Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences consultant for College and Career Development Dr. Margaret M. Smith, of Signal Mountain, holds her 2011 Counselors that Change Lives Award presented to her by Colleges that Change Lives Inc.
Photo by Katie WardAs the consultant for college and career development at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, Signal Mountain resident Dr. Margaret M. Smith spends her days helping prepare students for success. But right now she is celebrating a personal success, that of receiving the 2011 Counselors that Change Lives Award presented by Colleges that Change Lives Inc.
“I was shocked to win the award,” said Smith. “Ned Frazer [associate director of admission] from Centre College nominated me. I was extremely flattered. He nominated me based on my professional qualifications. It was a wonderful compliment.”
Smith is in the process of planning tours of 32 colleges for 110 junior students at CSAS. She will help students familiarize themselves with the variety of schools available, their libraries, facilities and dorm rooms. Students will tour colleges in Georgia, South Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina.
“It’s wonderful to help students think ‘wow, where can I go to school,'” said Smith. “[CSAS has] been preparing students for college since 1991. That’s why CSAS has the highest college rate in Hamilton County schools. We have 95 to 98 percent college-bound seniors. We processed more than 400 applications to colleges last year for CSAS students. More than 100 schools were considered by our students.”
She said CSAS is a school of choice open to all students that focuses on college readiness and encourages students to set goals.