St. Scholastica to host event for 200 middle school students

Release Date: 03/09/09

The College of St. Scholastica will host an event for 200 students from Morgan Park Middle School from 9:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, on campus. The event, "Exploring the Possibilities: Kids, Colleges and Careers," is presented by the Minnesota Association of Financial Aid Administrators (MAFAA).

"The goal of the event is to get middle school kids thinking about their futures, while providing them with practical information about the academic paths they will need to follow to reach their goals," said Trish Johnson, assistant director of Financial Aid at St. Scholastica and an event organizer.

Johnson said the information won't be career-specific, but will focus more on the kinds of classes students should take in high school, what college is like, and how students can fund a college education.

Tou Ger Xiong, a nationally renowned Hmong rap artist and diversity consultant, will kick the event off at 9:45 a.m. in the Mitchell auditorium.

Xiong was two years old when his family fled Laos after the communist takeover in 1975. He lived for four years in a Thai refugee camp before he immigrated to the U.S. In 1992 he graduated valedictorian from Humboldt High School in St. Paul. He received a political science degree from Carleton College in Northfield, MN.

During his junior year at Carleton, Xiong created Project Respectism, an educational service project that uses comedy, storytelling and rap music to bridge cultures and generations. Since then he has taken his message about respect to 44 states and given over 1,500 presentations nationwide to audiences of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

"He is an amazing performer as well as an amazing person, and he really connects with students," said Johnson.

Following the keynote address students will divide into eight groups and participate in the following activities:

--Mini-workshops with Xiong
--Campus tours
--"College Options" DVD viewing
--"College Knowledge," an interactive game based on the game show "Jeopardy"

Following lunch, a panel of students from St. Scholastica and Lake Superior College will share some of their college experiences with students. The panel will be in the Mitchell Auditorium from 12:55 to 1:25 p.m.

The wrap-up session and award announcements for submitted artwork and essays will be from 1:25 to 1:45 p.m. in the Mitchell Auditorium.

"Students were asked to develop artwork and essays describing what they want to do in the future and how they see themselves getting there," said Johnson. "We are so pleased with the submissions; many are quite wonderful."

Award winners will receive U.S. Savings Bonds and Barnes & Noble gift cards.