3,500 MPS students to connect with colleges, careers, resources at fair

MILWAUKEE (November 24, 2014) – More than 3,500 MPS high school students will be able to meet representatives from dozens of colleges, universities, higher educational resources, apprenticeship programs and career opportunities on Tuesday as Milwaukee Public Schools and district partners host the 8th Annual Fresh Coast Classic College and Resource Fair.

Sponsors of the event include the Mandel Group, Molina Healthcare, MPS, the Forest County Potawatomi Foundation, Running Rebels and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

“Milwaukee Public Schools and our partners are committed to preparing students for success in college and careers,” MPS Superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver said. “One critical piece of that effort is giving our students the opportunity to meet face-to-face with people who represent the college and career paths that lay ahead of them.”

The fair’s new site – the UWM Student Union – means new opportunities for students, who will be able to take tours of the east side Milwaukee campus during their visit.

This year’s fair will also include the presentation of five TEAM UP scholarships.

Colleges and universities participating at this year’s fair include: Alverno College, Bryant & Stratton College, Cardinal Stritch University, Carroll University, Gateway Technical College, Harrington College of Design, Harris-Stowe State University, Jackson State University (local alumni group), Kendall College, Lakeland College, Lane College, Lincoln University, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Mount Mary University, Northland College, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, University of Wisconsin-Stout, University of Wisconsin-Waukesha and Waukesha County Technical College.

Apprenticeship, career representatives and resource representatives include: Boost Mobile, City Year Milwaukee, College Possible, Community Financial Service Centers, Direct Supply, Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation, Job Corps, MPS’ TEAM UP College Access Centers, McDonald’s of Southeastern Wisconsin, Milwaukee Area Joint Plumbing Apprenticeship Committee, Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, Molina Healthcare, Navy Recruiting District of Chicago, Outlet: Plugging People In, PNC Bank, Rev. James Spann I Foundation, Running Rebels, Southeast Wisconsin Carpentry Training Center, U.S. Army and Army Reserves, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

In addition to its support of the fair, other MPS’ college and career readiness efforts include:

• MPS’ two TEAM UP College Access Centers, which help students better understand how to prepare for, apply to and pay for higher education
• TEAM GEAR UP, an joint federal and local effort focused on promoting college awareness and readiness for a group of students in the graduating classes of 2017 and 2018
• Implementing rigorous SpringBoard pre-Advanced Placement coursework
• Expanding college preparatory International Baccalaureate programming

About Milwaukee Public Schools

Milwaukee Public Schools is committed to accelerating student achievement, building positive relationships between youth and adults and cultivating leadership at all levels. The district’s commitment to improvement continues to show results:

• More MPS students are meeting reading standards
• The MPS Class of 2014 earned $31 million in scholarships, up $7 million; and
• MPS is home to 4 of the state’s top 15 high schools according to U.S. News and World Report

Learn more about MPS by visiting http://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/en/District/About-MPS.htm. More MPS news is available at http://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/news.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.