Volume 4, Number 1 September, 2018

Welcome to the September 2018 edit ion of "Closing the Gap", thenewsletter of College Success Arizona.

College Success Arizona is building public will for college complet ion andproviding a unique combinat ion of scholarships and mentoring thatincrease college graduation rates among low-income and first -generat ion students across the state. We do this through; providingscholarships and mentoring support services, building partnerships withcollege access programs and scholarship programs, raising theawareness of the importance of college complet ion, and the support ofmore than 220 college access and success organizat ions throughoutthe state.

The 9The 9thth Annual Leaders & Legends Annual Leaders & LegendsCelebration is Thursday, November 1Celebration is Thursday, November 1stst

Tables are starting to fill for this year's Leaders & Legends Celebration Luncheon,which will be held on Thursday, November 1st, in the Grand Ballroom of theArizona Biltmore Resort.

What is Leaders & Legends? Each year, more than 350 Arizonans, interested inthe economic future of our state, gather to honor an Arizona leader for their visionof the future, their service to our community, and their support of education forall students in our state.

Beginning in 2010, College Success Arizona, through the Leaders & LegendsCelebration Luncheon, has honored individuals and organizations dedicated toimproving the educational opportunities for each and every Arizonan. Pasthonorees are:

2017 — Ms. Sue Glawe2016 — Hon. Congressman Ed Pastor (Retired)2015 — Mr. Robert Sarver2014 — Mr. Derrick Hall2013 — Mr. Don Smith2012 — Mr. John Zidich2011 — Salt River Project2010 — Mr. Rich Dozer

This year, we will honor Mr. Richard Adkerson, ViceChairman, President and CEO of Freeport-McMoRan, Inc., for his continuous support ofeducation in Arizona, and around the world.

Dedicated to Arizona, Richard has been a lifelongsupporter of a wide range of organizations,showing his deep commitment to making our state

a better place to live, including the ArizonaCommerce Authority, Greater Phoenix Leadership,the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and theDean’s Council of 100 for the Arizona StateUniversity W.P. Carey School of Business.

Richard has consistently fosteredan organizational culture thatsupports building healthycommunities and thrivingworkforces through education. “Inthe natural resources workforcealone, the state is facing the loss ofa significant number ofexperienced workers who will retirein the next decade, creating aneven wider skills gap in an alreadylimited labor pool. We must work together to meet the state goal to increasehigher education attainment to 60% or lose out on the full spectrum of economicopportunity our state will have moving forward.”

Be sure to join us at the Biltmoreon Thursday, November 1st.Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m.,with the program startingpromptly at Noon. You canregister on-line here, or go tot h e College Success Arizonawebsite.

Please help support CollegeSuccess Arizona’s students, by

attending, sponsoring a portion of the luncheon, or providing a generousdonation. For your convenience, here is some information about ourparticipation options.

Please call our offices at any time with questions or to hear more about thestudents that we serve, or visit our website at www.collegesuccessarizona.org.

Thank you in advance for your support. We look forward to seeing you onNovember 1st.

Achieve60AZ UpdateAchieve60AZ Update

Closing the Gaps in Colorado

A new Georgetown University report highlightsthe importance of closing gaps in Latinoattainment in Colorado to meet theeconomic needs of the state. The reportoutlines policy considerations for all stateswith high Latino populations, includingArizona.

Read the report here

For more information on the Achieve60AZ initiative, go to www.achieve60az.com

A walk among giantsA walk among giants

Any parent will tell you that in parenting there are momentsof horror sprinkled in between those peaks of pride.Parenting is not for the weak of heart, but if you’re luckyenough to get the job, it can be the most rewarding.

My ten-year-old daughter is a volleyball player. Weencourage such activities for many reasons, none of whichare more important than to build self-esteem.

For this seriously introverted kid, this is key. Her VolleyballClub hosted a pre-school-tryout clinic. It said for 5th-12th grade, she’s a 5th

grader, I thought perfect! Not perfect. Apparently, this is secret code for-HighSchool Students ONLY. As my 4-foot child stood among giants, she started to freakout. She refused to go in, she wanted out. I wanted her to stay, face her fearsand the giants, but she was in no condition to stay. I, as most of us would,lectured all the way home. “I love you, but I’m disappointed. You let your fearshy you away from something you love. You aren’t always going to knoweveryone or be in comfortable surroundings, sometimes you must push yourselfand be uncomfortable. Nothing unexpectedly great ever fell from the ceiling ofa bedroom while watching I Love Lucy reruns.”

Trust me, being firm with this one is no easy task. She promptly took her lumps(which I kept dishing all the way home and beyond), got home to write me avery long letter of apology, and then handed me an envelope with her last $8 to

partially reimburse me for the $45 of the lesson.

