Pictured is Central High School Guidance Counselor Corinne Hindman touring MIT and Colby College.
Central High School Guidance Counselor Corinne Hindman recently participated in an exclusive opportunity to tour Ivy League and top-tier colleges through the STARS College Network. This network, which partners with leading colleges and universities across the country, is dedicated to ensuring students from rural and small-town America have the resources, information, and support they need to enroll in—and graduate from—the college of their choice.
Representing both Carroll County Schools and Central High School, Ms. Hindman traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, for a three-day educational tour. Her itinerary included visits to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Amherst College, Dartmouth College, and Colby College. In addition to touring campuses, Ms. Hindman received in-depth training on admissions processes, academic programs, and financial aid opportunities available to incoming undergraduates.
The STARS Network recently expanded to include 32 of the nation’s most prominent institutions, doubling its membership and extending its reach. Students can explore each member school, join mailing lists, and begin admissions applications through the STARS website.
By equipping guidance counselors with comprehensive training and resources, STARS ensures that students in rural schools like Central High have access to accurate, up-to-date information about college opportunities. The impact of the program is significant: in the past year alone, STARS outreach connected with 1.6 million people—including students, families, and educators—with more than 288,000 students joining the STARS network.
Over the next decade, STARS institutions and their partners expect to invest more than $7.4 billion in programs that prepare, recruit, and support rural students. This funding comes from a combination of institutional aid, philanthropic partnerships, nonprofit organizations, and government support.
Students from rural America graduate high school at rates comparable to their peers in metro areas, but they are only half as likely to graduate from a selective college or university. STARS is tackling the barriers that contribute to this gap, from financial challenges and limited counselor resources to the lack of exposure to college opportunities.
“By building relationships with colleges and universities through programs like STARS, we’re opening doors for Central High School students that might have once seemed out of reach,” Ms. Hindman shared following her trip.
Through the work of educators like Ms. Hindman, and the support of networks like STARS, Central High students are better prepared than ever to pursue higher education at the nation’s most prestigious institutions.
