McMinnville High School (MHS) has been designated a “School of Excellence” by the ACT Center for Equity in Learning for its efforts in a national campaign to increase the number of first-generation college students and students from low-income families pursuing a college degree or other higher education credential.MHS was nominated for the honor by the Oregon Goes to College statewide initiative of the Oregon GEAR Up program.
“Each participating state has the opportunity to nominate a school for this national award, and we were thrilled to nominate McMinnville High School,” said Adrienne Enriquez, program manager for Oregon GEAR UP.
“Award winners are exemplars, demonstrating a commitment to college access for all students,” she said. “In this especially difficult year, we were impressed by the creative efforts to assist McMinnville students with making a plan for education beyond high school.”
Enriquez also commended MHS Career Center staff (pictured) Esther Lipke and María Sandoval Pérez for sharing their ideas and strategies with colleagues across Oregon, “ensuring that their impact has reached beyond the walls of McMinnville High School.”
Strategies included a new monthly newsletter for parents, using Google voice to text students and connect to help them move forward with plans, and pre-recorded presentations followed by live Q&A sessions.
Many of the usual activities of the Success Center were adapted virtually, such as the College & Career Fair, college and career application workshops, financial aid and admission workshops, weekly workshops with individualized assistance, and visits with colleges, the military and trade schools.
The American College Application Campaign® (ACAC), which is part of ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning, selected the School of Excellence award recipients based on their demonstrated commitment to student success for serving as an exemplary model for their state’s application campaign and timely submission of student application data.
ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning focuses on closing gaps in equity, opportunity, and achievement for underserved populations and working learners. Through purposeful investments, employee engagement, and thoughtful advocacy efforts, the Center supports innovative partnerships, actionable research, initiatives, campaigns, and programs to further ACT’s mission of helping people achieve education and workplace success.