Freeport Middle School Families Get A Jump On College Planning

More than 400 students and parents attended Freeport Schools’ Second Annual Early College Awareness Day, which took place at SUNY Old Westbury on Saturday, March 27, doubling attendance figures from last year. The event was aimed at helping J.W. Dodd Middle School students and their parents understand the academic and financial importance of planning now for college.

Superintendent Dr. Eric L. Eversley set the tone of the day in his introduction, when he said, "Completion of college is a powerful way to maximize your potential, but you can’t start too late. Today is about putting things in place; positioning ourselves for success."

In his keynote address Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, president of SUNY Old Westbury, said, "Today, college is a must. The job market is tight. The economy is shifting. You will be competing with people from all over the world. Jobs will go to those who are most qualified. You are here today to find out what it’s like to go to college, what you need to do, and what will be expected of you."

The opening panel discussion, which was led by Dodd Principal John O’Mard, FHS Head Guidance Counselor Nick Agostinacchio, and Dodd guidance counselors Peggy Gluck and Mario Salcedo, focused on key elements to building a solid high school "resume", including course selection, extra-curricular activities and community service.

Then, in one of the favorite events of the day, a panel of ten college students, including FHS alumni and SUNY Old Westbury students, answered questions about their own college experiences.

Next, while students toured the campus, a panel discussion led by enrollment directors and financial aid counselors, helped parents get some answers to their three most pressing questions: "How can I help my child chose the right school?", "What can we do to increase my child’s chances of being be accepted there?" and "How will we pay for it all?".

Capping things off was special guest speaker Freeman McNeil, former running back of the NY Jets, who spoke to the crowd about the importance of a college education, even for those students who do plan to grow up to be famous sports stars. Then attendees were treated to lunch before heading home to "digest" everything they had learned.

"In our survey of both parents and students, the results were overwhelmingly positive," said guidance counselor Peggy Gluck. "Next year we plan to add even more information about scholarships."

This event was the culmination of a year of events aimed at focusing Dodd student’s energies on higher education, including breakfast discussions with Freeport High School seniors, and a high school-middle school PTA presentation about early college planning.

Early College Awareness Day was sponsored by Freeport Public Schools, John W. Dodd Middle School, SUNY Old Westbury and The Harvard Club of Long Island.