American Student Assistance - 2019 Annual Report

asa.org/about ⋅ 2019 Annual Report 12 MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL In 2019, our middle and high school-based Talent Search, Upward Bound and GEAR UP programs served more than 2,300 students at public schools in the Boston metro area through class presentations, after-school tutoring and mentoring, and summer programming in conjunction with Stonehill College. Our team of expert advisors worked diligently to ensure that the students we serve leave high school with a plan for their next steps in life, whether that be a traditional four-year college, community college, vocational education, an apprenticeship, the military or another pathway. COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES ASA’s community-based walk-in centers in Boston and Brockton, Massachusetts provide guidance on numerous topics ranging from assistance with higher education applications and financing to career services. This one-on-one counseling is free and open to the public. Additionally, ASA provides financial support for the Reach4Success Program in Washington, DC to ensure similar programing is widely available to residents of the DC-metro area. ADVISING $ With a fundamental belief that personalized guidance and encouragement can have a profound impact on a student’s life, ASA provides one-on-one support to thousands of middle and high school students in Massachusetts each year. ASA’s Education and Career Planning (ECP) team of advisors, with financial assistance from the federal TRIO grant program, provides in-person counseling to students as they embark on the journey toward a meaningful career, regardless of the pathway that’s right for them. With our 60-year history as a student loan guarantor, ASA supports families as they navigate the federal financial aid process, helping them identify alternative financing options to ensure that higher education is accessible to all students. We offer career and interest exploration programming for middle and high school students, and an array of career planning programs for older students. 909 students participated in 147 different in-school ECP events