Ready, set, graduate

Kennedy Slayton always knew she would go to college. A native of Hodgenville, Kentucky, she dreamed of going to law school and had parents who supported her on her journey toward a post-secondary education. However, due to a lack of resources among her public high school counselors and living in a rural area with no public colleges or universities nearby, much of the application process was left up to Slayton to navigate on her own.

Slayton’s struggle was not unique. According to the U.S. News & World Report, about 35 million people live in higher education deserts – areas with limited access to public colleges and universities.

To reduce barriers to college attendance and help strengthen communities in Kentucky – where the college-going rate is below the national average, the University of Louisville launched two new programs focused on preparing young students for college at home and across the commonwealth – including a college readiness coaches program Slayton is taking part in as a coach.

The goal is to boost the college-going rate of students in the state and help diminish the negative impact of education deserts, leading to more students earning degrees so they can boost their communities and local economies after graduation.

Finding an oasis

Research shows the further away someone lives from a college, the less likely they are to pursue a degree. Students from diverse backgrounds or lower-income families are particularly impacted by education deserts and other barriers to higher education.

“In Kentucky, there are a lot of counties declared as education deserts,” said Brandy Chamberlain, director of the college readiness coaches program through UofL’s Office of Online Learning. “So, what we looked at were counties that do not have more than two open-access higher education institutions within a 50-mile radius.”

The college readiness coaches program equips current UofL students with the knowledge and skills to help high school students across Kentucky prepare for what to expect throughout the college application and admission process. The student coaches travel to high schools to help answer questions about college from high schoolers, act as peer mentors and encourage students to continue into higher education, whether at UofL or other universities.

Now a senior majoring in criminal justice as part of the 3+3 accelerated law program at UofL, Slayton is empowering high school students to take on the college-going process with confidence.

“I had to do things on my own, so I hope to provide a sense of comfort for students to feel confident that they are doing the right thing,” Slayton said. “Seeing the excitement of these (hopefully) future Cardinals and helping them get their foot into the door of the college experience is really rewarding.”

Going back, giving back

LaRue County High School – Slayton’s alma mater – was the first to sign on for the program, which launched this fall. She returned to LaRue County every week during the fall semester to serve as the program’s first college readiness coach.

“Kennedy going back to LaRue County is hopefully going to show so many students that they can also be successful and access their own higher education,” Chamberlain said. “I hope the coaches are fulfilled knowing that they are making a difference in some people’s lives.”

“I want to be a guidepost, so students have direction and access to higher education, no matter where they decide to go or if it’s online,” Slayton said. “I’m excited to help students find the best continuing path for them and not stop at a high school diploma. I want to help get more of those first-generation students over the barrier of wondering ‘Is college for me?’ and let them know they do have a pathway to a successful and attainable future and help them find the right fit based on their individual goals and personality, not just where their friends go.”

The student coaches work closely with UofL’s admissions counselors to share information about financial aid, scholarships, academic programs, housing applications, meal plans and more. Coaches also help connect high school students with specific counselors, staff or faculty who are experts in the academic field the students want to study. Slayton said she hopes she can help fill the gap for high school counselors who are overworked with limited resources to encourage students to attend college.

“As a (high school) senior, I knew I was going to UofL. But not many people in LaRue County go to UofL, so the counselors were focused on other colleges,” Slayton said. “Students have asked me about my college experience in general, why I chose UofL, how I picked my major and where I live on campus, so it feels more like a big sister conversation than a staff-to-student conversation. That helps them open up to me so they can figure out the best path forward for them.”

Chamberlain aims to add five more coaches this year, with the ultimate goal of having a coach in every Kentucky county to create positive impacts on students and their communities across the commonwealth.

“The value I see in this is that when we uplift a person, we uplift their family,” Chamberlain said. “Maybe it’s a first-generation student, and then their cousin says, ‘Hey my cousin did this, maybe I can too.’ We’re hoping this builds a cycle and ripple effect of uplifting families and their communities to deplete education deserts.”

Cardinals Rising

UofL is also helping young students in its own backyard prepare for college through the new Cardinals Rising program.

Led by Daquarius Mahone, associate director of college readiness and student success, Cardinals Rising empowers local students and cultivates pathways to higher education through mentorship, intentional relationships and strategic investment. The program focuses on building a college-going culture among underserved, low-income and first-generation students in grades 8-12 by matching them with UofL student ambassadors who serve as mentors to help demystify the college process.

“Charity begins at home, so we’re starting with Jefferson County Public Schools. The goal is to produce students who contribute to our community and drive workforce development for the city and the state,” Mahone said. “We want to help reduce dropout rates and fill in those opportunity gaps to help students in eighth grade go all the way to graduation. We are the bridge to make sure those students make it through to high school graduation, to college graduation and on to their successful future and life.”

The program will provide year-round engagement, curriculum and ongoing student mentorship as a collaborative effort with UofL’s academic colleges and resources.

“We have an opportunity to bring about such a change in the lives of our future students, which affects the future of our community, our state and it begins with this,” Mahone said. “We are investing in the lives of young people.”

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Planning the future

Cardinals Rising inspires young students to break the norm and begin thinking about college before they reach their junior or senior year of high school. Additionally, each spring, UofL encourages freshmen, sophomores and juniors to attend Think College Now, a half-day event to help students starting out on their college search.

With a campus tour, student panel, workshops on financial aid, student life and more, Think College Now gives students an opportunity to dip their toes into the college experience and begin planning their path to higher education.

These programs are just the beginning for students who are launching their futures through earning a degree.

“We’re building relationships and saying, ‘Hey, the University of Louisville cares, we’re here to help and it’s not us just saying come to UofL,’ ” Chamberlain said. “It’s us saying we care about you. We care about your future. We’re here to help you find what is the best fit for you.”

To read and learn more, take a look inside the fall/winter 2024 issue of UofL Magazine.