New Partnerships = New Opportunities

New Opportunities for AHSTW Students

AHSTW is excited to announce a new partnership with Career EdVantage!  The partnership is designed to increase opportunities in the area of CTE education and internships for the students of AHSTW.

Our collaboration is designed to provide services to students while in high school and on into post-secondary education.  While in high school students will receive support in many areas:  academic, social issues, time management, career exploration and education, financial planning, and more.  This support will be shared by a classroom teacher provided by Career EdVantage to our school, as well as Tri-Center and Riverside.  The shared teacher will provide all of the above services and information during a daily scheduled course for our students.

Internships are also an important part of the program.  The teacher associated with our program will assist in finding internship opportunities for each student in an area of interest.  We are excited to be able to include on the job training as part of the program, as these opportunities will allow students to verify their interest in a desired career field.

After completing high school and the requirements of the Career EdVantage program, access to new opportunities await.  Scholarships will be available to all high school CEV program completers.  The scholarships will assist students in covering the tuition and fees associated with the desired certification program on the Iowa Western Community College campus.  Other supports will continue to be available for students, as well and include academic services, personal supports, and transitioning services.  Services available as the program nears completion will be in the areas of: professional development, networking, resume building, and the development of interviewing skills.

Students will be selected for the Career EdVantage program beginning this fall through an application process.  The application will be made available to our current junior class for the 2019-2020 school year.  A second application process will be available to our current sophomore class for the 2020-2021 school year.

In the end, we are extremely excited for the opportunity to collaborate with Avenue Scholars, Career EdVantage and the Charles E. Lakin Foundation to provide these opportunities for our students.  We hope this program excites you, as much as it does us.      

Post-Secondary Opportunities

Pottawattamie Promise

AHSTW students have a connection to post-secondary education led by the Iowa West Foundation in collaboration with the Peter Kiewit Foundation and Iowa Western Community College!  The connection is in the form of a promise, a ‘Pottawattamie Promise’ to a free education.  Pottawattamie Promise is based on the idea that students who receive a quality education will go on to have successful careers and contribute to their communities, and we are extremely excited that this opportunity is available to the students of AHSTW!

Currently, AHSTW has 24 students taking advantage of the program, with nine students stepping on to the Iowa Western campus this fall for the first time.  We are so excited to be able to share this opportunity with our students and can’t wait to hear all of the success stories. 

Background Information on the program:

Students qualify for a scholarship in the following way:

-        Each family is required to complete an abbreviated Free Application for Federal Student Aid , FAFSA, during the student’s sophomore year of high school.

-        Submit the required application during the students sophomore year.

-        Students are required to be PELL eligible. {The Estimated Family Contribution may change.}

-        Minimum High School GPA of 2.0.

Pottawattamie Promise provides the following to scholarship recipients:

-        Counseling services in high school to prepare students for the life of a college student.

-        A quality education!

-        Full-Ride Scholarships for students to attend Iowa Western CC. {Includes: Tuition, Housing and Support Services}

-        Once on campus, counseling and support services are provided to promote success and completion of a two-year degree or certification.

Requirements of program after acceptance:

-        Complete a college readiness [Academic Success] course during high school instructed by an AHSTW teacher.

-        Complete a college Statistics course during high school.

-       Attend Iowa Western Community College after high school.

-        Maintain a 2.0 GPA while in attendance in Iowa Western Community College.

Soon, we will be hosting our informational night for this year’s sophomores and we hope you are able to attend!  However, if you would like to get started early and would like more information regarding the program please contact:  Mr. Jones, AHSTW Superintendent; Mr. Steve Sauvain, AHSTW HS Principal; or Ms. Ashlyn Birks, AHSTW HS Guidance Counselor.  We will be more than happy to assist.