educationSTEPPING FORWARD TO A BETTER FUTURE

BBYY JJEESSSSIICCAA DDEELLEEÓÓNNUNT

DENTON (UNT), Texas — Alli-son Duquaine didn’t know what ca-reer to pursue until she became astudent at the University of NorthTexas.

She transferred to UNT afterstudying at Collin College in Plano.She tried different courses, but shedidn’t decide on a major amongUNT”s 97 bachelor’s degree pro-grams until a member of the UNTPre-Veterinary Club encouragedher to visit a local animal clinic toobserve surgeries being performed.

Duquaine was so fascinated thatshe decided to major in biology andpursue a career as a veterinarian.

Biology is just one of 39 UNTprograms in sciences, technology,engineering and mathematics.

“I loved watching the surgery,”she said. “I had to do it. It justgrabbed me.”

She became involved with theclub, which is one of UNT’s morethan 400 student organ-izations, and also is amember of the UNTFeral Cat Rescue Groupand Beta Beta Beta Na-tional Biological HonorSociety.To prepare forveterinarian school,she’s taken numerousscience courses at UNT.

“The biology depart-ment has fabulous professors who

are very open to answering ques-tions and meeting with you if youdon’t understand the material,”she said.

She says the students are just ascommitted and friendly.

“Most of the friends I’ve made inthe biology programare just like me in thatthey take their classesseriously,” she said.“It’s been nice having astudy group that willhelp make sure you’rekeeping your nose inthe books.”

Other support serv-ices at UNT also have

helped her succeed. Duquaine re-

ceived financial assistance with ascholarship from the UNT ParentAssociation. UNT annually awardsmore than $27 million in scholar-ships.

And, because UNT provides flex-ibility with credits, she’s been ableto take 16 and 18 hours a semesterin conjunction with a correspon-dence class.

Most importantly, thanks toUNT’s proximity to Dallas and FortWorth, she’s been able to pursuehands-on opportunities to prepareher for a job after graduation. UNThas more than 216,000 alumniworking or living in the Dallas-FortWorth area.

As a UNT student, she was ableto network her way into a year-longvolunteer position at the DallasZoo, shadowing a veterinarian atthe zoo’s hospital. She learned howto do procedures and basic techni-cal work at the zoo, which earnedher an internship credit at UNT.

UNT’s Internship and Coopera-tive Education program providesmany students with paid, super-vised positions related to theirfield of study.

Duquaine, who plans to work ata zoo or wildlife sanctuary, workedmostly with elephants, cheetahs,lions, tigers, camels and nakedmole rats. She wasn’t afraid of anyof them — except for the camels.

“They are masters of finding away to kick you,” she said.

Duquaine plans to enroll in vet-erinary school after graduation.

She’s prepared thanks to thehands-on experience and course-work at UNT.

“It’s been very demanding,” shesaid. “The level of intensity theUNT program is providing has re-ally helped me prepare for vetschool.”

It’s a dream she didn’t realizeshe had until she found her passionat UNT.

Student finds her passion at UNTFRIENDLY PROFESSORS,FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND ONE

WILD INTERNSHIP ADD UP TO SUCCESS FOR UNT STUDENT“Most of the friends

I’ve made in the biologyprogram are just like

me in that they take theirclasses seriously.

It’s been nice having a study group that willhelp make sure you’re

keeping your nose in the books.” –– AALLLLIISSOONN DDUUQQUUAAIINNEE

Allison Duquaine, a UNTstudent, was able tonetwork her way into ayear-long volunteer po-sition at the Dallas Zoo,shadowing a veterinar-ian at the zoo’s hospital.

CampusToursCall 940-565-4104 to schedulea campus tour andsee how UNT canhelp you turn yourdream into reality.

Money101COLLEGE

FUNDING ADVICE(ARA) - Back-to-school shop-

ping season means big sales for re-tailers selling pencils, backpacks,clothes and tech gadgets. Youngparents know that as children getolder, their back-to-school listgrows with them. Eventually formany, that list will grow to includedorm necessities, textbooks andyes, college tuition.

