“What are you going to do after high school?”
It’s a question we have all had to answer at some point in our lives and one that we probably ask others more than we realize. As students wrap up their K-12 educational journeys, there are a lot of options out there, and it’s hard to find all of them without some help. Thankfully for students at GFW High School, there are staff members who keep an eye out for resources and make valuable connections.
GFW Public Schools believes “career and college ready” means a student has the knowledge, skills, and competencies to successfully pursue a degree, diploma, certificate, or industry recognized credential and employment.
Career Awareness and Readiness
Knowing what kind of jobs and careers are out there is a huge part of planning for your future. Students at GFW have more resources than ever before to explore different career options, earn valuable skills, and even learn on the job.
Through the Academies and Pathways, teachers are bringing hands-on learning, career exploration, and real-world experiences directly into the classroom. For Dave Sellner’s construction classes, that means building a sleeper cabin for Renville County and rebuilding a deck at Peichels’ Hill outside of Fairfax to see not only what materials are used, but partnering with local organizations and contributing to the community.
For students planning to enter the workforce after high school, GFW offers work-based learning opportunities for students to gain work experience before graduation. During work-based learning, students take a career interest assessment, which provides them with three to five potential career options based on their responses. Students then have an opportunity to research these careers and identify which career they would like to pursue after high school.
The CTE team is also preparing for the next career and college fair that will connect students with local and regional employers who will connect with students not only about what kind of jobs they offer, but what skills they are looking for.
Higher Education is Within Reach
For students looking to move into a post-secondary education, Dean of Students Staci Wood is a valuable resource. She connects with students on programs like Direct Admissions, local and national scholarship opportunities and more.
Applying for colleges can be daunting, but Ms. Wood provides personalized support to help students navigate the process. By meeting with students in September or early October, she ensures they can take full advantage of College Knowledge Month when all 26 Minnesota state colleges and seven universities waive application fees and essay requirements.
Many GFW students already have accounts set up with the MN State system thanks to College Now courses, streamlining the process even further. For first-time applicants, Ms. Woods guides them through completing their first institution application, showing them how the application auto-saves and makes it easy to apply to additional college in our MN State system.
October was also a key month for the Direct Admissions Program, where seniors who are on track to graduate were informed that they have already met the admissions criteria for many Minnesota colleges and universities. Students could choose to apply with confidence to one or more of the colleges they met the criteria for, knowing they would automatically be granted admissions.
GFW Scholarship Program Stands Out From the Rest
The GFW community has a long history of supporting students with scholarships. The district website houses a database of local, regional, and national scholarships sorted by due date that are accessible to GFW students. Local scholarships typically come full speed at the start of the new year with many being announced and posted. Ms. Wood works with organizations and students to make sure everyone takes advantage of every opportunity.
“We have an amazing partnership in Dollars for Scholars in GFW,” said Wood. “We are coordinating with them to have another presentation about scholarships to students this year because it was such a huge help last year.”
By bringing these opportunities directly to students and encouraging them to start early, GFW is setting a high standard in growing future world class leaders.