With an effort to increase local graduation rates and garner excitement about entering college, On Point is hosting a Graduation Summit this Friday. The event on Friday marks the second Graduation Summit hosted by On Point, and students from Hixson, Central, Tyner, Sequoyah, and Howard High Schools are expected to attend. The summit was planned and executed by On Point’s Teen Advisory Board, a group of 18 area high school students.
Workshops, which were developed based on student preference surveys, include topics ranging from making healthy choices to keep college options open, adequate academic preparation, and securing sufficient funding. Workshops will be provided by several local partners with expertise in youth development, including, Hamilton County Department of Education, UTC, The Community Foundation, YMCA, Girls Inc, and many others.
“The ultimate goal of the graduation summit is to ensure students in our community continue to graduate at rates much higher than the national and state norms,” said Mary Rausch, Community Partnerships coordinator for On Point. “In addition, we want students to be actively involved in their education, so at the summit students will be asked to consider their commitment to graduate and identify any risk factors that could stand in their way.”
The event, which was made possible by SunTrust, will be held on Friday, and will take place on the main campus of Stuart Heights Baptist Church from 9:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.