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Small-town students can be overlooked. Colleges are now looking their way.

Christian Science Monitor

Rural students face unique challenges when it comes to enrolling in college.

Pilot in Arkansas will guide rural high schoolers to living wage

Axios

rootEd Arkansas is now live for the 2024-25 school year. rootEd Arkansas was launched in partnership with think-and-do tank Heartland Forward and the Arkansas Department of Education.

31 Rural Missouri Students Receive Scholarships for College from National Nonprofit

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis

In partnership with rootEd Alliance, the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis has announced the 31 recipients of the rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship and the rootEd Community College Transfer Scholarship. Both are are “last dollar,” which means they are intended to fill a student’s unmet financial need based on their full cost of attendance after other sources of financial aid are taken into account.

'Setting us up for success': rootEd Missouri supports Hallsville students

Columbia Missourian

“I feel like a lot of students… think there’s only a couple options of things to do after high school,” says Lydia Kallenbach, a senior at Hallsville High School in Missouri. “I feel like [my rootEd advisor Rachel Sides] makes you realize that there’s a lot more options than just what you have heard of.”

Paving a path to WashU for rural students

The Source, Washington University in St. Louis

“A lot of our students don’t want to go far away, or they really worry about cost,” said Mary Worthington, a rootEd advisor at Hannibal County Schools. “This sort of early exposure will show them what’s possible.”

rooted advisor placed at port isabel high school

Port Isabel-South Padre Pass

“Region One Education Service Center (Region One) has placed dedicated career advisors in four local high schools in partnership with the rootEd Alliance. rootEd is now serving 56 schools across Texas.”

Twin Cape High graduates receive rootEd scholarships

Southeast Missourian

Twin sisters and 2023 graduates of Cape Girardeau Central High School were recently named as recipients of the rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship through rootEd Alliance. The scholarship provides up to $12,000 annually for graduating seniors from rootEd Missouri high schools enrolling in a 4-year college.

New rootEd Missouri Executive Director to Lead Future of Statewide Initiative to Provide College and Career Advising to Rural Students

Ozarks Technical Community College

Steven Fouse will serve as its first executive director of rootEd Missouri and will guide the next chapter of the successful initiative. Fouse brings to the top role more than 15 years of experience and leadership in public service, customer service, and education.

Monett’s Towles named ‘Advisor of the Year’

Lawrence County Record

Samantha Towles, Monett High School academic advisor, was announced the winner at a special ceremony hosted by rootEd Missouri following a statewide nomination and selection process. “This year has been such a fantastic experience for me," she said. "I have some pretty amazing students who make this position easy and fun."

OHS career advisor set to help students plan futures

Gasconade County Republican

In an effort to level the playing field for Owensville High students pursuing their post-high school careers, Elizabeth Hinch began a journey last year to establish a rapport and provide guidance and resources to help scholars plan for their futures.

Sinton High School rootEd Advisor Receives Inaugural Award for Helping Rural Students Succeed After Graduation

rootEd Alliance

The inaugural award recognizes Stephanie Dotson's exemplary efforts to help high school students in rural communities develop and achieve strong plans for life after graduation. Her advising resulted in nearly all seniors completing a FAFSA, creating a postsecondary plan, and exploring workforce opportunities.

Opinion: The Class of 2023 is Graduating with Strong Plans for the Future

The Missouri Times

According to Missouri Senator Karla Eslinger, “the success of rootEd Missouri has real impact—on the individual graduates, on their families, and on all Missourians. When students graduate with a clear path to a strong career, they unlock opportunities for lifelong prosperity. And when our workforce is highly skilled, our economy thrives, our communities prosper, and our entire state is better positioned for the future.”

rootEd in Missouri

573 Magazine

Nancy Strothmann, a rootEd Advisor at Cape Girardeau High School and Missouri Advisor of the Year, discusses how her own life experiences shape how she advises students as they define their plans for life after high school graduation. "I wanted to do more with my life but needed to figure out where to start," she said. "I knew one day I wanted to either be a teacher or go into a field where I could help others."

