Filed by Christina Cooke
As soon as one student left LeAnn Welch's office at Howard School for Academics and Technology on Monday morning, another arrived. The college adviser said she talks to between 30 and 50 students every day about the process of applying for college and scholarships.
Around 10:15 a.m., Dr. Welch handed letters from a college to three senior football players and talked to them about starting the application process. Don't sit around waiting for a school to snatch you up, she told the young men. You've got to get ahold of applications yourself and send them in, she said.
"Lots of times when we have athletes that are sent these letters, y'all do not apply," she told them. "But colleges can't offer you a dime until you send in an application."
The Community Foundation and several local nonprofit organizations have announced they will pay for a part-time college adviser at each of Hamilton County's high schools. The money will expand the school system's college counseling program from 12 to 16 schools and is aimed at increasing the number of Hamilton County students who continue to college.
Tremaine Hudson, who wants to play sports in college, said talking to Dr. Welch puts him in the college mindset.
"We want to go to college even more. It's on our mind everyday," he said.
E-mail Christina Cooke at ccooke@timesfreepress.com