Parents, if blunt scissors andcrayons are still on your child’sschool supply list, now could bethe right time to start planningyour college funding strategy.Patrick Egan, national retirementspokesperson for Thrivent Finan-cial for Lutherans offers this list ofschool supplies to help you andyour student, prepare for college.

529 plan529 plans are a tax-deferred way

for anyone to invest in a child’s ed-ucation. These accounts are con-trolled by your state or by amanager your state has appointed.Anyone can establish a 529 savingsplan naming anyone as a benefici-ary. Investments may be used atany approved private or publicschool. Earnings in this accountare tax-deferred until withdrawn,and distributions to pay for quali-fied higher education expenses areexempt from federal and some-times state income taxes. Checkwith a financial professional inyour area to find out how a 529plan in your state could be helpfulto your college funding strategy.

Custodial accountThis type of savings account al-

lows you to build savings for anychild. This means grandparents,relatives and friends could also setthis up. While the child’s name ison the account, the adult custo-

SSeeee MMOONNEEYY,, PPaaggee 22

Page 2 — Star Community Newspapers — October 2012

Money:FINANCING YOUR COLLEGE

dian is responsible for overseeing ituntil the child turns the age of major-ity, usually 18 or 21. Once the childassumes control of the custodial ac-count it can be used for any reason,meaning that if your savings exceedsthe amount needed for tuition, yourchild could use it for living expensesor save it for something else.

Coverdell accounts

The savings accrued in a Coverdellaccount can be used for approved ex-penses before your child goes to col-lege, on K-12 expenses for studentsin private or public schools, as wellas eligible post-secondary educationexpenses. A child can receive up to$2,000 in annual contributions to aCoverdell account until age 18.

OTHER TYPES OF ACCOUNTS:

TrustsContact an attorney to see if a trust

could be right for you. Trusts can beused for education and other purposesand contributions to a trust have nominimum or maximum amount so sav-ing can be done in many different ways.

IRAsWhile traditionally used for re-

tirement savings, traditional andRoth IRAs allow you to withdrawfunds penalty-free if used for quali-

fied education expenses. Your contri-butions may be tax-deductible andgrow tax-deferred until withdrawal.Contact a financial representativeabout using IRAs for college funding,as this could affect your retirementstrategy and financial aid eligibility.

Permanent life insurance

If something should happen to you,a permanent life insurance contractcan help ensure that goals like educa-tion can be met, even if the unthink-able happens. In addition, permanentlife insurance contracts accumulatecash value that can be used duringyour lifetime and also provide addi-tional flexibility for other funding av-enues as well. Visit Thrivent.com formore information on types of life in-surance to help you pay for college.

With so many options for collegefunding to choose from, selecting thebest set of tools for your child can bedifficult. A financial representativecan help you decide which optionsare best for you to meet your family’sneeds. Visit Thrivent.com to contacta financial representative, learn moreabout college funding options andeven estimate your needs with a Col-lege Savings Calculator. College fund-ing strategies, like back-to-schoolshopping, are all about preparation.

Hop on the bus to financial prepa-ration by starting or building yourcollege funding strategy today.

FFrroomm PPAAGGEE OONNEE

Concordia University Texas isproud to have opened a new loca-tion in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.With its new center on Highway 360at Carrier Parkway, it’s a great cen-tral location for adults looking tocomplete a degree or advance theircareers with a master’s degree.

Dedicated to the developmentand advancement of Christian lead-ers, Concordia’s programs appeal tostudents who want to make an im-pact in their chosen profession andin the lives of the people aroundthem.

The DFW Center offers a Masterof Education, Master of BusinessAdministration and an AcceleratedDegree Program for adult students.The new center features four spa-cious classrooms,a computer lab,testing centerand an invitingcommons area.

It’s convenientto the entire DFWmetroplex, withviews of the boththe Dallas andFort Worth sky-lines from class-room windows.

