Monday, November 15, 1999
Put college in your future, Ohio kids told at statehouse
BY ANNA GUIDO
Enquirer Contributor
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP — Megan Scheitlin, 9, is pretty certain she wants to be a rock singer when she grows up.
Until recently, though, she didn't know whether she wanted to go to college.
A visit to the statehouse in Columbus and some words of advice from her third-grade teacher may have helped Megan decide.
“If you get a good education, you can get a good job, and it's important to get a good job so you can make lots of money,” Megan said. “You need lots of money to eat and take care of your family.”
Megan's class from Woodland Elementary in the Lakota Local School District represented Butler County Oct. 1 at the 10-year anniversary celebration of the Ohio Prepaid Tuition Program.
One third-grade class from each of Ohio's 88 counties was invited to attend the event, where state education and government officials led a rally on the statehouse lawn. The idea was to inspire children to pursue higher education.
“It really got the children pumped up about college and their future,” said Corey Massarelli, Megan's teacher. “And we were the first group there, so we got a lot of attention.”
The children were asked to make life-size portraits of themselves on paper. The paper doll-like works of art were to portray what the students want to be when they grow up.
Some of the art work is on display at the statehouse through Feb. 12, including Kristin Locey's ballerina.
“I did a ballerina because I want to be a ballet teacher,” Kristin said last week in Ms. Massarelli's class. “I've been dancing since I was 4 or 5.”
The Ohio Tuition Trust Authority, which runs the Ohio Prepaid Tuition Program, sponsored the statehouse celebration in conjunction with the program's annual enrollment campaign.
More than 82,000 children are enrolled in the Prepaid Tuition Program.
The program allows purchase of college “units” which represent 1 percent of the cost of the average tuition in Ohio public universities. Bought at today's cost, the units can be redeemed in the future as 1 percent of the tuition cost of that time, when the average tuition likely will be higher.
Downtown projects angle for state dollars
Hot time tonight for Backstreet Boys fans
Stargazers hope meteor shower will dazzle
Y2K-I-DO: Couples ring in millennium with wedding bells
What's the secret to living to 100?
Youths rally for Ten Commandments
Morality messenger blends old with new
'Nightline' to air historic tapes from Clifton Jewish archives
GET TO IT
Megadeth won't stray from heavy metal way
Democrat Lucas sides with GOP on many votes
Driver arrested after car chase, 2 accidents
Ideas flow for water system
Miss Glasgow crowned Miss Ky. USA
Naiser's restorations often better than new
Put college in your future, Ohio kids told at statehouse
TRISTATE DIGEST
Voinovich cuts own path from GOP line
Volunteers search for hidden homeless
