Ever wonder how schools and community-based organizations participate in DiscoverU Week? David Inglish of the Accelerator YMCA shares about an event during DiscoverU Week 2019 in partnership with New Start High School, Seattle Education Access, and King County Employment and Education Services.
Thanks to DiscoverU’s help in providing the grant for our Lead Your Community Day event, the financial aid presentation to New Start High School was a major success. In total, more than 30 students attended the event. Supporters mentioned this event had the highest attendee rate of any other event on campus. Through the support of the mini-grant, staff were able to provide students with food, drinks, and prizes.
Staff also invited community partner Seattle Education Access to give a presentation on financial aid and pathways to college, giving an introduction to financial aid engaged students. The high attendance rate was attributed to the help of the leadership marketing class students who spread the word and created posters and flyers.
The students asked many detailed follow-up questions and expressed interest in postsecondary education. Through this event, Seattle Education Access and the community partners were asked to do another event to support the open house that happened later in the month where there was an opportunity for families to get help to sign their children up for financial aid. About seven families attended the follow-up event. Staff are grateful for the opportunity to hold this event and are excited for how to continue to support the growth of the students in leading their community and improving outcomes.