Rising S.T.A.R. Conference to Expose High School Students to College

High school students will gather at the University of Hartford on Friday (May 10) to learn about college life, at the third annual Rising S.T.A.R. (Students to Academic Resources) conference.

The conference, which is sponsored by the Central Area Health Education Center, Inc. (AHEC), will take place Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Gengras Student Union, room 335.

The goals of the conference are as follows:

• Expose 75-120 high school students to a college campus, students, professors, and administrators.

• Connect students to resources and information on specific requirements for college admissions, health careers, etc.

• Create an opportunity to interact with college students through a campus tour and dining experience.

Among the attendees will be keynote speaker Sonia Dinnall, Director of College and Career Readiness for Hartford Public Schools. Representatives of the University of Hartford’s Office of Admission and Student Financial Assistance will give presentations to the students. In addition, faculty, administrative staff, and students will serve on panel discussions.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 9.3% of African Americans and 17.6% of Hispanics aged 16-24 dropped out of high school in 2009. The Rising S.T.A.R conference will provide activities, resources, and a campus-wide experience to Connecticut’s underrepresented youth with the purpose of encouraging high school graduation and the pursuit of a college degree among minority youth populations.

Central AHEC is a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for health careers exploration and serves students in Hartford, Tolland, and Middlesex counties and the towns of Meriden and Wallingford. Its mission is to eliminate health disparities among diverse populations in central Connecticut by providing and coordinating programs that improve the health status of all.

For more information about the 2013 Rising S.T.A.R. conference contact Mei-Ling Caldera at mcaldera@centralctahec.org or 860.920.5149, ext 117.