LAKEPORT >> Terrace Middle School’s Commit to Graduate initiative is associated with the national Reach Higher initiative. The Reach Higher initiative is the First Lady’s effort to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university.
Ingrid Larsen is the lead for the initiative at Terrace Middle School. “I’m hoping the year-long focus helps students keep the goal of graduating in their thoughts,” Larsen said. She hosts events that emphasize the importance for students to graduate high school and pursue a higher education.
Larsen assigns tasks to every student in the 7th and 8th grade to prepare them for college. Seventh graders fill-out a sample job application and attend a career exploration event. The 8th graders participate in a career exploration discussion to explore interest categories. They also fill-out a sample scholarship application, tour a college campus and attend the career exploration event.
Another aspect in the initiative is the Road Trip Nation Experience. This program empowers students to map their interests to future pathways in life. The heart of this experience is to help students explore their communities and speak with local leaders to understand steps taken to get to where they are today.
In today’s economy, a high school diploma just isn’t enough. Students have to reach higher, which is why the First Lady is working to rally the country around the President’s “North Star” goal — that by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.
For more information, contact Ingrid Larsen at ilarsen@lakeport.k12.us or (707) 262-3024.
