Right to Read Week 2012 Celebration
This year, I Know I Can will enter over 100 CCS 2nd grade classrooms to have volunteers read its children’s book titled “I Know I Can”. A heart-warming story based on the characters Bonwit Beaver, Roxy Rabbit, Scamper Squirrel and O’Toot the Owl, this book teaches students the importance of dreaming big and working hard, while also showing them the way through the career, skill and interest explorations of the book’s characters.
Published in 1996, I Know I Can still stands as one of the only children’s books to promote the development of a college-going culture among elementary aged students. With over 44,000 books distributed to Columbus City Schools students over the last 16 years, this celebration of National Right To Read Week is one of I Know I Can’s core programs.
Along with the distribution of the book, I Know I Can works to foster a mindset of dreaming big and working hard among students by bringing local celebrities and current college students into their classrooms to read I Know I Can along with talking to students about their college and career experiences. By doing so, I Know I Can and its volunteers can provide students with role models and mentors who provide encouragement and motivation to create goals for their futures.
If you are interested in volunteering this year, Click Here to learn how.
Founders’ Scholarship promises big year
Currently assisting 19 students in reaching their college dreams, the I Know I Can Founders’ Scholarship has become an important award in Columbus City Schools. The Founders’ Scholarship was piloted in 2010, and was developed to address two needs: first, to promote the development of a college-going culture among Columbus City Schools high school students and second to meet the growing gap between the cost of college and the financial capacity of CCS families.
Worth up to $10,000 per year for 4 years, the dollars are applied to a student’s expected out of pocket tuition costs. Students are awarded on both academic and extra-curricular accomplishments in accordance with their demonstrated financial need. In 2011, the scholarship applicant pool doubled from its pilot year, and we are expecting even great turn out in its third.
Recipients are chosen after an arduous selection process that includes internal office review of applications, followed by interviews between the top 15 candidates and the I Know I Can Selection Committee. Once awarded, the students are expected to maintain a certain level of academic achievement throughout their time at the selected college/university to keep the scholarship for all four years.
We are excited to meet the class of 2012, and look forward to the annual celebration held every May. Learn more about the Founders’ Scholarship on the I Know I Can web site.
FAFSA Workshops are underway
I Know I Can’s office is abuzz as it enters another season of FAFSA Workshops. Being offered for over a decade, these workshops are designed to assist students with submitting their FAFSAs in accordance with college and universities’ priority deadlines for applying for Financial Aid, therefore maximizing their potential for state and federal assistance.
This year, I Know I Can is excited to also be offering families four dates that include free tax assistance from trained tax professionals of the The Franklin County Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Coalition – a group started by the United Way of Central Ohio. Completed tax information is required for students to complete their FAFSA, which in turn is required for students to receive their maximum potential of state and federal aid, including the Pell Grant (a federally funded grant worth up to $5,500/year) and the I Know I Can Grant (worth $1,200 per year). The dates when free tax assistance will be available at the workshops are as follows:
- Saturday, February 4, Columbus Downtown High School (364 South Fourth Street) at 9:00 a.m.
- Thursday, February 9, Mifflin High School (3245 Oak Spring Street) at 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 15, Northland High School (1919 Northcliff Drive) at 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 28, West High School (179 South Powell Avenue) at 6:00 p.m.
Workshops will be held on weekday evenings beginning January 28 and continuing through February 28, 2012. Dates also include two Saturday workshop dates. These workshops also offer a great volunteer opportunity for IKIC supporters. By offering these services together, IKIC hopes to make the application and college prep process as seamless and simple as possible.
Filling out the FAFSA can be intimidating, but every year, I Know I Can has nearly 90 volunteers and serves over 500 families! If you are a parent or a student, we invite you to join us as well either at a workshop or by visiting your I Know I Can college advisor.
You may also click here for a detailed 2012 I Know I Can FAFSA Workshop Schedule.
IKIC Grant season has arrived
Every year, I Know I Can awards over 1,000 grants to CCS students who are planning to attend or are currently enrolled full-time at a college or university. Applications will be pouring in betwen now and April 27 from students who need our grant to make college happen. Worth $1,200 each, I Know I Can has awarded over $24 million since its inception in 1988.
Another great bonus to receiving the I Know I Can (Last Dollar) grant is that it opens the door for students to receive Save Smart benefits of up to $2,700 to go towards their college costs. The Save Smart Individual Development Account (IDA) program was piloted in 2010, and has already leveraged over $500,000 for CCS participants.
The I Know I Can Grant has helped over 24,000 students achieve their college dreams by providing them with the financial assistance that made the difference. I Know I Can is proud to continue offering this important financial support to students in addition to its many growing services and programs that also offer vital assistance to students working towards college completion.
Visit www.iknowican.org to learn more about I Know I Can’s services.
I Know I Can to give away 500 BOOKBAGS for CCS students!
Five hundred Columbus City Schools (CCS) students in the New Addition neighborhood and surrounding Linden community will receive free back-to-school book bags, filled with school supplies, due to the generosity of local non-profit organizations: I Know I Can (IKIC) and St. Stephen’s Community House.
