Choctaw County awarded an ARC-HEI grant for schools

High school students at Ackerman High School and Weir High School will now have more information available to them about colleges and why they should continue their education.

Choctaw County has been awarded a $10,000 Access to Higher Education grant that will help local students better plan and prepare to attend a college or university.

Alan Bates, executive director of Choctaw County Economic Development Foundation, said the "goal is to have a higher percentage of students to go to college."

A committee was formed to decide how to encourage AHS and WHS students to attend college. The committee wants to implement programs in grades 9-12 to "drive home the idea that college is not a luxury, but rather a necessary step on his/her path to a successful career and a financially sound life."

They will begin two major projects. The first is campus visits to area colleges.

"Visits would include all students 9-12. Food, transportation, and substitute teacher pay will be our main expenses for these visits," stated the committee's project summary.

The second major project is an ACT Registration and Workshop.

They also plan to get the community active in the schools for further projects such as peer support projects, a College Week, ACT preparation workshop, job shadowing, and financial aid workshop.

Committee members are Amber Vowell, AHS; Terry Bellew, Principal AHS; Anthony McGee, Principal WAC; Carl Phelps, Delta Telephone; and Walter Simpson, North American Coal.

The grants are a partnership between Mississippi State and the Appalachian Regional Commission, MS-HEI developed from a $339,000 ARC grant secured by Michael J. "Mike" McGrevey, the university's vice president for finance and administration. Julie Jordan directs the program.

"There are two keys to the success and sustainability of any Access to Higher Education project," Jordan said.

"First is the enthusiastic commitment of the community team; second is the full support of school principals, counselors, teachers, coaches, band directors, choir directors, and everyone else working with the students at the school."