College Depot will host a series of four free workshops beginning March 12 aimed at preparing high school and college students for financial aid and time management in college.
College Depot, located on the second floor of the Burton Barr Central Library, provides services to help local youths plan and pay for college as well as prepare them for success in classes.
It opened in June 2009 and operates as a nonprofit organization, receiving the money for these workshops from outside donations, said Judy Reno, the director of College Depot.
“All workshops encourage student participation and make sure students get all of their questions answered,” Reno said.
The workshops consist of hands-on projects as well as presenters who engage participants in a conversational tone.
The first workshop, Searching for Scholarships, on March 12 at 2 p.m. will provide students an overview of the proper ways to search for scholarships as well as tips for how to apply for them, Reno said.
Understanding Financial Aid on March 22 at 6:30 p.m. will present information on how financial aid operates including grants, loans and work-study. The goal, Reno said, is to make sure students maximize all the financial aid that is available to them.
Bonnie Wentzel, who started studentmom.com, a website for moms who want to go to college, will host It’s Not Too Late to Go to School at 6:30 p.m. on March 24. Wentzel, who returned to school at the age of 40 and received her master’s degree from ASU, understands how difficult it can be to commit to going back to school while managing other roles.
Wentzel, who hosted this same workshop last fall, opens her discussion telling participants the first thing they need to do is fully commit to going back to school. From there, she tries to help educate them on the steps necessary to pick a degree and decide what classes to take and in what order. Wentzel is now a faculty associate at ASU’s Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Time Management for College Students, the fourth workshop on March 29 at 5:30 p.m., will focus on helping students adapt to living on their own and being held accountable for their studies.
Samuel Fuller, a graduate student at ASU, who attended workshops in the past and now organizes them as a volunteer, said students benefit from attending the workshops.
“You’ll come out with a greater understanding and a greater desire,” Fuller said. “They’ll kind of set you on a path and give you a place to go.”
Each workshop is one hour long and has a maximum of about 40 seats. Participants can register by phone at 602-261-8847 or by e-mailing college.depot@phoenix.gov.
Contact the reporter at tara.boyd@asu.edu
