Shanell Watson, Program Officer with the Woodward Hines Education Foundation, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson during its April 12, 2022 meeting. Woodward Hines's mission is to help more Mississippians obtain postsecondary credentials, college certificates, and degrees that lead to meaningful employment. According to Watson, WHEF’s flagship program is Get2College, a boots-on-the-ground college planning program that provides free college counseling to any person in Mississippi who requests it. Get2College works directly with students and families to remove barriers to college attendance and support a college-going culture—a culture in which Mississippi students expect to go to college and receive the help they need to get there. Three Get2College centers in Southaven, Jackson, and Ocean Springs offer one-on-one college counseling and planning services for students and families, including career counseling, free ACT prep, and hands-on assistance in completing forms and securing financial aid. 74% of students who visit are low-income, first generation college students or students of color—students who have historically been underrepresented in college or who have completed college at a lower rate. Here is the link to the meeting video https://vimeo.com/699560022. Shown in photo below from left, club member Lynette Suttlar, Watson, club director Bill Osborne and club director Lori Greer.
