Director’s Note 

Dear friends, 

I’m delighted to welcome you all back for another promising school year as summer vacation ends. With the new semester approaching, there’s much to look forward to and plan for. 

Building on the success of the 2023 college application events, we encourage you to register to host an event this year. Your participation is crucial in our mission to increase student engagement and boost application completion rates.  

Our School of Excellence blog series is now live, showcasing the critical role of college application events and the significant benefits they provide for students. I encourage you to read these posts to deepen your understanding: 

• California High School Rolls Out the Red Carpet for College Applicants 
• How Michigan Students Broke a College Application Record  
• Every Senior at This Idaho High School Applied for College 

As Sebastian Kelley said in our Timberlake High School blog post, “It is so important for students to take the risk and apply to college, because we live in a world where you need some type of degree or certification.”  

Let’s all work together to inspire students and their families about the value of higher education and help them envision a bright future. 

With gratitude,  
Lisa King, director 

Predicting Gen Alpha

By: Johanna Trovato, Eduventures Principal Analyst, Encoura 

As Generation Z grows in the workforce and the youngest members complete their high school education, Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha) is stepping into the spotlight, beginning their high school journey. What similarities do these two generations have in common, and how do they differ in their views on college and the world? 

While other industries are already targeting Gen Alpha’s buying power and brand preferences, is higher education ready to attract and recruit this emerging generation? 

Read the full article to understand Gen Alpha better. 

(Left) Adrienne Enriquez, project director, Oregon GEAR UP and (Right) Melissa Caperton, senior director of education programs and partnerships, myOptions Encourage attended the NCEEP annual conference July 21-24 in Washington, DC.

ACAC Presence at the NCCEP Annual Conference

By: Lisa King, director, American College Application Campaign

Last month, ACT team members attended the annual National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) conference in Washington, D.C. We were honored to be at this convening for fellow professionals, policymakers and community partners supporting GEAR UP programs. 

NCCEP brings practitioners and education leaders together each year to teach and learn from more than 120 sessions. This conference profoundly influences our work, inspiring us with new strategies to enhance our effectiveness with students, families, school administrators and faculty on the journey to higher education. 

Melissa Caperton, senior director of education programs and partnerships, presented the critical role of school-based events in providing college navigation activities and support. She highlighted programs like the American College Application Campaign and resources like the Encourage App, which helps streamline the college application process and supports students in navigating their educational paths. Integrating college navigation activities into the school day can inspire students to explore these resources and take learning beyond the classroom. 

Continuing our collective efforts to promote student success and college-going rates is crucial. We all share the responsibility to start these efforts early, as the earlier we start, the better our students’ chances for a successful future. 

No Social Media, No Problem: How to Reach Audiences on Social Media When Channels Aren’t Permitted at Your Organization

By: Danielle Hatchett, social media strategist II, ACT 

Social media is among the most powerful marketing tools today. It’s one of the most accessible avenues to reach your audiences, as about 60% of the world’s population uses social media in some way. Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, X, Pinterest and Reddit make up a range of platforms used in different ways for specific interests.

Businesses and organizations can strategically tailor messages for each platform to cater to how each audience segment prefers to consume their content — ensuring imperative touchpoints are covered. 

But how do you gain visibility with these audiences if policies at your organization do not allow you to access these social channels?  

• Guest posting: Co-author blogs with organizations that do have social channels. 
• Community engagement: Participate in relevant online community forums and groups where students applying to college are members. Engage in conversations, answer questions and share insights. 
• Partnerships and collaborations: Forge partnerships with organizations or individuals who have existing social channels for “takeovers,” where you’d temporarily take control of the account and post on their behalf to amplify your message. 
• Search engine optimization (SEO): Leverage SEO — optimizing your content for relevant keywords and links — for all content on your website so the site ranks higher in search engines. 
• Public speaking: Offer to speak at events or local meetings. 
• User-generated content: Encourage supporters or influencers to create and share photos and videos on their channels to tap into audiences who value their testimonials. 

By implementing these strategies, you can effectively reach your audience using the resources available to you. These tactics not only boost your brand’s visibility, but they also boost your credibility. Incorporate these tactics into your 2024-2025 plans to witness the growth of your message and your audience. 

ACT College and Career Readiness Workshops (CCRW) 

It’s that time of year again for ACT’s annual professional development workshops for K-12 educators! These sessions provide a unique opportunity to connect with fellow educators and ACT subject matter experts, explore effective practices in education and discover diverse pathways students can take after high school. Workshops are available online and in-person, starting Aug. 13, and attendance is completely free. Topics covered will include:

• Holistic approaches to education for enhanced outcomes.
• Strategies for monitoring student growth.
• Techniques for improving curriculum.
• Effective test preparation.
• Future planning for student success.
• Building essential skills for lifelong learning.

Don’t miss out — register today to secure your spot!

WhyApply Day Campaign Resources and Planning Tools

WhyApply Day is just around the corner on Sept. 20! Now is the perfect time to start planning your application events. Let’s come together to inspire and encourage our students to pursue a future in postsecondary education. 

Use these tools and resources to start planning how you will celebrate: 

• #WhyApply selfie printout 
• Social Media Planning Toolkit 
• Promotional graphics 
• Customizable graphic templates in Canva 
• Sample social media content 

All resources are available to download at https://equityinlearning.act.org/acac/resources/why-apply/

Why Join: College Application Events Webinar

Each year, ACAC works with nearly every state, and Washington, D.C., to host college application events in high schools and community organizations encouraging students to apply. 

Three previous School of Excellence Winners — acknowledged for their commitment to student success and for serving as exemplary models for their state’s college application campaign — will share why you should join in and participate in college application events this year and why they benefit educators and students. 

In this webinar, participants will learn: 

• The importance of hosting a college application event. 
• Innovative ways to reach students. 
• How to remove barriers that prevent students from applying to a postsecondary institution.

Join us on Aug. 23 by registering here. 

State Campaign Resources

Are you hosting a college application event this year and need help figuring out where to start or what materials to use? Here’s a list of resources to help you make your event a success:

• 10 Ways to Build Excitement for College Application Events.
• #IApplied sticker.
• 10 Steps for Applying to College. 
• College Application Fee Waiver worksheet.
• Ask Me About It poster.