focuses on providing the appropriate resources needed to help Starke County residents obtain further education and maintain meaningful careers.

Parents, students, business owners and any enthusiastic individuals geared towards community improvement are asked to speak up and share any ideas that could help the coalition with their goals. Any questions can be directed to coalition member Shirley Fosler at her work number 574-772-1675.

Starke County Career and College Success Coalition Awards Grants to Local Organizations

Posted on June 27, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI 

An organization with the goal of improving Starke County residents’ access to higher education is touting its efforts so far this year. The Starke County Career and College Success Coalition says it’s given over $5,000 in grants to help out some local organizations.

Among those receiving funding is the Starke County Youth Club for its summer career and college programs. Knox High School was provided funding for its Freshman Mentoring Program, as well as its leadership development efforts. The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation also received a grant, which it will use for the development of its band program. The goal is to increase the number of student leaders, raise students’ level of achievement, and provide student mentoring.

Additionally, the Starke County Career and College Success Coalition says it will once again have a booth at the Starke County 4-H Fair next month. Residents will have the opportunity to learn about the coalition itself, as well as get information about college, trade schools, vocational programs, the military, and the 21st Century Scholars program.

1/13/2016 Residents Invited to Starke County Career and College Success Coalition Meeting

January 11, 2016AuthorMichael Gallenberger, WKVI 

The Starke County Career and College Success Coalition will be hosting a meeting this week.

Steering committee member and Knox High School director of guidance Shirley Fosler says it will be an opportunity for local residents to share their ideas about how to give more residents the resources they need to go to college and have successful careers, “Everyone’s invited, and we just need to get some ideas going and some people that are enthusiastic about helping out and making sure people make good choices [that] can lead to a positive career, so that way they can support themselves and their family and have a good future life for their family and their children.”

She says the immediate goal will be to help students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as well as college applications. In the long term, the Starke County Career and College Success Coalition aims to achieve a 25-percent college completion rate by 2025. To help accomplish that, Fosler says they’re working to connect local residents with the resources that are already available, “There’s people out there that want to help our residents and want everyone to be successful in their career, whatever it may be, as well as in college. But some of the people who have questions are not sure how to do that. There’s people who are trying to give guidance and support to everyone, so they can make the best lives possible for themselves and their family.”

However, she says they can always use more help, “We need, of course, business representatives because even businesses in town or in the whole Starke County – and people from outlying areas, too, need to get involved, as well as the government because they can promote things like encouraging students and parents to fill out the FAFSA form and talk about the 529 Savings Plan, encourage employees to do that. So if they get the information, they could possibly pass it on to their employees and even their customers.”

Fosler says this week’s meeting will also include a recap and evaluation of some of the activities in which the Starke County Career and College Success Coalition has already been involved. “The schools support College Go Week in the fall, in which they promote colleges and have different college reps come in and talk to their students,” she says. “Last year at the [Starke County 4-H] fair, we had a table that answered questions. Ivy Tech and IUSB and PNC had tables set up there to answer questions and talk to potential students about their programs and some of the ways they could help the students be successful in those programs. Ancilla College was there, too.” She adds that organizations have also been hosting guest speakers and job training programs. Some have also been setting up job shadowing opportunities for people interested in different careers.

The Starke County Career and College Success Coalition meeting will be held Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Starke County Economic Development Office at 1915 South Heaton Street in Knox.