State Treasurer First in the Family to Graduate College
College Access Day in Ohio kicked off by state leadership

Columbus, Ohio - State Treasurer Kevin Boyce addressed top policy-makers and community-based programs this morning in an effort to raise awareness about providing equal access for all Ohioans to obtain a postsecondary education.

"I am proud to say that I am a first generation college graduate," said Boyce. "The Ohio College Access Network (OCAN) provides students across Ohio the same kind of guidance and financial support that I KNOW I CAN offered me when I needed assistance realizing my dream of attending college. Continuing to invest in our youth helps to prepare a well-educated workforce and helps us compete in a global and competitive market".

Governor Strickland declared April 1, 2009 College Access Day in Ohio in support of the Partners in College Access & Success, allies in education comprised of college access professionals who provide direct services to Ohio students by encouraging more low-income and first-generation students to actively pursue and complete higher education. The Partners helped organize a breakfast forum this morning hosted by new Senate and House Education Committee Chairs, Senator Gary Cates and Representative Brian Williams.

"The quality and accessibility of Ohio's education system, from pre-school to graduate school, is critical to bettering the lives of students and their families," said Senator Gary Cates, co-host of the breakfast. "It is also vital for building a lasting foundation to encourage business development in our communities, creating and retaining jobs, and growing Ohio's economy."

Together the Partners in College Access & Success and Ohio leaders can make a difference in the lives of Ohio's youth by motivating students to pursue college, counseling students and parents how to access financial aid and supporting students with need-based scholarships and internships.

"College access organizations in Ohio assist thousands of students in fulfilling their dreams of enrolling in college and earning a degree, while OCAN alone has increased college-going rates by nearly 4 percent and high school graduation rates by almost 5 percent," added Dr. Reginald Wilkinson, OCAN President & CEO.

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For more than 150 years combined, the Partners in College Access & Success have been advising students into pursuing and finishing a higher education. The Partners include: GEAR UP Ohio, Ohio Association for College Admissions Counseling (OACAC), Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA), Ohio Board Regents (OBR), Ohio College Access Network (OCAN), Ohio TRiO and KnowHow2GOOhio.