Bringing Colleges to Rural Students

Rural students comprise 25% of all high school students in Wisconsin yet are going to college at lower
rates than non-rural students. College – 2-year or 4-year – may not be for everyone, but rural students
often must navigate planning for after high school without all the information and also support they need to determine the best path for them. A recent project by the Wisconsin State Journal’s higher education
reporter Kimberly Wethal on rural college access revealed that rural students who have access to
information about higher education, scholarships and grants, and also the true cost of college attendance, are more likely to go to college and succeed.

The State Journal and College for Rural Wisconsin are partnering with Nekoosa High School to offer the
College2U Roadshow for Central Wisconsin. College2U brings Wisconsin colleges and universities to
rural students for the opportunity to learn more about college-going and also the wide variety of options
that exist for post-secondary education.

The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, at Nekoosa High School, 500 S. Cedar St. in
Nekoosa.

“Our goal is to provide comprehensive support,” adds Jennifer Blazek, College for Rural WI program director. “We’ve learned from our community feedback and expanded our panel to include a diverse range of institutions, ensuring students get insights tailored to their interests and needs.”

The first hour will feature a college panel, with representatives from UW-Madison, UW-River Falls, Mid-
State Technical College, Madison Area Technical College, Ripon College, UW Help, rural college students
who can speak to their own experiences, as well as others. The second hour will be a college fair, where
students and families can learn more about specific institutions.

The event is open to the public but will cater to high school students and their families who are looking
to learn more about college. It is free to attend and refreshments will also be provided.

To learn more as well as to register, visit https://collegeforrural.wisc.edu/event/