Classstructure

Faculty members at Concordiafoster a personalized educationalexperience. Class sizes are smalland the cohort learning commu-nity for master’s programs pro-motes personal and professionaltransformation.

Length of program

The Master of Education, Mas-ter of Business Administration

and the Accelerated Degree Pro-gram (ADP) give students an op-portunity to take courses just onenight a week. This provides flexi-

bility for theworking pro-fessional andthose withfamilies tocontinuetheir educa-tion withoutcompromis-ing theirother profes-sional andpersonalcommit-ments.

The mas-ter’s program cohorts begin at thestart of each semester - fall,spring, summer - and are designedto complete in two years. Enroll-ment for ADP classes is ongoingand the program is designed forcompletion in four years.

The valueof continuing your education

The University’s mission to de-velop Christian leaders is more

than just a statement. Concordiagraduates are not only prepared toexcel in the work force but areequipped with the skills needed tobe successful leaders in their pro-fession and community.

About the University

Concordia University Texas of-fers undergraduate and graduateprograms as well as an Acceler-ated Degree Program for adultstudents. Its largest majors are inthe professional areas of business,education and nursing.

The main campus is located on389 acres in northwest Austinwith four university centers incentral Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth,Houston and San Antonio.

As the proud steward of a 225-acre nature preserve in Austin, itis host to some of the most spec-tacular flora and fauna in Texas aswell as the Friesenhahn Cave inSan Antonio, thought to be one ofthe most fossil-rich areas in theUnited States for ice-age era mam-mals, reptiles and birds.

It is a member of the highly re-spected Concordia University Sys-tem in which more than 28,000students are enrolled nationwide.

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

Good locationfor adult education

[ ]Its largest majors are inthe professionalareas of business, education and nursing.

October 2012 — Star Community Newspapers — Page 3

On April 6, 1985 Collin County voters over-whelmingly voted Collin College into exis-tence. The college held its first classes at nighton September 3, 1985 at area high schools. Thefirst campus, Central Park Campus, opened inMcKinney in January 1986. The first gradua-tion ceremony was held May 16, 1987 and wascomprised of 12 students. Collin College nowoffers more than 100 degree and certificateprograms and serves nearly 53,000 credit andcontinuing education students annually. Thedistrict has seven locations in Allen, Frisco,Plano, McKinney and Rockwall.

Historically, Collin College is known as acollege with preeminent faculty who are notedauthors, scholars, patent holders and scien-tists. Three Collin College professors werenamed U.S. Professor of the Year within nineyears, a highly coveted distinction presentedby the Council for Advancement and Supportof Education (CASE) and the Carnegie Foun-dation for the Advancement of Teaching. Thecollege also boasts a Texas Professor of theYear, five Minnie Stevens Piper Professors andtwo Fulbright scholars.

Collin College has always been a college offirsts. The only public college in the county,Collin College was the first community college

in the nation to offer alternative teacher certi-fication and was one of 10 in the nation to re-ceive a “Teaching By Choice” award from theAmerican Association of Community Colleges.Collin College was the first Texas communitycollege to offer a pre-admission program,which allows students to earn credit at CollinCollege and 10 major universities simultane-ously. The college houses a first-of-its-kindConvergence Technology Center and wasnamed one of 16 institutions across the nationto watch for civic endeavors by the Case Foun-dation. Collin College was one of 12 commu-nity colleges nationwide to be honored withthe Community Engagement Classification bythe Carnegie Foundation for the Advancementof Teaching and is the recipient of the nationalBellwether Award for innovative practices.

For more than 25 years, area residents havebenefitted from Collin College’s offerings. Thecollege set a new standard of collaborationwhen it opened the Collin Higher EducationCenter in 2010. The campus is a university cen-ter which offers residents the opportunity topursue bachelor’s, master’s and doctoraldegeres from top area universities.

Collin College will continue to transform

Collin CollegeA COLLEGE OF FIRSTS

SSeeee CCOOLLLLIINN,, PPaaggee 44

Did you know• Collin College’s nursing program is thefirst and only Center of Excellence namedby the national league of nursing? Only 19programs around the nation received theprestigious designation.

