Grant Focuses on Freshman Transition into High School as Starting Point for Future Planning

HIAWATHA, IOWA (January 15, 2015) — The Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) has been awarded a grant from Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation’s Linn County Fund. The grant will support college and career readiness programming for rural Linn County freshmen as they transition into high school.

The Freshman Transitions Project will help provide incoming freshmen with career and college planning as it pertains to high school four-year plans and life after high school. The program will coordinate with the school counseling offices in high schools in the rural Linn County, ensuring that incoming freshman students and parents understand the importance of each year of high school as it fits into an overall career and college plan. With services provided through ICAN, the Project will serve approximately 10,000 individuals including: students, parents, and educators through a partnership with the counseling offices of Iowa’s high schools.

“ICAN programs are unique in the respect that ICAN experts travel to each community, providing face-to-face presentations and one-on-one advice to students and parents in the communities in which they reside,” explained Shea Stamp, ICAN student success advisor in the Hiawatha ICAN center. “This grant enables that interaction to happen without requiring families to travel into Cedar Rapids for professional advice. For some families traveling for assistance isn’t possible and the Linn County Fund grant allows ICAN to continue serving these families where they live.”

In an effort to empower students with the understanding that higher education is accessible to everyone, the College Access Resource Project is part of a wider effort by ICAN to reach every middle- and high school student in Iowa to better prepare students for college and the workforce. According to Complete College America, more than 60 percent of Iowa jobs will require a college education by 2020.

“Education and training beyond high school is a necessity for long-term success in the ever-changing job market,” explained Rob Miller, ICAN executive director. “This grant enables ICAN to continue meeting the needs of Iowa students.”

ICAN, a nonprofit organization providing career and college readiness planning to students and parents in Iowa, has been educating and empowering Iowa’s future workforce since 1998.

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About ICAN
The Iowa College Access Network is a nonprofit, educational organization. ICAN is the College Access Network for Iowa, and a member of the National College Access Network (NCAN). ICAN has eight locations in Ankeny, Cedar Rapids/Hiawatha, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Orange City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo, which provide information and support to students and their families as they plan their postsecondary education and apply for financial aid. All ICAN programs and services are provided without charge. For more information about ICAN, call (877) 272-4692 or visit www.ICANsucceed.org

About Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation improves the quality of life for all by promoting charitable giving, connecting donors to the causes they care about, strengthening nonprofits through grants and support, and providing leadership on community issues that involve charitable giving. To learn more visit www.gcrcf.org.