It’s Muhlenberg Goes to College Month

Muhlenberg Achieves helps students apply for college at new College & Career Center at MCHS.

It’s officially Muhlenberg Goes to College Month, and Muhlenberg Achieves is working with students at Muhlenberg County High School to register for college with a series of events and workshops. The goal is to help every senior submit at least one college application.

Started in 2017, Muhlenberg Goes to College Month aligns with the opening date of FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), the National College Application Campaign and early decision deadlines for many colleges, which happens on Nov. 1, 2021.

Program coordinators Lisa Greene and Rachel Evitts are passionate about helping others achieve their college and career goals. They have recently created a College and Career Center at Muhlenberg County High School, where they can actively help students enroll for college and apply for scholarships.

“We’re really focusing on how the word ‘college’ has changed,” Greene said. While attending college used to mean going to a university for a four-year degree, that has changed significantly in recent years to encompass career and technical degrees and certificates. “The idea of college has changed so much and evolved so much that almost everybody has some kind of college education they need. It might be that you go to beauty college for a cosmetology license, or a certification program for welding.”

Greene said with the wide range of certification available, her goal is to help students get some experience with filling out applications.

A converted computer lab at MCHS offers Greene and Evitts a place where students can come and have one-on-one help with all sorts of college and career applications.

“We are very excited to be able to dedicate a learning lab area to Muhlenberg Achieves” said MCHS principal Donna Bumps. “I think this will help our students to feel more comfortable with completing the FASFA as well as provide additional opportunities to search for scholarships. We are thankful for the Martin Foundation to provide this program to our high school students.”

“My goal is to have every senior do at least one application,” Greene said. “Even the students who have no plans of going to post-secondary of any kind, I would love for them to at least apply to Madisonville Community College so they have the experience of completing a college application.”

While Muhlenberg Achieves works to help anyone in the community with post-secondary educational goals, the month of October is a time to focus on high school seniors. They have planned a month filled with activities, incentives and opportunities. A classroom door decorating contest, college spirit week, campus visits and workshops will provide seniors and their parents with hands-on help.

There will be an opportunity to meet with college recruiters on Oct. 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Sue & Brown Badgett Center at Muhlenberg County Park. This event will be open to the public, for anyone who is interested in information about college and career opportunities. There will be representatives from several universities, as well as career recruiters with information on how to apply for a commercial drivers license, or enroll in a new diesel mechanics program offered by Madisonville Community College.

Money for Mustangs is an event planned for Oct. 29, with FAFSA experts on hand to assist parents and students with completing the form.

Lending parents a hand with FAFSA applications is something Greene and Evitts are happy to do. A somewhat daunting form, the FAFSA isn’t just for those seeking federal grants for college. In order to be eligible for most scholarships, as well as student loans, a current FAFSA application must be completed. And they are somewhat time sensitive, with many offers on a first-come, first-served basis.

“The FAFSA workshops are open to students and parents, but they can also call me,” said Greene. She will set up appointments to help with this and answer any other questions parents might have with FAFSA or college applications. Her phone number is 270-977-9274 and she can be reached by email at muhlenberg.achieves@muhlenberg.kyschools.org