Counselors, advisers, lawmakers aim to improve FAFSA completion numbers

News Tribune

Renee Maples, rootEd Advisor for the Blair Oaks School District, said completing the FAFSA is a top priority for senior students. "We do everything we can to get the word out to students and parents that beginning Oct. 1, get your FAFSA completed as soon as possible."

Missouri Placed Postsecondary Advisers in Rural Schools. College Enrollment Increased.

U.S. News & World Report

According to Missouri Commissioner of Education Dr. Margie Vandeven, Missouri has found dedicated college and career advising, when implemented thoughtfully and intentionally, to be an achievable solution for helping to address the postsecondary pitfalls plaguing the nation.

As National College Enrollment Declines, College & Career Advising Boosts Rates Among Rural Students

National College Access Network

Since fall 2019, as the rest of the nation has seen declines in college-going rates, schools with rootEd advisors have seen college enrollment rates increase by 7%. Moreover, one-quarter of college-bound students at rootEd schools said they wouldn’t be going to college at all if it weren’t for their rootEd advisor.

How Missouri Is Increasing Community College Enrollment Among Rural Students

Forbes

Despite the continuing enrollment decline at the nation’s community colleges, a problem compounded by the disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic, a new, straightforward strategy is proving to be very effective in helping a greater number of rural students enroll and succeed in college: embedded advising.

Student Enrollment Declines Continue to Impact Higher Education

Fierce Education

“Students in rural settings have long faced unique barriers to postsecondary education and training. Research shows that not only are rural students less likely to enroll in college than their peers, but those who do enroll are less likely to finish,” according to Noa Meyer, president of rootEd Alliance. “rootEd Alliance is dedicated to ensuring these students have the support they need to chart a path toward prosperity for themselves and their communities. We’ve seen success in our efforts to date and are thrilled to expand our reach.”

Digital Producers Digital Producers

Paving a path to WashU for rural students

The Source, Washington University in St. Louis

“A lot of our students don’t want to go far away, or they really worry about cost,” said Mary Worthington, a rootEd advisor at Hannibal County Schools. “This sort of early exposure will show them what’s possible.”

“I feel like a lot of students… think there’s only a couple options of things to do after high school,” says Lydia Kallenbach, a senior at Hallsville High School in Missouri. “I feel like [my rootEd advisor Rachel Sides] makes you realize that there’s a lot more options than just what you have heard of.”

Read More
Digital Producers Digital Producers

rooted advisor placed at port isabel high school

Port Isabel-South Padre Pass

“Region One Education Service Center (Region One) has placed dedicated career advisors in four local high schools in partnership with the rootEd Alliance. rootEd is now serving 56 schools across Texas.”

“I feel like a lot of students… think there’s only a couple options of things to do after high school,” says Lydia Kallenbach, a senior at Hallsville High School in Missouri. “I feel like [my rootEd advisor Rachel Sides] makes you realize that there’s a lot more options than just what you have heard of.”

Read More
Digital Producers Digital Producers

Twin Cape High graduates receive rootEd scholarships

Southeast Missourian

Twin sisters and 2023 graduates of Cape Girardeau Central High School were recently named as recipients of the rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship through rootEd Alliance. The scholarship provides up to $12,000 annually for graduating seniors from rootEd Missouri high schools enrolling in a 4-year college.

Twin sisters and 2023 graduates of Cape Girardeau Central High School were recently named as recipients of the rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship through rootEd Alliance. The scholarship provides up to $12,000 annually for graduating seniors from rootEd Missouri high schools enrolling in a 4-year college.

Read More
Digital Producers Digital Producers

New rootEd Missouri Executive Director to Lead Future of Statewide Initiative to Provide College and Career Advising to Rural Students

Ozarks Technical Community College

Steven Fouse will serve as its first executive director of rootEd Missouri and will guide the next chapter of the successful initiative. Fouse brings to the top role more than 15 years of experience and leadership in public service, customer service, and education.

“I feel like a lot of students… think there’s only a couple options of things to do after high school,” says Lydia Kallenbach, a senior at Hallsville High School in Missouri. “I feel like [my rootEd advisor Rachel Sides] makes you realize that there’s a lot more options than just what you have heard of.”

Read More