DEF Holds High School Guidance Counselors Roundtable

The Delmarva Education Foundation will hold its second High School Guidance Counselors Roundtable on Friday, October 26, 2012 at the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore in Salisbury. All high school guidance counselors on the lower Delmarva Peninsula are invited to participate in this unique event. There is no charge to attend; and guidance counselors should come prepared to share and learn from their colleagues.  The morning will start with refreshments and presentations on resources available to guidance counselors and their college-bound students. DEF staff will give a brief overview of the organization’s online scholarship database and other services that it provides.  B.J. Summers, from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, and Richard Gentsch, from the Delaware Community Foundation, will each provide insight on the scholarship application process for the scholarships that their respective organizations administer. Lisa Purnell, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore liaison for the USDA/1890 Scholarship Program will discuss the scope of that valuable scholarship opportunity, and Eileen Cross, youth program supervisor, will discuss the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance.  The majority of the day will be a sharing and networking session for counselors, facilitated by Dr. Lynn Wiljanen of Wor-Wic Community College. The session will focus on best practices used in schools in the region to help students prepare for higher education. Lunch will be provided, along with ample networking time. Guidance counselors are welcome to include topics of discussion along with their RSVP for the event. Interested guidance counselors should RSVP to DEF at 410-219-3336 by Oct. 18.   DEF is a nonprofit organization that helps residents of Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset counties find money to continue their education. For more than a decade, DEF’s trained college access advisors have provided assistance to individuals, families and groups on a wide range of topics relating to post-secondary education. DEF maintains two free, online, searchable databases to assist the community; one describes educational opportunities, while the other helps students find funding to pursue their field of choice. Through its College Access Program, DEF provides one-on-one and group advising at its office in Salisbury, via its website, over the phone, in schools and in the community. Through special events, such as the DEF Scholarship Fair and the Counselors Roundtable, DEF provides opportunities for stakeholders to explore best practices, make connections, develop new ideas and find solutions that support the organization’s mission.