By Haley Mitchell Godwin

The 2024 Regional College Fair, held on Oct. 1 in the Luverne High School auditorium, gave seniors from Brantley School, Crenshaw Christian Academy, Highland Home School and Luverne School the opportunity to explore higher education options. Students met with representatives from over 20 colleges and universities, gaining a firsthand look at various programs, scholarships and campus life.

Each high school was allotted time to engage directly with admission representatives, allowing students to gather information and ask questions about admissions, financial aid and other aspects of college life. Crenshaw County Schools’ College and Career coach, Haley Beasley Kilcrease, highlighted the importance of this event for helping students navigate the often-complex college admissions process.

“Students had the opportunity to explore a variety of college options and speak directly with admission representatives from across the region,” Kilcrease said. “Each school present offered valuable insight for our students and their futures. A huge thank you goes out to the recruiters who took time to inform and recruit. From scholarships to programs and campus life, our seniors were able to explore a world of possibilities, and I am so proud of them and their excitement and engagement as they take the next steps toward their dreams. The future is bright for our students.”

Kilcrease emphasized that the goal of the college fair is to help students transition smoothly into higher education. She said that with valuable guidance from recruiters, Crenshaw County seniors are now better equipped to make informed decisions about their futures.

In addition to face-to-face interactions, students utilized the StriveScan program, which streamlined the information-gathering process. After registering online, students received personalized QR codes, allowing them to share their contact information with colleges with a simple scan. This option set them up to receive essential details about the schools they were interested in, as well as application deadlines and financial aid information.

Highland Home senior Clay Hackleman found the StriveScan system to be an efficient tool for navigating the college fair.

“Using the QR codes was a really easy process,” Hackleman said. “It really helped me organize my thoughts on each school.”

Brantley High School senior Myia Mount also appreciated the college fair experience, noting how it broadened her perspective on potential schools.

“I really did not have a clue where I wanted to go before the college fair,” Mount said. “But I have a better idea now, and the college fair helped me better understand the process of getting all my college stuff going. It was obvious that they (various college representatives) had our best interests at heart because they were doing a lot more than just handing us flyers. We were told to contact them if we needed help with anything, and they answered every question I had.”

Maggie Morgan, a senior at Luverne High School, also found the fair beneficial, noting that the fair eased some of her concerns about the college process

“The college I’m interested in was at the fair, and I learned things I wasn’t aware of,” Morgan said. “It was beneficial because it helped me realize I don’t have to have my whole life planned out right now. This is a stressful time, but knowing there will always be someone to ask questions—even after high school—is reassuring. The fair made me realize that I might change my plans once I’m in college and learn about more jobs and opportunities out there.”