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Van
Cleve Elementary student Brianna Waldon concentrates while
performing an experiment during the medical
lab technician class at
Edison Community College for the “Kids To College” program Friday, Dec.
2, 2011.
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Edison Community
College Brings “Kids To College”
More than 350 students and teachers from Van Cleve Elementary School in
Troy spent the day Friday attending classes and learning real world
financial responsibility at Edison Community College for the “Kids To
College” Program.
This is the fifth year for the program at Edison, which provides
students with a curriculum that focuses on financial literacy, careers
and the value of an education beyond high school. Initial sessions are
held at Van Cleve in the weeks leading up to the event to help prepare
students for a simulation that requires them to make consumer
decisions, pay bills and balance a checkbook.
“This has been a wonderful collaboration between the college, our
school and the community,” said Linda Bozick, counselor for Van Cleve
Elementary. “It’s a real motivator for students to understand the
importance of continuing their education.”
The program is a joint venture with the Ohio State Extension Office and
is funded by the Troy Foundation.
Students attending the program get to spend time in the classroom
learning from Edison faculty and staff members on a variety of topics
ranging from nursing and marketing to crime scene investigation and
physical therapy.
“I really liked getting to meet all the people that work here and go
through the classes,” said Sophie Smith. “I really liked the nursing
class. They had a robot mannequin patient that was talking and
everything.”
Student Shelby Tucker had the opportunity to learn that it’s not always
easy to balance a life of work, fun and family in the real-life
simulation that was held in-between classes in the Edison gymnasium.
“It was really fun getting to pick out all the different things,” said
Tucker. “But I learned that it’s not easy to pay for all those things
you need, like housing.”
In addition to attending sessions and the simulations, students had the
opportunity to spend time and interact with Edison faculty and staff in
the cafeteria during lunch.
“We are thrilled to be able to host the Kids to College event at Edison
again this year. The sixth graders were actively engaged in the
experience and all had a great time as they learned about college,
career and financial awareness,” said Maggie Sykes, Dean of Student
Success at Edison and coordinator of the program. “It is an honor to
partner with the faculty and staff at Van Cleve and appreciate the
support from the Troy Foundation.”
As the day’s events concluded, students filed for the buses to return
to Van Cleve to finish out the school day. One girl, sounding
exasperated as she passed by in the crowd, said to her friend, “Boy, am
I glad we did this today. I had no idea how expensive life was!”
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Van
Cleve Elementary students Nick Rodriguez and Jacob Woddell operate
a
robot during Edison Community College’s “Kids To College” program
Friday, Dec. 2, 2011.
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Van
Cleve Elementary student Brian Joins ties a band around the arm of
Heather Young, director of
medical assisting for Edison at the
college’s “Kids To College” program Friday, Dec. 2, 2011.
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Volunteer
Cheryl Cottner works with Van Cleve Elementary student Caleb
McDaniel during the simulation
portion of the “Kids To College” program
at Edison Community College Friday, Dec. 2, 2011.
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