Summer R.I.S.E.

For four years, a collaborative team, that includes the Citrus County Coalition for College & Careers, the Suncoast YMCA, the College of Central Florida, the Citrus County Education Foundation, the Citrus County Schools, and the Chronicle Newspaper has offered a Summer Rise program to provide Resources, Information, Support, and Entry (RISE) into post-secondary learning opportunities for high school students. This two-day event includes providing students the access and tools needed to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), college/technical school applications, and local scholarship applications. In addition, students develop personal resumes, prepare for required college essays, and participate in mock interviews with community leaders. The overall goal is to help students “Launch their Learning Life” after high school graduation in May, 2024.

The summer training leads to one-on-one follow-up sessions throughout the school year so that students and families could complete the FAFSA application and so that students could have assistance with local scholarships and Bright Futures Scholarship applications, as well as assistance with completion and submission of college applications and related processes.