Stay firm Marjorie, stay firm.

The next week we returned. She quickly befriended a 4 1/2-footer, and togetherthey tackled the world of giants. Isabella did so well, she was asked to be theonly server on her side of a scrimmage, had giants high fiving her for herawesomeness and even coaches took notice and called her by name. We leftwith her beaming. She had excelled, resulting in unparalleled pride. After theclinic, she climbed into the back seat of our car and said the words every parenthopes to hear but so few of us ever do, “Why are you always right Mommy?” Doyou know how hard it is to remain calm when you’ve seen a unicorn! Let’s hopeshe remembers this when we navigate the world of boys and short skirts.

What surprised me that night was not how proud I was of her, but the happiness Itoo felt. I had helped her. I made a difference, helped her see life and herselfthrough my lens and left her better.

I realized in that moment why our College Success Arizona Advisers love their jobsand the students they work with so much. There is such pride and happiness inwatching someone prove to themselves they could do something they felt theyhad no business being a part of, and you helped them get there.

We all have a choice when faced with an opportunity to help someone. It’seasier to say "maybe this isn’t for you", or say nothing at all. But there is no greaterpride you can have in yourself when you encourage, motivate and prove tosomeone what you knew of them all along, they too can run with giants.

Study Abroad JourneyStudy Abroad Journey

College Success Arizona Scholar, and University

of Arizona student, Veronica Cardenas, shares

her experiences, studying abroad, in Paris,

France.

Veronica’s first experience studying abroadwas over Thanksgiving in 2016 where she hadthe opportunity to interact with students atthe Sorbonne University in Paris. Veronica

describes her experience: "During one of the first lectures of my first AfricanAmerican course, the instructor, Dr. Bryan Carter, announced that there was anopportunity to study abroad over Thanksgiving break. I was immediatelyintrigued, and after much skepticism from my parents of letting their only childtravel to France for ten days, that November I found myself on a flight to the cityof light. As my first study abroad experience this trip to Paris is and will always bedear to my heart. I gained knowledge about diversity, interculturalcommunication and most surprisingly about myself. This study abroad experiencemade me fall in love with not only the French but also the African American

culture and is the reason why I finally chose to declare a double major inAfricana Studies and Business Management. It also made me realize howpassionate I am about diversity and how much I want to strive to create aworkspace that accepts everyone no matter the differences presented."

This was just the beginning! Veronica studied in Paristwo more times.

During the summer of 2017, Veronica was asked toreturn as preceptor. She exercised leadership skillsby guiding 7 students with the use of newtechnologies such as 360 video creations. Then inMarch 2018 she took a third experience byreturning to do independent study as well as guide16 students around the city of Paris.

"With my study abroad opportunities, I learnedtremendously about the African American experience in Paris, and I alsodiscovered my passion of diversity. Study abroad made me realize that diversity isthe most beautiful aspect of society and that we all must learn to value andcelebrate it. Traveling to Paris was a dream come true and it forever changed myperspective about the world and the unimaginable opportunities for growth. "

Visit Veronica’s Paris Website for more stories and pictures!

Last year only 43% of Arizona's enrolled high school seniors completed a FreeApplication for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

This year we want to reach 50%. To support statewide FAFSA completion, AzCAN ispartnering with the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education to host aseries of FAFSA training webinars throughout the fall.

These webinars will cover FAFSA basics, advanced topics and student-level FAFSAcompletion data.

All webinars are free of charge.

Webinar T it les:Webinar T it les:

Before the FAFSABefore the FAFSAFSA IDDocuments to PrepareIRS Data Retrieval ToolResources for Assistance

AZ FAFSA Challenge (NEW !)AZ FAFSA Challenge (NEW !)Statewide and High School GoalsHow to ParticipateFAFSA Challenge Categories and RecognitionFAFSA Completion Dashboard and Website

FAFSA 101: The BasicsFAFSA 101: The BasicsSteps in the ApplicationMistakes to AvoidResources for Assistance

FAFSA 201: Advanced TopicsFAFSA 201: Advanced TopicsWho’s the Parent?Dependent or Independent?Who’s in the Household?Homeless and Foster StudentsTax Transcripts

After the FAFSAAfter the FAFSAAnalyzing the Confirmation PageStudent Aid ReportsVerificationFollowing up with CollegesStudent Loans

Your FAFSA Completion DataYour FAFSA Completion DataAccurate Uploads/DownloadsSorting your ListsCustomizing Student OutreachTabulating your Data for A-F Accountability

Webinar Schedule:Webinar Schedule:

FAFSA 101: The BasicsFAFSA 101: The BasicsThursday, September 13, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Instructors: Deena Lager & Julie SainzRegister

FAFSA 201: Advanced TopicsFAFSA 201: Advanced TopicsMonday, September 17, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Instructors: Deena Lager & Julie SainzRegister

