Hamtramck High School recently held an event aimed at getting more students and community members into college.
The event featured a number of resources including Michigan Reconnect, a program that assists adult learners 25 and older attend college for free. Michigan students who apply and are accepted may choose to attend any of the state’s 31 community colleges or tribal colleges.
“We will work with you to complete the entire application process,” said a Michigan Reconnect representative. “Once you apply for Michigan Reconnect, you’ll automatically be connected to a navigator who will email you to assist you with the whole process.”
Another organization in attendance was Keys to Navigating our World (KNOW), which helps immigrants and first generation youth navigate various resources.
“We’re acting as their guide, or older sibling,” said KNOW Co-President Farida Ahmed. “We just want to hold their hands from senior year to college and beyond.
One Hamtramck High School student in attendance said she recognizes the need for services like Michigan Reconnect and KNOW.
“It was pretty easy,” she said, of completing the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which helps students pay for college. “But I did need some help from my older sister. Now we have people here to help kids with the FAFSA. I think it’s a good idea.”
Rafid Al-Marsoumi, KNOW’s managing board member, acknowledged the importance of having translators available when working with immigrants or first generation students.
“We have people that speak multiple languages here,” he said. “All of us speak different dialects of Arabic so we can help translate whatever they need in order to get as much Federal aid as possible to go to any college of their choice.”
Leonard Glover, a Hamtramck High School student, had just completed his FAFSA and encourages other students to do so as well.
“I got assistance from my Hamtramck HIgh School counselors, and I encourage others to come and fill out their forms for FAFSA and go to college,” he said.
Behavior Interventionist at Hamtramck High School, Shy’lexia Hill noted that she and other adults at the school are always available to help students with their financial aid forms.
“My goal is to help our kids get the FAFSA done to begin their journey to college,” she said.
President of Hamtramck High School’s National Honor Society Mst Begum hopes to see as many students as possible apply for the FAFSA.
“We’re trying to get the most amount of students to apply and get financial aid so they can go to college,” she said. “They can always reach out to the school counselors and they will get support.”
