Guiding students into future careers
COSHOCTON – When it comes to making decisions about careers and attending college, students and their families in Coshocton County have a valuable resource.
Since 2004, Coshocton C.A.R.E.S. (Community Action Resources to Educate Students) College Access Program has been guiding students in choosing their future career and college paths through grants and contributions.
"We are basically helping students develop plans. Career plans," said Brian Crilow, executive director of the organization that starts helping students as early as kindergarten and continues through high school through a variety of advisory programs and services. "I think our programs get them thinking about what they might want to do. They light up bulbs," Crilow said.
Coshocton C.A.R.E.S. is one of Coshocton County United Way's 19 partner agencies. The career development services it offers are free and available to students in the Coshocton City, River View Local and Ridgewood Local school districts and the Coshocton County Career Center. Workshops, seminars, campus tours, advisory sessions and numerous other programs guide students in future career choices throughout the year.
Crilow said the help of generous contributions from the community, including local businesses, Kiwanis of Coshocton and Coshocton Rotary, help provide supplies and funding for the many programs the organization offers throughout the year.
Crilow, who also serves as the adviser for the Ridgewood school district and the Coshocton County Career Center, works with Lynn Hill, adviser for River View School District, and Nancy Hatem, adviser for Coshocton City School District. The retired educators logged over 6000 contacts in individual and group meetings with students and parents last year, Crilow said.
"We are good partners with the local school districts. We work with them to fulfill their needs and the needs students have for career and college awareness," he said. "That's our goal. To fill in needs and provide information about careers, college and financial aid."
Though people might not think of kindergarten and elementary students when they think careers, this is a good time to start, Crilow said. Activities like Career Reading Buddies and Hands-On Career Learning Labs partners young students with volunteer ambassadors from the Coshocton County Career Center to get them thinking about their future interests.
As students advance to junior high school, Coshocton C.A.R.E.S. takes them on tours to the Career Center to give them hands-on career information. The students also have opportunities to visit college campuses.
With jobs and college in the near future, area high school students and their parents have important programs to guide them. Financial aid workshops and FAFSA assistance, College Fair Night and visits to college campuses help students get a head start towards future careers.
In addition to learning about college opportunities, Coshocton C.A.R.E.S. provides information about many career fields, two-year technical programs and the military.
"We aren't just gearing programs for those who want to pursue four-year degrees," Crilow said.
Learn how the United Way agencies serve Coshocton County
The Coshocton Tribune will highlight each of the 19 United Way partner agencies during the agency's fund-raising campaign.
The agencies are the American Red Cross, Children's Dental Clinic, Coshocton C.A.R.E.S., Coshocton County Handicap Society, First Step Family Violence Intervention Services, Girl Scouts of U.S.A- Ohio's Heartland, Maternal and Child Health Center, Boy Scouts of America-Muskingum Valley Council, Coshocton Senior Volunteer Program (C.S.V.P.), Rising Tide Aquatic Club, Salvation Army, TLC (Tutoring, Learning, Contributing) of Muskingum Valley Educational Services Center, Coshocton City Recreation, Ridgewood Recreation, Canal Lewis Recreation, Conesville Recreation, Roscoe Recreation, Warsaw Youth Development and Union Recreation.
For more information on the Coshocton County United Way, contact the United Way Office at 740-622-4567.