After the FAFSAAfter the FAFSAFriday, September 28 10 – 11 amInstructors: Deena Lager & Julie SainzRegister

FAFSA Completion DataFAFSA Completion DataWednesday, October 10, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Instructors: Julie Sainz & Deena LagerRegister

FAFSA 101: The BasicsFAFSA 101: The BasicsTuesday, October 30, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.Instructor: Diana MateerRegister

FAFSA 201: Advanced TopicsFAFSA 201: Advanced TopicsWednesday, November 14, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.Instructor: Diana MateerRegister

About the Instructors:About the Instructors:

Diana MateerDiana Mateer has been a financial aid professional inArizona for more than 37 years and has helped countlessstudents with financial aid applications. She has beeninvolved with College Goal FAFSA events since theirinception. Diana is a college access advisor and financial aidspecialist for College Depot in Phoenix.

Ju l ie SainzJu l ie Sainz is the Arizona FAFSA Challenge Project Managerfor the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education. Shehas worked in higher education for several years and hasheld financial aid management and student affairs positionsat the community college and university level.

Deena LagerDeena Lager is the Director of the Arizona Family CollegeSavings (529) and Arizona Student Financial Aid Programs atthe Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education. Her 20-year career includes assisting students and families throughthe financial aid process at private and public universities inWA, CA and AZ, specifically focused on scholarships, stategrants, student loans, work-study and study abroadprograms.

Are You a Development Super Hero?Are You a Development Super Hero?

Do you dream about helping to grow the Arizona economy by increasing thenumber of Arizonans with an education beyond high school?

Are you looking for a career change?

If you're an experienced advancement professional who is highly regarded andrespected for consistently making a difference in your organization, with a strongunderstanding of the educational framework in Arizona and the ability toposition and message needs. Then come be a part of the team at CollegeSuccess Arizona, as our new Director of Development.

The Director of Development is an important player in the overall fundraising planworking directly with major donors and prospective donors. This individual will beresponsible for generating major gifts and overseeing fundraising events for theorganization.

Responsibilities:

Establish goals and oversee the implementation of fundraising plans,strategies and tactics for the full range of Development/AnnualGiving/Stewardship programs.

Work collaboratively with the entire College Success Arizona team toidentify opportunities to acquire philanthropic funding resources availablefor CSA programs.

Become knowledgeable of the programs and services of College SuccessArizona to effectively support and advance the mission and vision of theorganization.

Design, implement and evaluate a comprehensive program for annualand multi-year gifts, establishing goals and objectives that translate intoannual operating plans and program growth.

Develop strong relationships with prospective donors, moving them throughthe cultivation cycle, from identification through solicitation andstewardship.

Develop and implement cost-effective fund development programinvolving individuals, businesses, corporations and private foundations thatfocus on raising funds from diverse sources.

Additional information can be found on the College Success Arizona website, oryou can submit your confidential application package, containing your Currentresume or CV, Statement of interest and qualifications, based on the jobdescription, and a Link to relevant portfolio of related experiences and efforts, tojobs@collegesuccessarizona.org. Please, no telephone calls.

Arizona FAFSA ChallengeArizona FAFSA Challenge

The Helios Education Foundation and College Success Arizona are bringingcommunity partners together at Arizona State University for the Arizona FAFSAChallenge, an opportunity to discuss the importance of supporting students inpursuing a post-secondary education through FAFSA completion.

The Arizona FAFSA Challenge will focus on a conversation about the importanceof completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The eventincludes breakout sessions that will educate community partners on FAFSA andbest practices, giving them the information necessary to best guide and supportstudents with FAFSA completion.

Community partners include Achieve 60, Arizona College Access Network, ArizonaCommission for Postsecondary Education, Arizona Governor’s Office of Education,Arizona State University, Maricopa Community Colleges, Northern Arizona StateUniversity and University of Arizona.

The event is free and open to the public and is also available via livestream.

Register today for the Arizona FAFSA Challenge and help us shape the future ofArizona. Can't attend in person? You can join the conversation via the live streamat asunow.asu.edu/asulive.

W hat:W hat: Arizona FAFSA Challenge

W hen:W hen: Friday, September 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Registration starts at8:30 a.m. Breakfast and a plenary session will start at 9:00 a.m.

Register at: Register at: http://links.asu.edu/fafsa-challenge

W here:W here: Arizona State University Student Pavilion 400 E Orange St. Tempe, AZ 85287

Parking:Parking: Paid parking is available at the Apache Blvd. Structure

Livestream:Livestream: https://asunow.asu.edu/asulive

4040 E. Camelback Rd.Ste 220

Phone:602 636 1850Fax: 602 636 1857

info@collegesuccessarizona.org

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