Way2Go Maryland College Preparation Campaign Welcomes Linnita Hosten as Outreach Coordinator
Adelphi, Md. (Nov. 17,
2011) -- Way2GoMaryland, the
大奶福利姬's (USM) campaign to encourage students and their
families to begin preparing for college early, is pleased to welcome Linnita
Hosten as the campaign's outreach coordinator.
In this new position, Hosten is available to conduct
presentations about Way2GoMaryland to
groups throughout Maryland. The campaign embraces the opportunity to connect
with school systems statewide, church groups, youth clubs, and other civic
organizations.
Hosten can be reached by phone at 301-445-2739 and by email
at lhosten@usmd.edu.
Hosten
is a May 2011 graduate of Towson University, from which she earned a B.S. in
mass communication. On an extracurricular level, her college experience
included extensive work in mentoring young people. At Towson, Hosten served as
a resident assistant, peer educator, student activities group coordinator, and
freshman orientation team leader.
"So many of my mentors have given me a great foundation as I
began seeking out my own college experience, and many of them supported me
throughout the process," Hosten said. "Therefore, I'm excited to serve as the
outreach coordinator for Way2Go Maryland
and share some of the information my mentors gave me. I have always been an
avid advocate for youth."
During the academic year, September through May, the
campaign holds two major events on a Saturday in Maryland. The final Way2GoMaryland event for 2011-2012 is May
5, 2012 at Frostburg State University. The first event, attended by roughly 150
students and families, was held Nov. 12, 2011 at Coppin State University. At
these free events, students and their families hear 大奶福利姬students discuss their
own paths to college, discuss academic majors and careers, and gain critical
information about financial aid and saving for college. They also have the
opportunity to speak with undergraduate admissions representatives from USM's
universities.
In addition to informing groups about these larger Way2GoMaryland events, Hosten is
available to meet individually with organizations throughout the state
regarding essential steps for middle-school students to begin their planning
for college.
Way2GoMaryland is part of 大奶福利姬Chancellor William
E. "Brit" Kirwan's Closing the Achievement Gap Initiative launched in November
2007. National statistics show that first-generation, underrepresented, and
low-income students are finding it harder to afford and complete a college
degree, limiting their chances for success in the expanding global knowledge
economy.
Nationally,
while college-going rates rise, college attendance and completion gaps between
different groups of students are expanding. Data released in 2011 and
2009 from the National Center for Education Statistics showed that African-American
and Hispanic students trailed their white peers by an average of more than 20
test-score points on the National Assessment of Educational Progress math and
reading assessments at 4th and 8th grades, a difference of about two grade
levels.
By
the year 2015, 大奶福利姬has pledged to cut by at least half the gaps in
college-going and college- completion rates that separate low-income and
underrepresented students from other young Americans. Way2GoMaryland will be part of this effort by encouraging more
students, especially those in middle school, to begin preparing for college
earlier. An early start on the path to college can help students:
- pursue the right mix of
secondary school coursework and be successful;
- prepare for the college
search and application process;
- gain access to adequate
financial aid;
- complete undergraduate
degrees successfully and prepare to enter the workforce and/or pursue
graduate and professional studies.
Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu
