11 AM Seminars

College Preparation: Homeschooling Perspective

Building UW2, Room 005

Lee Binz, The Home Scholar, www.thehomescholar.com

The secrets of homeschool success explained!  How to plan a rigorous curriculum, keep high school records, emphasize specialization, prepare for college admission exams, make a transcript, and document learning from outside sources. Planning for college can begin in middle school. You will receive a handy one-page Planning Guide to take home!

Financial Aid 101

Building UW 2, Room 031

Danette Carter, Assistant Director of Student Financial Services, Cascadia Community College, www.cascadia.edu

Come learn about the myriad of financial aid options available to students and their families to meet educational costs. 

Study Abroad College Panel

Building UW 1, Room 041

Randy Corradine, The Evergreen State College, www.evergreen.edu

Sabrina Moss, International Student Advisor, Cascadia Community College, www.cascadia.edu

Bethany Potter, Cascadia student studied abroad, www.cascadia.edu

Living and learning abroad is a vital part of understanding our world and crafting creative solutions to the challenges all societies face.  It’s for everyone in every area of study.  It’s for students of every age and ability status.  Come learn more about exciting study abroad options!

 Noon Seminars

Trade & Certificate Options College Panel

Building UW2, Room 005

Herman Calzadillas, Director Recruitment & Outreach, Lake Washington Technical College, www.lwtc.edu.

Gina Nakamura, Outreach Coordinator, Seattle Central Community College, www.seattlecentral.edu

Brian Bansenauer, Cascadia Community College, www.cascadia.edu 

Presenters will cover professional and technical degrees, certificate programs, and training opportunities available at their colleges—many at very affordable costs—some for free!

Transition to Postsecondary Education for Students With Disabilities

Building UW 2, Room 031

Debra Zawada, Program Coordinator, Do-It, Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology at the University of Washington, www.washington.edu/doit

Disability law drives the postsecondary system in respect to how colleges provide services to students with disabilities. In order to know their rights, it is important for students to develop a working knowledge of these laws.  In addition the development of self-determination and self-advocacy skills will further prepare a student to succeed in a postsecondary environment.  We will also discuss disability in terms of environmental demands and the future need for assistive technology.  Success in postsecondary education for students with disabilities is a balancing act between rights and responsibilities.

Experiential Learning: Local Wilderness Programs

Building UW 1, Room 041

Earthwalk Northwest, Karen& Frank Sherwood, www.earthwalknorthwest.com

Alderleaf Wilderness College, Jason Knight, www.wildernesscollege.com

Earthwalk Northwest offers programs focusing on earth awareness and primitive living skills, including primitive bow making, fire by friction, wild edibles, and much more. Our unique courses provide in-depth, hands-on experience, allowing participants to deepen their understanding of traditional skills while learning how to wisely use and honor the many gifts the earth has to offer.

The Alderleaf Wilderness College offers innovative wilderness, tracking, and nature programs.  The Wilderness Certification Program is a comprehensive, school-long course that provides students with valuable skills and experiences in the field of Traditional Ecological Knowledge encompassing herbal medicine, survival, wildlife tracking, sustainable living, naturalist skills , and outdoor leadership. Led by expert faculty, the program prepares students to readily apply nature skills in environmental conservation, education, sustainable living and beyond.

 1 PM Seminars

Emerging Industry: Entertainment and Gaming

Building UW2, Room 005

Ben Ellinger, Chair of the Game Department, DigiPen Institute of Technology, www.digipen.edu

Few industries in the last 100 years have experienced the kind of growth and popularity of the electronic gaming industry. Where once games were made by two or three grad students in a garage, they are now often made by teams of over 100 people in Fortune 500 companies and see revenues in the hundreds of millions. Professor Ben Ellinger, Chair of the Game Department at DigiPen Institute of Technology, will share his insights into this rapidly expanding field, explain why DigiPen grads are some of the most highly sought after in the industry and what you can do to become a part of it.

Homeschool Path to College

Building UW 2, Room 031

Emily McCann, Pacific Lutheran University, www.plu.edu

How do students and parents best prepare for college?  What classes are required or recommended for admission?  What extra-curricular activities should students be involved in?  What kind of students are college admissions offices looking for, and what steps can you take to make your college application stick out?  Come talk to Pacific Lutheran University Admission Counselor Emily McCann, who will share tips and ideas on how to navigate the college preparation and admission process, throughout high-school years and especially the year before college.

Deconstructing the Gap Year: Facilitating Meaning Before College

Building UW 1, Room 041

Carpe Diem International, Ethan Knight, www.carpediemeducation.org;  facilitated by www.planetgapyear.com.

You've done High School "outside-of-the-box" and no doubt benefitted greatly from the experience.  So why would we as independent thinkers still try to push students into a college experience that is decidedly "in-the-box."  This seminar will offer a non-traditional approach to college that universally benefits students by keeping them rich both academically and personally.  You will hear what a GAP year can be, why students take one, how it helps them succeed in the "real world," and we will share some data about why top universities value GAP Year students.  We will also hear directly from a Carpe Diem graduate about why he chose to take his GAP Year and what the end results were.

 2 PM Seminars

College Scholarships for High School Credit

Building UW2, Room 005

Lee Binz, The Home Scholar, www.thehomescholar.com

Learn how to implement a high school plan that can earn college scholarships AND earn high school credit!  Learn how to Find, Filter, Format, Follow through, and File scholarships for best results.  This scholarship plan has benefits whether you win scholarships or not!  Plus, you'll learn other effective ways to afford college. Handouts are included.

Campus Life

Building UW 2, Room 031

Lee Che P. Leong, Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, www.wwu.edu/depts/fairhaven

Pomona College, Cole Rottweiler, Alumni, www.pomona.edu

Carly Simonson, Undergraduate Admissions Counselor, Seattle Pacific University, www.spu.edu

What’s it really like to go to college?  Come learn about campus life at three different colleges: Fairhaven College, Pomona College, and Seattle Pacific University.    What are the Dorms like?  What about off campus housing, food, weather, social life... Does each school have a Greek system? If so, what is it like?  Extra-curricular and outdoor activities? Is your school close to a major city?  Learn the answers to these questions and more!