Wednesday, November 15, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 29
ASPIRE: Program
gives direction
post-high school
Continued from page 3
“The more one-on-one
time we can get for students,
the better,” he said. “We sin-
cerely could use more volun-
teer mentors.”
In addition to the men-
tors, Sisters High School con-
tracts with college consultant
Theresa Wadden who meets
with students and their par-
ents, namely regarding four-
year college admission, which
can be a bit daunting, espe-
cially for students and parents
unfamiliar with the process.
“Though we serve all stu-
dents, we have a special focus
on students who are the first
in their families to attend col-
lege,” said Kroytz. “To clar-
ify, we use the word ‘college’
to cover any post-high-school
training.”
In addition to mentoring,
the ASPIRE program hosts
college planning nights and
financial aid seminars for stu-
dents and parents during the
year. Earlier this fall, Kroytz
took about 50 students to the
Central Oregon College Fair
for them to gain exposure to
higher education.
Helping students choose
a college path is important
work, but then the challenge
becomes figuring out how
to pay for it. This is why
Kroytz hosts a financial aid
night each fall and works
closely with the local non-
profit group GRO (Graduate
Resource Organization).
Last year GRO awarded
87 separate scholarships to
forty members of the Sisters
High School class of 2017.
All of the scholarships come
from local sources, thanks to
the generous people and busi-
nesses of Sisters.
Kroytz, along with mem-
bers of GRO, facilitate the
application, selection, and
disbursement of these schol-
arships. One of GRO’s aims
is to provide a scholarship to
every student who applies.
Scholarships are available
for every post-high-school
educational option under the
sun — from four-year col-
leges to one- and two-year
technical and vocational
schools.
One goal this year for
ASPIRE and GRO is to help
ensure that students and their
families understand that the
two programs are meant to
serve all students.
“We sometimes hear that
there is a belief that ASPIRE
and GRO are focused on
four-year colleges, which is
not the case whatsoever,”
said Kroytz. “ASPIRE helps
advise students on any and all
career and educational inter-
ests, from military service to
higher education.”
He went on, “The confu-
sion may stem from the fact
that applying to four-year col-
leges tends to require more
steps than other options.”
Kroytz wants to make sure
all families are aware of the
Oregon Promise, which was
established by the legislature
in 2015, which offers tuition
at any of Oregon’s commu-
nity colleges for qualified
students.
“The Oregon Promise is
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really helping kids access col-
lege,” he said. “Its popularity
has caused Oregon’s lawmak-
ers to have to make some tem-
porary adjustments to how to
prioritize recipients from the
qualified pool, which includes
being an Oregon High School
graduate with a minimum of a
2.5 grade point average.”
The more one-on-one
time we can get for
students, the better. We
sincerely could use more
volunteer mentors.
— Rick Kroytz
To apply for the Oregon
Promise, students must file
a free application for student
aid (FAFSA) and complete an
application on the OSAC por-
tal. The application period is
open, according to Kroytz.
Links to learn more about
ASPIRE and GRO links are
on the Sisters High School
website. Kroytz can be
reached at 541-549-4045 or at
rick.kroytz@sisters.k12.or.us.
BROWN: Captain had to
retest for firefighting
capabilities
Continued from page 3
said, “We are proud of the
hard work and determination
he has shown to get back to
work.”
Due to the physical
demands of the job, injured
firefighters must pass a gru-
eling physical abilities test
before returning to work. The
test is designed to simulate
firefighting skills that may
be encountered at an emer-
gency incident. Captain
Brown breezed through the
testing process without hesi-
tation and reported for duty
Saturday, November 4.
Captain Brown thanked all
of the people who helped him
through the recovery process.
“I am so thankful to be
back to work and couldn’t
have done this without the
help of the CHP rescue crew,
my doctors, physical thera-
pist, friends and family,” he
said.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Captain Thornton Brown (left) is back on the fire engine after an accident
during a climbing adventure left him injured.
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