OSAC Headlines
Oregon Promise Grant Application Open
The Oregon Promise Grant is open! The Oregon Promise Grant (OPG) is a state grant that helps cover tuition costs at any Oregon community college. To apply, students must complete an application during their senior year of high school or immediately after GED® completion.
- GED® students who will graduate between October 1, 2021, and February 28, 2022 – apply by MARCH 10
- GED® students who will graduate between March 1 – June 30 apply by JULY 10
- High school and GED® students who will graduate between March 1, 2022, and June 30, 2022 – apply by JUNE 1
Learn more about the Oregon Promise Grant.
PARTNER NEWS: Oregon College Savings Plan
The Oregon College Savings Plan, administered by the Oregon State Treasury, is designed to help people save for education no matter their budget or timeline. It is a state-sponsored 529 plan that can be opened by just about anyone- parents, family, friends, and future students. The money saved in the Oregon College Savings Plan can be used for qualified educational expenses like tuition, books, room and board, and more. Watch this video to learn more.
Get To Know a Different Side of ASPIRE
When you think of ASPIRE you likely think of high schools, but did you know that many middle schools are also ASPIRE sites? Here’s what one middle school had to say about being a part of ASPIRE, “I want middle schoolers to have mentor and volunteer connections." If you are interested in starting an ASPIRE Middle School program contact us to today. Learn more about ASPIRE.
Financial Aid in Lincoln City
Last month OSAC staff members facilitated student and family events at Taft HS in Lincoln City. The goal of this event was to help the community learn more about financial aid resources. If this student quote is any indication, we say the event was a success. A student at Taft HS writes, “tonight was beneficial to my parents and I because we got to ask in-person questions about applying for scholarships and grants. It was very insightful, and I now have a better understanding of where to go in terms of applying from here.” Remember you can request an OSAC presentation for your school or organization.
ASPIRE Success in St. Helens
Building Public Utilities District Partnerships for Volunteer Support
Looking to power-up your community partnerships? If so, then it might pay to think outside the box. When St. Helens High School was looking for a few more volunteers for their ASPIRE program, they turned to their local Chamber of Commerce. “The relationship started through a Coffee and Commerce event through our local Chamber a few years ago,” explains ASPIRE Coordinator Carissa Chism. The Coffee and Commerce event was a networking event designed to promote upcoming events and local needs like volunteer opportunities. This event is where Carissa met a contact from the Columbia River Public Utilities District.
Volunteer Management Tips
Here are some helpful volunteer recruitment and management tips
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Always Be Recruiting- Volunteer recruitment can happen anywhere, keep volunteer packets or recruitment information on hand.
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Mentor Recruitment Messages- An effective recruitment message must appeal to the person’s motivation for volunteering, as well as anticipate any questions.
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Matching Mentors- If you know what your students are interested in, then you can match mentors to those interests or recruit new mentors to meet that need.
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Communicate Clearly- When recruiting new mentors be clear about what the application, review, background check, and orientation process is for new volunteers.
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Monitor the Match- Check-in with your mentors, address any concerns and offer additional resources and feedback if appropriate.
For more Volunteer Management Tips check out the volunteer management section of the ASPIRE website
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Over time and despite the challenges caused by COVID a successful partnership formed between St. Helens High School and The Columbia River Public Utilities District. Currently the PUD supplies two volunteers with plans for more to join. Volunteers share information about a variety of technical careers within the public utility industry and offer information about other career learning experiences. Carissa Chism ASPIRE Coordinator St Helens High School, said, "I feel the best success that has come out of this is that one of the PUD volunteers was able to get a ton of info to their student about local internships and that student has already applied!” .
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