• Collin College has the lowest tuition ofthe 125 public and private colleges and uni-versities in the State of Texas?

• Three Collin College students discovereda new asteroid? Competing with studentsfrom nine countries on four continents, thestudents discovered a main belt asteroid,located in the region between Mars andJupiter.

• Collin College has pre-admission part-

nerships with 10 local and regional col-leges and universities? Participating stu-dents can take advantage of a number ofperks including guaranteed admission,scholarship opportunities, advising andmore.

•Three Collin College faculty have beennamed the U.S. Professor of the Year bythe Council for Advancement and Supportof Education? Collin College is the onlytwo-year institution with three winners andmatches Williams College and KansasState University for the most in the Nation.

• That the Collin Higher Education Cen-ter in McKinney is the county’s first uni-versity center offering junior and seniorlevel undergraduate classes as well asmasters and doctoral programs?

Page 4 — Star Community Newspapers — October 2012

(ARA) - Many recent collegegraduates continue to face a chal-lenging job market, but do theyknow how to effectively locate andacquire a job?

With 53.6 percent of bachelor’sdegree-holders under the age of 25underemployed or unemployed, thenation’s young people are unfortu-nately less prepared than theythink.

According to a new national sur-vey, 48 percent of college careercenter directors felt students werenot well prepared for the careerlandscape - noting a lack of motiva-tion and understanding about thejob search process as major barri-ers to successfully landing a job.The survey, Effectively CounselingGraduating Students, was con-ducted by the National Associationof Colleges and Employers (NACE)on behalf of the Career Advisory

Board, established by DeVry Uni-versity.

Career center directors citedthat, overall, students have a poorunderstanding of the effort re-quired to search for and secure em-ployment. More than 77 percent ofcollege career center directors feltthe greatest obstacle in counselingstudents to enter the job marketwas getting them to understand theeffort required to successfullysearch and compete for a job.

These factors contribute to stu-dents not utilizing their school’s ca-reer center or skipping thisresource altogether, which couldprolong the job search process.Fifty-six percent of career center di-rectors felt students did not haveresumes ready to show employers.

“The survey reveals recent grad-uates may be prepared to performon the job, but not prepared to find

the job,” says Alexandra Levit, busi-ness and workplace consultant andCareer Advisory Board member.“Students need to seek out the ca-reer center early in their collegeexperience to take advantage of re-sume review, coaching and careercounseling to prepare for the jobhunt.”

Eighty percent of the careercenter directors surveyed believeindividual student career coachingis the most effective resource avail-able for students.

Additionally, the Career Advi-sory Board recommends the follow-ing advice for students and recentgraduates to become marketplaceready:

Tailor your resumeDo your homework. Ensure your

resume fits the target position’s job

description, including keywords be-fore submitting. Craft your resumein a way that will interest an em-ployer immediately.

Build on your skill set

Continually improve your skills.In order to succeed in the work-place, you need to be able to masternew information, write coherentlyand contribute meaningfully in agroup setting.

Practice makes perfect

One-on-one coaching sessions ormock interviews with career serviceprofessionals are the best forms ofrehearsal and a good way to learnthe dos and don’ts.

In the job marketHOW TO MAKE THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER

InformationTo learn more about the survey and successfulstrategies to transition fromcollege to career visit: CareerAdvisoryBoard.org

Collin:VARIETY OFFERED

the collegiate experience throughprograms such as Weekend College,which offers students the opportunityto earn a degree by taking classes ex-clusively on the weekends. Collin Col-lege offers a Student LeadershipAcademy, an Honors Institute,eCollin with hundreds of onlineclasses, and a dual credit program,which annually enables hundreds ofhigh school students to earn collegecredit.

Collin College students flourish inthe Center for Scholarly and CivicEngagement and the Center for Ad-vanced Studies in Mathematics andNatural Sciences, which offershands-on undergraduate research ex-perience.

