Athens is ranked fifth in the nation for the highest poverty rate! To combat this issue, a team of students at UGA created Athens College Track (ACT) to inform local high school students about financial issues surrounding education after high school. The program offers insight to education costs, the importance of saving for college early and how grades will affect not only what schools students are admitted to but also what scholarships they receive.
My favorite part of the campaign is the creative, interactive event they held this past week. Students at Clarke Central High School were given the opportunity to submit an essay answering the prompt “Why do you think college students graduate with debt? How can you start early to avoid this situation?” to win a chance to play the College Track Game.
While their fellow students watched, essay finalists, Natalya Haas, Natalie Lett and Kalyn Breeding, competed as playing pieces on a life-sized board game modeled after the game of LIFE. The game simulated how good grades, high SAT scores and savings can reduce the cost of college.
Haas rolled her way to victory, earning a $500 scholarship from Horizon Staffing and other donors.
“I learned about saving money and how much college really costs,” said Alan Watson, a senior at Clarke Central who attended the assembly. “I’ve already applied for a good bit of scholarships, but I’m definitely going to look into a lot more now that y’all (ACT) have come and talked to us.”
The team of five students who developed the campaign will compete in the national Bateman Case Study Competition in April. Whether they win the competition or not, they are making a significant impact in the lives of many students in Athens-Clarke County, so that’s a win in my book!
New Media = New Ideas 
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