We have a powerful potential in our youth, and we must have the courage to change old ideas and practices so that we may direct their power toward good ends. –Mary McLeod Bethune
College OPTIONS, a long-time Foundation grantee, changed its official name to College and Career Options in 2023. This new name more accurately reflects the broad scope of free services the organization has provided to students and families in the North State region for many years. College and Career Options, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, serves all residents of Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity and Modoc counties with free career and college-readiness programs including individual career exploration and college advising services, community events for all ages, financial aid counseling, scholarships, college campus visits, and trained advisors in middle and high schools.
College and Career Options helps students decide what career to pursue once they graduate from high school, and helps their families find the best resources to finance their students’ education. With many options — from military service and career technical training to community colleges and four-year universities — College and Career Options provides students of all ages and their families with the information and tools necessary to make the right choice for them.
To do this, College and Career Options partners with the University of California and the California State University systems, local community colleges, regional colleges and universities, federal TRIO programs, local nonprofit organizations and local county offices of education. The McConnell Foundation’s funding wraps around College and Career Options and its other funding partners to ensure services are available for all students in the five counties.
College and Career Options spearheaded the creation of The North State Promise, a program that guarantees admission priority and financial aid to North State students at partner universities, and transfer assistance to students enrolled in local community colleges — a tremendous benefit to our North State students. College and Career Options has also partnered with community organizations in local cradle through career collective impact initiatives in the North State, including North State Together, to help ensure that ALL students in the North State are prepared for ALL options after high school.
“College OPTIONS and the amazing employees that work there, gave us the tools and the knowledge to pursue every scholarship possible and the understanding of how to navigate through the Cal Grant system.” ~ Larry and Linda Rumery (parents)
For more information about College and Career Options and its services, visit https://collegeoptions.org/
Photos courtesy of College and Career Options, Inc.