At Collin College, it is common-place for students to have the oppor-tunity to learn from nationallyrenowned speakers, such as the latePeter Jennings, anchor of ABC’sWorld News Tonight, ambassador ofthe Fulbright Scholars Program Har-riet Fulbright and Norman Borlaug,the late Nobel Peace Prize winner.

The heart of Collin College is itsstudents who win national awards,publish their work in national genebanks and international journals anddiscover asteroids while they earn as-sociate degrees.

Within a six year period, threeCollin College students were namedto the All-USA Phi Theta Kappa Aca-demic Team. In addition, numerousstudent organizations have garnerednational awards.

Collin College graduates and for-mer students have attended IvyLeague and nationally renowned uni-versities such as Yale, Columbia, Cor-nell, Harvard, Juilliard and MIT.Their work can be viewed on Broad-way, in TIME, Newsweek and Forbes.Collin College alumni are currentlyworking on cures for cancer,Alzheimer’s and numerous diseasesplaguing the world. They are nation-ally acclaimed scientists, actors andartists. The legacy of Collin Col-lege—its students—will continue toprovide a significant impact, carryingthis institution’s mission and corevalues throughout the world.

FFrroomm PPAAGGEE TTHHRREEEE

(ARA) - In today’s globally competitiveeconomy, a college degree is increasingly be-coming a critical factor in attaining career suc-cess. Yet, as of October 2011, only 68 percent ofthe year’s high school graduates had enrolledin a college or university, even though the na-tional unemployment rate of high school grad-uates is nearly twice as high as that of collegegraduates - 7.9 percent and 4 percent, respec-tively.

Addressing the need for more college- andemployment-ready high school graduates,many policymakers, educators and researcherspromote dual-enrollment programs as an ef-fective vehicle for building a workforce withthe knowledge and skills needed to succeed ina 21st century economy.

Dual-enrollment programs allow highschool students to jump-start their postsec-ondary education and career by enrolling incollege courses before they graduate, earningboth high school and college credits in theprocess.

DeVry University, for example, launched itsAdvantage Academy in 2004 to improve collegeaccess for high school students with limited fi-nancial resources. In two academic years andone summer session, students can earn an as-sociate degree in a high-growth career fieldwhile they finish high school.

Eligible high school students in the publicschool systems in Chicago, Atlanta and Colum-bus, Ohio may enroll to earn their associate de-gree in health information technology,network system administration or Web graphicdesign. Graduates of the program can eitherenter the workforce or enroll in a bachelor’sdegree program at DeVry University or anotherinstitution.

Dual-enrollment programs help meet a

growing need for more academically and pro-fessionally prepared high school students,arming them with tools and resources that canimprove their college and career decisions,says Steve Pappageorge, dean of the College ofContinuing Education, New Programs and Out-reach at DeVry University. Programs like DeVryUniversity’s Advantage Academy can help re-move barriers to college access while introduc-ing students to career opportunities inhigh-demand fields.

Triplets Simeon, Sydney and Shea Spiveycan attest to the value of dual-enrollment pro-grams. Each of the incoming high school sen-iors is deep in college planning mode andcurrently enrolled in Advantage Academy.Columbus City Schools (CCS) and DeVry Uni-versity cover their tuition costs, so they cangraduate from high school with two years ofhigher education to put toward four-year de-gree programs without incurring student debt.

Advantage Academy has helped me becomemore familiar with the college experience andrealize all of the benefits it offers, says SimeonSpivey. “My siblings and I hope to attend col-leges on the East Coast, and we feel more con-fident knowing we’ll be applying with associatedegrees under our belts.”

When they graduate in June 2013, theSpivey triplets will be two years ahead of theirpeers academically.

By 2018, approximately 63 percent of the 47million U.S. jobs will require workers withsome postsecondary education. Dual-enroll-ment programs provide high school studentswith an effective on-ramp to college and careersuccess, helping to close the gap between stu-dents’ knowledge and the skills needed toachieve professional success in a globally com-petitive economy.

