When the leaves start to develop a goldish tint and the crisp air has you reaching for your hoodie each morning, you know that fall has arrived in Colorado. And with the start of the new season also comes a renewed focus on preparing for success after high school. October is College and Career Success Month and all Aurora Public Schools (APS) students have a wonderful resource to help them develop their post-secondary plans.
Since the 2014-15 school year, APS and the APS Foundation have partnered to open College and Career Centers (CCCs) at the district's high schools. All seven high schools now feature a center which provides a welcoming environment for students to discover and implement college and career options. Through the 2021-22 school year, these centers have served almost 17,000 students and helped them secure more than $139 million in scholarship funds!
Jordan Bills is the Coordinator for the CCCs at Aurora West College Preparatory Academy, APS Avenues and William Smith High School. She is urging her students to start filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which becomes available in October. She said starting early is the key to success for financial aid, applying to college or seeking a different path through a business internship or the military.
"I encourage students to talk about what they want to do and their aspirations as much as possible because I think the more we talk about it and we create conversations, we're also creating opportunities," Bills said.
Bills emphasizes that the centers are there to help students pursue their ambitions no matter where their dreams may lead. "College is a great path, but it's not the only path," Bills said. "It just has to be thinking about your future. The sooner we can start that conversation, the sooner we can start planning and manifesting these great things for kids."