City, LSUA, CLTCC Partner to Host READY EXPO April 22
Program designed to get local students college ready and career focused
Alexandria, La. (April 14, 2021) — The City of Alexandria, Louisiana State University of Alexandria, Central Louisiana Technical Community College and the Louisiana Workforce Commission will present READY EXPO from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at the Youth and Teen Center located at 1801 Sylvester St.
Per COVID-19 public safety guidance, attendees are asked to wear face masks and maintain proper distancing while inside the Youth & Teen Center.
READY (Reaching Excellence And Developing Yourself) EXPO is designed to help parents and high school students as well as recent high school graduates get information about enrollment, financial aid, learn about college life and explore various career paths. Onsite assistance will be available to help with completion of the FAFSA financial aid form. Organizers stress the program helps students become college ready and career focused.
“Education is the key to individual improvement,” said Alexandria Mayor Jeffrey W. Hall. “We are fortunate to have a number of great resources available locally for residents to expand on their education, and we are pleased to partner with our friends at LSUA, CLTCC and the Workforce Commission to present this informational program to educate students and parents about the options available and how to make the most of them.”
“We are excited to partner with the City of Alexandria. The READY EXPO will provide high school students, and their families, with information on why higher education is so important to their future and also equip them with the immediate steps they can take now to prepare for the application and enrollment process,” said Dr. Abbey Bain, vice chancellor of student engagement at LSUA. “We will also share tips on how to be successful in college. Of course, we hope attendees consider LSUA, but the purpose is to break down the steps to attend college and answer questions. We hope to have a big turnout, and you can expect additional collaborations in the future.”
Heather Poole, executive vice chancellor at CLTCC, noted technical community colleges are something of a new concept for many families. That is one reason why it is important for parents and students to learn about the various options, which can include credentials that just take a few months to earn to degrees that can take years. “The choice to go to college is more than a decision, it is a process,” Poole said. “Many people don’t have a clear understanding of that process, which is why events like READY EXPO are important to families to help identify a clear path to post-secondary education.”
Contact:
Jim Smilie
Communications
318.449.5038 (Office)
318.730.1683 (Cell)
jim.smilie@cityofalex.com
