Partners for Rural Impact teams up with Union to support local high schoolers

Rachel Dorroh • October 3, 2024
Chris Williams stands in front of the Cowan Chapel stage holding a microphone and pointing out at the audience. The projector screen hanging from the ceiling reads Student Success Agency. Williams is wearing sunglasses and casual attire.


Over 100 local high school seniors visited Union Commonwealth University Tuesday as part of a college and career readiness grant program headed by Partners for Rural Impact (PRI). The focus of the day was a presentation in Cowan Chapel by Student Success Agency (SSA) representative Chris Williams.


“If life isn’t already feeling real, it's going to in the next six to seven months,” Williams said. “I want to make sure that y'all are prepared, and that you’ve got every resource available to you.”


Williams explained that SSA provides a range of services including tutoring, socio-emotional support, assistance finding scholarship opportunities and jobs, and personalized coaching to help students meet their goals.


“We’re here to provide you these services so you can have all you need, when you want it, how you want it, 24/7, 365,” Williams said. He showed students how to download the app for SSA’s digital platform on their phones and trained them on how to text their personal agent, schedule tutoring sessions, and more.


Using Rural Postsecondary Economic Development (RPED) grant funding, PRI purchased the service for participating high schools in their service region – Barbourville Independent, Middlesboro Independent, and Pineville Independent. PRI is a non-profit organization that oversees numerous grant projects dedicated to increasing access to high-quality programs and supports to improve outcomes for children and youth in rural America.


The RPED grant, awarded by the Biden-Harris administration in June, is focused on increasing postsecondary enrollment and success among rural students.

Washinton is standing in front of the podium, American flag, and flower arrangement in Cowan Chapel holding a microphone and wearing a suit jacket.

“Rural communities face unique challenges in educating, training, and developing high-skill workers—yet they are also home to students with unique skills and potential,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “These dedicated funds will ensure that students in rural areas have access to postsecondary credentials and other resources that lead to high-quality career pathways and economic success.”


“Our schools told us they wanted coaching and mentoring for their students, and we found that purchasing the SSA program was the most effective way for us to do that,” PRI’s Program Director of the RPED grant Jason Reeves said. 


Students will have access to the SSA platform and services until August of 2025, at no charge to them.


[PHOTO: Washington addresses the audience]


Union’s Interim President Dr. DJ Washington made time to welcome the students while they were on campus. He shared his backstory as a first-generation college student from a rural high school who found success at Union. Washington stressed the value of hard work, networking, and taking advantage of opportunities as they arise. He also pointed out where his office is on campus and invited the students to stop by and see him if they come back for another visit. 

“I always try to take time to meet new families. If I happen to be out of town, leave your cell number with admissions, and I’ll shoot you a text,” Washington said. “We’re family here, and we take that personal approach really seriously. We really do care about you, and we really care about your success.”


Vice President of Undergraduate Recruitment James Becknell and PRI’s RPED grant Project Coordinator Diana Mills also shared brief remarks with the students. Like Washington, Becknell, Mills, and Reeves are Union alumni.


The students’ visit concluded with a tour of campus and lunch provided by Union. While this is PRI’s fourth year administering the RPED grant, this is the first year they have held the SSA training on Union’s campus. As their program has grown to include more schools, they sought out Union for a central meeting place and appreciated being able to include a campus visit and promote opportunities available at a local university.


“Everyone at Union – President Washington, admissions staff, and others – have made every effort to support this visit,” Mills said.

 

“We really appreciate Union’s support and hospitality,” Reeves added.


For more information about the Student Success Agency, see studentsuccess.co. For more information about Partners for Rural Education, see partnersrural.org or contact Diana Mills at diana.mills@partnersrural.org.

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