The University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges (UHCC) and Hawai‘i P-20 Partnerships for Education, together with community partners, will once again offer the Next Steps to Your Future program, to support Hawaiʻi’s class of 2021 public high school seniors. Next Steps to Your Future will engage and guide graduating seniors in transitioning to their post-high school plans while connecting them to postsecondary education and training opportunities. Eligible students will also have an opportunity to take free summer career exploration classes from the UH Community Colleges.
“As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge Hawai‘i’s high school seniors in their final year, we are committed to providing the support they need to achieve their potential on their paths to better futures for themselves and our islands,” said UH President David Lassner.
Every student who opts in will be connected to an experienced UH Hawaiʻi Advising Cadre member who will provide free personalized support and information to guide them in their next steps whether they plan to enroll in college, enter the military or workforce, or are still undecided. Support will consist of specialized text messages, access to relevant resources and the one-on-one support of a dedicated advisor over the eight weeks of summer.
Eligible students will also be sponsored to participate in free UH Community Colleges summer career exploration courses. These courses will help students explore their career options, plan future steps and develop skills to be successful in college so they can focus on their goals.
“Our graduating seniors have spent the majority of their final year learning from home,” said Stephen Schatz, executive director for Hawai‘i P–20. “We will provide these students with one-on-one personalized advising and counseling support over the summer so they can successfully and seamlessly transition to their post high school plans.”
“We are excited to once again offer free summer Career Exploration classes to help our recent high school graduates develop plans and take the next steps toward their goals,” said UH Vice President for Community Colleges Erika Lacro. “These classes are an opportunity for students to develop plans for their future, become familiar with our community colleges across the state and get a head start on college classes in the fall.”
The Next Steps to Your Future program launched in summer 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with a vision to provide class of 2020 graduates with the advising and support to plan for their futures. More than 2,700 students participated in the Next Steps program, which included summer advising, UH Community Colleges classes or both. Twenty-five advisors served more than 1,700 class of 2020 graduates via text, email and one-on-one Zoom virtual sessions. In addition, more than 1,400 graduates took online UH Community Colleges classes choosing from 121 classes offered by seven campuses. 370 Next Steps students were awarded Next Steps Stronger Together Scholarship funded by Hawai‘i Community Foundation and First Hawaiian Bank Foundation with an average award of $6,200.
More details on how to participate and sign up for Next Steps to Your Future will be announced to eligible students in mid-March.
Next Steps to Your Future 2021 is being generously supported by GEAR UP Hawai‘i, Harold K.L, Castle Foundation, the Stupski Foundation, and federal CARES funding awarded to UH.
For more information, go to the Hawaiʻi P–20 website or email p20hawaii@hawaii.edu.