October 2012 — Star Community Newspapers — Page 5

Building workersDUAL-ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS

JUMP-START STUDENTS’ CAREERS

Page 6 — Star Community Newspapers — October 2012

D E V E L O P I N G C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S

MBA

October 16 or November 136:00 PM

RSVP today!concordia.edu/MBAnowor 972-854-5610

Concordia University TexasDFW Center2080 North Highway 360Grand Prairie, TX 75050(corner of Hwy 360 andCarrier Parkway)

. . .

TraditionFor nearly a century, The Uni-

versity of Alabama has providedopportunities for adult and non-traditional students to pursue edu-cational dreams through tech-nology-based learning formats.

And it’s not just any degree, buta degree from one of the best-known universities in the country.We have an entire staff ready tohelp you achieve those dreams byselecting from undergraduate andgraduate degrees in various disci-plines.

Thousands of people just likeyou have earned their degree

through distance learning from UA.And, when you become a distancelearner with The University of Al-abama, you become part of a win-ning tradition that dates back to1831.

Whether it’s in the classroom,on the football field, or in theboardroom, our students and grad-uates are known for their commit-ment to excellence.

ExcellenceRankings and accreditation

matter. The University of Alabamahas ranked among the top 50 pub-lic universities in the nation in U.S.

News and World Reports’s annualcollege rankings for more than adecade. UA is ranked 32nd in the2013 rankings.

Did you know The University ofAlabama also has many collegesand programs ranked in the top 30nationally including our under-graduate business program, ourlaw school, and our College ofCommunications and InformationSciences?

That’s why the highest numberof USA Today All-Americans of anyschool nationally have chosen tobecome part of the Crimson Tide!Maybe you should, too!

The University of Alabama

A TOP 50 PUBLIC UNIVERSITY

ValueLooking for top-notch education

at an affordable price? Don’t ask usif we’re a good value – ask the Cen-ter for College Affordability and Pro-ductivity.

You might also ask Kiplinger’s,who regularly ranks UA among thetop 100 public universities that com-bine “great academics and afford-able tuition.” That affordable tuitionextends to our Distance Learning

(DL) students who pay a DL ratewhich is different from out-of-statetuition.

ConvenienceOnline courses allow you to earn

an undergraduate or graduate de-gree around your busy schedule.

At The University of Alabama,you’ll find online delivery offersyou the same high-quality instruc-tion found in our campus-basedclassrooms via the convenience oflearning on your own time fromwherever you are.

Although our online courses de-mand a high level of commitment,this option gives you the maximumflexibility to fit earning your de-gree into your life.

ReputationAs a University of Alabama gradu-

ate, you will feel confident that yourreputation precedes you.

No matter which degree you earn,your alma mater will be recognizedand respected instantly by yourfriends, family, and employers.

Contact us Now that you know who we are,

we want to know you. Contact us inthe manner that works best for youand let us know your needs, ask usquestions and let us help you makeeducated decisions about your edu-cation.

October 2012 — Star Community Newspapers — Page 7

InformationFor more information pleasecall Academic Outreach Stu-dent Services at 205-348-0089 or toll-free1-800-467-0227, e-mail at AOinfo@ccs.ua.edu or visit our website at BamaByDistance.ua.edu

Page 8 — Star Community Newspapers — October 2012

YOU’RE INVITED TO TAKE A TOUR

unt.edu/begreat | 940-565-4104

GREATNESS is...Combining my undergraduate biology research with a chance to observe medical procedures at the local zoo has fueled my passion for veterinary medicine. UNT is preparing me for the challenges of vet school and a career preserving exotic species for future generations. — ALLISON DUQUAINE,

TRANSFER STUDENT MAJORING IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

PRESERVING EXOTIC WILDLIFE WITH VETERINARY MEDICINE.GREAGREATNESSTNESSTNESSTNESSGREATNESSGREAGREAGREAGREATNESS

YOU’RE INVITED TO TAKE A TOUR

unt.edu/begreat 940-565-4104