The free backpacks are the result of recent events surrounding the Rhodes family in the New Addition neighborhood and their experience with Extreme Makeover Home Edition. In conjunction with the Rhodes family’s appearance on the show, IKIC wanted to offer what help they could by providing the children, CCS students, with back-to-school supplies that include a backpack as well as suggested materials for the students’ different grade levels. IKIC also deposited $500.00 into a 529 College Savings Account for the family to help them begin planning their road to college.
IKIC didn’t stop there. In honor of the Rhodes’ commitment and service to their community, IKIC expanded its gift to 500 backpacks stuffed with important school supplies for any CCS student presiding in the New Addition neighborhood and greater Linden community.
The backpacks will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis on Monday, August 22 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Community House (1500 E. 17th Avenue Columbus, OH 43219). Families must bring proof of their student(s)’ enrollment in a CCS school (i.e. last year’s grade card, back to school newsletter, student ID, etc.).
“With the first day of school quickly approaching, I Know I Can wanted to do their part in helping the families get ready for the big day and felt this was a great way to get involved,” said IKIC Executive Director, Katina Fullen.
Since 1988, I Know I Can has provided students from Columbus City Schools the advice, counsel, and financial support they need to achieve their dreams of earning a college degree. Beginning in elementary school, I Know I Can college advisors and volunteers encourage children to dream big and work hard. For more information about I Know I Can visit www.iknowican.org.
Interest Free Loans you may be interested in
Taking out loans for college is an often necessary, yet painful process for students and families. But there is hope! According to an article posted by the US World and News Report, students looking for interest-free loans may be in luck! What is an interest-free loan? Let’s start with the basics.
When entering college, most students must take out student-loans to cover the gap existing between their financial aid package and the total cost of tuition. Once a student graduates from college, however, it’s only a matter of months before you’re required to begin paying back those loans – and with each repayment comes an extra percentage to cover the Interest. The interest is basically a fee that the loan company charges you for borrowing their money. In the end, this interest may actually double the amount of money you originally borrowed. With interest free loans, however, students are required to pay back ONLY THE MONEY THEY BORROW – no interest ! This is great news for students trying to keep their college costs as low as possible.
While some are specific to geographic regions, the article does specifically point out the Bill Raskob Foundation as a nationwide opportunity. There’s even an opportunity for students interested in studying Civil Engineering at The Ohio State University.
It’s important to explore all of your funding options and understand how they may work for you and your college goals.
How will I ever decide?
Choosing which college to attend can be overwhelming. If you are in your senior year, I know you want to make your decision, but you may be waiting on the financial aid awards from the colleges where you have been accepted to help you and your family figure out how much you will have to pay. But while you are waiting, go back through college websites or printed material that you have been sent to re-familiarize yourself with the school. Ask yourself, what do you like about the school or what don’t you like? Does the school have what you want to study? Have you visited the campus (this is the #1 item that CCS first-year college students wish they would have done earlier)? BTW, spring break would be a perfect time to visit the colleges at the top of your list? When you visit, ask to speak to professors, students, sit-in on a class, visit with a coach and allow time to meet your admission representative.
Add a comment today and let me know what schools you are considering or if you are one of our alumni, where did you attend?
How about some aid with your financial aid?
It’s that time of year when families are filing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), colleges are using the processed FAFSAs to award grants, loans and work study and students are anxiously awaiting their college financial aid awards to see if they will be able to afford the college of their choice. As you are waiting for your financial aid awards, here are some helpful things to remember:
- If you’ve just recently filed your taxes, you may want to go back and review your FAFSA to see if it needs updated. You want to keep your FAFSA as accurate as possible.
- If you missed your college’s FAFSA filing deadline, still file. In most cases, you will still be considered for financial aid, so file your FAFSA today.
- Check with the school to see if they will send you the financial aid award by mail or by email, so you know where to be looking.
- Some colleges and universities may need to verify the information that you reported on your FAFSA before they will send you a financial aid award. Be prepared to submit SIGNED copies of taxes, w-2, institutional forms, etc. Keep copies of everything that you submit.
- Once you get your financial aid awards, see your I Know I Can advisor at your school or your counselor, so they can help you to understand them and figure out how much you will need to pay to attend each college and university.
Remember, the staff of I Know I Can is here to help – just ask!
So many opportunities to help you on the path to college…
It’s a big week for I Know I Can. We will wrap up our annual FAFSA season with three final Financial Aid workshops. The last one will be held at Downtown High School on Saturday 2/26 from 9am-2pm. This final workshop is a really unique opportunity for Columbus City Schools families and new this year. I Know I Can is partnering with IMPACT Community Action to offer both tax assistance and FAFSA assistance for eligible Columbus City Schools families at the same time!
In addition to our FAFSA workshops, nearly 300 families are signed up for our 3rd Blueprint:College 2.0 Session, “Money Matters.”This third session will be held over three nights – Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday at three different locations across town – Wedgewood, Arts Impact and St. Stephen’s Community House in Linden.
What stands out most for me is not how busy we are going to be – but rather – I am stunned by the sheer volume of families that will be impacted by our services. By the end of the week, more than 400 Columbus City Schools families will benefit from I Know I Can’s college readiness programming. Now that’s something to be excited about.
If you are interested in learning more about these workshops, check out our website: www.iknowican.org
