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Cottonwood Heights Journal

High School Seniors to Participate in Utah College Application Week

Oct 07, 2015 02:18PM ● By Bryan Scott

Last year, the Canyons Education Foundation provided financial assistance with application fees for students applying to post-secondary institutions during College Application Week. Photo courtesy of Canyons School District

By Lauren Casper

During the week of November 16-20, every high school senior at each of the five high schools and the alternative high school in Canyons School District will have the opportunity to apply to a post-secondary institution during the regular school day. 

The district will participate in Utah College Application Week (UCAW), an initiative sponsored by the Utah System of Higher Education’s Step Up to Higher Education campaign. In the weeks leading up to the event, schools will sponsor activities to raise awareness among all students about college and post-secondary options. School faculty, counselors and district personnel will then be available to help students in filling out applications during College Application Week.

The district also participated in UCAW last year. According to Tori Gillett, comprehensive counseling and guidance program coordinator for Canyons School District, approximately 88 percent of seniors took advantage of the opportunity and applied to a post-secondary institution during Utah College Application Week. 

“We know not every student wants to attend a four-year college, and that’s fine. The idea is to get them thinking about and planning for what is right for them. A post-secondary path could be anything from a trade school to a four-year school,” Gillett said.

To encourage awareness and participation, schools will hold door decorating contests, social media contests, essay writing contests and a myriad of other activities. 

“We want all students to become more college and career aware, not just seniors. That’s what the activities aim to do,” Gillett said.

An additional feature of the program is financial aid for application fees. Last year, the Canyons Education Foundation gave money to each school to be used at the discretion of administrators and counselors. 

“We were very fortunate that the Foundation was so generous last year, and we are optimistic that they will provide us with that help again this year,” Gillett said.

In their effort to ensure that all students are college and career ready when they graduate from high school, Canyons District hopes to continue to participate in College Application Week in the coming years.