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Elizabeth Keest Sedrel
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South Tama High School honored for college application efforts
South Tama High School has earned national recognition for its efforts to increase the number of students applying for college, especially those who will be first-generation college students and those from lower-income families.
South Tama was named a 2019 School of Excellence by the American College Application Campaign, recognizing the school’s “commitment to student success, and serving as an exemplary model for their state’s application campaign.”
Iowa College Aid, which administers Iowa’s College Application Campaign, nominated South Tama because of its well-organized and highly successful 2019 campaign. The school had 103 seniors participate, and 91 percent of them completed at least one college application.
“As Iowa works toward its Future Ready Iowa goal of 70 percent of the workforce having education beyond high school by 2025, South Tama High School is leading the way with its efforts to raise college application rates,” said Dr. Mark Wiederspan, Executive Director of Iowa College Aid. “By continuing their education, these students position themselves, their communities, and the entire state for long-term success.”
During the 2019 American College Application Campaign:
- Nearly 7,300 high schools, including 103 in Iowa, hosted an event.
- More than 763,400 seniors, including 2,269 in Iowa, submitted at least one college application.
- More than 1.2 million college applications were submitted, including 8,657 in Iowa.
“Congratulations to South Tama High School for its vision and leadership,” said Melissa Caperton, Director of the American College Application Campaign. “You’ve led the way in your community, your state, and your nation. We are thrilled to take this moment to recognize your impactful work.”
The 2020 College Application Campaign will kick off with #WhyApply Day on Friday, September 18.
The American College Application Campaign is a national initiative designed to increase the number of first-generation college students and students from low-income families who pursue a postsecondary degree. Iowa College Aid is the state agency that administers state-funded financial aid programs and college access and success programs, including Course to College, of which the Iowa College Application Campaign is a component. Learn more at IowaCollegeAid.gov/CourseToCollege.
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