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Gratitude from Past, Current, and Former MACAC Presidents
Gratitude from Past, Current, and Former MACAC Presidents
It's been a busy and chaotic year full of ups and downs, but Aaron, Jamie, and Nora took a moment to reflect on their time with MACAC and express their gratitude for their schools and work.
Aaron: In working with students and families, I am most grateful for their confidence in our guidance, and that they trust us with such major, life altering decisions around finding their college fit. It really is a privilege to share a small, but formative, part in their life narrative and future direction.
Jamie: As a public school counselor, I am most grateful for the MACAC organization and the relationships, support, and guidance each member has provided me. Supporting students and families through the college admissions process is an important part of my role as a school counselor, so I lean on the expertise and passion of MACAC organization and it's members.
Nora: I am grateful for our colleagues and members who continue to support and advocate for our students with grace, empathy, and integrity.
Fall Forum Recap
Fall Forum Recap
With another Fall Forum on the books, we are very appreciative of the efforts the Professional Development Committee made to execute an informative and enriching event. PD Committee member, Jeremy Baldwin from Holy Family High School writes about the attendee experience as well as the lasting questions MACAC members intend to bring back to their work.
On Friday, November 8th, the MACAC Fall Forum took place at Minnetonka High School, an event its membership is always eager to attend. This year was no different, with a noticeable amount of first-time attendees.
Zach Holden, who is in his second year with College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, echoed the sentiment shared at his table during breakfast: “MACAC provides great opportunities for professional development,” Holden says, which was his main reason for attending the forum. Besides the various sessions, Holden and others valued the camaraderie and networking above all else, as Kiel Des Jarlais of Rosemount High School also noted how the chance to “engage in new ideas” with peers in the profession was critical.
Ivy Hickerson and Jennifer Juntunen, both in attendance from Minnesota North College, commented on the insights and knowledge within the association being extremely valuable to their own development. As Hickerson pondered her current role in recruiting prospective students, “Is there a better way?” At the forum, Hickerson was eager to bounce ideas off of colleagues. Similarly, veteran admissions counselor Tony Amelse, from St. Ben’s/St. John’s, noted MACAC and the Fall Forum provide the chance for professionals to continually “set our own culture” in the everchanging college admissions world. Speaking to collaboration needed in today’s college admissions world, Angie Hertel, with the Flaherty Family Foundation, also indicated that “[...] What stood out most was the opportunity to connect with professionals from both the college admissions side and the high school counseling side.”
The need for MACAC and its membership to “flex with the change” and highlighting MACAC as a “community of practitioners” was communicated in the event's opening by Aaron Salasek, MACAC President and Jamie Menne, MACAC President-Elect. It’s clear that this year’s forum provided the platform for professionals to gather and hone their craft. Indeed, the forum’s attendees epitomized professional dexterity in an exciting, challenging - and changing - college admissions landscape.
National College Fair By the Numbers
National College Fair By the Numbers
We loved seeing so many of you at the National College Fair in October. Take a look at this year's numbers, provided by the National College Fair Committee.
Anti-Racism Committee Updates
Anti-Racism Committee Updates
The Anti-Racism Committee (ARC) has been progressing on its work toward serving as a hub for education and professional development in MACAC and the larger Minnesota admissions space. They’ve presented the new workshop “What Is My Role in a Social Change Environment?” three times now, including most recently by Nigel Simmons at last week’s Fall Forum. ARC has also been working on developing a second workshop, tentatively titled “Diversifying, Integrating, and Empowering BIPOC Students at PWIs” that features an examination of challenges and best practices regarding a collection of representative case studies that we’re developing. They’ll be working to develop several workshops and expand their presentation scope in the months ahead. Finally, ARC is working to finalize a core, “official,” Land Acknowledgement to be read at all MACAC events.
Meet the newest Communication Team Member
Meet the newest Communication Team Member
Get to know Paige Mackendaz (Concordia University St. Paul)!
Hi! My name is Paige Mackedanz, and I work at Concordia University St. Paul as a Senior Admissions Counselor! I have been in the admissions world for almost 3 years. I studied at Concordia College (Go Cobbers!), where I majored in Religion and Interfaith studies. MACAC has been an incredible organization to be a part of, and I have adored getting to plug into the wider admissions community.
I’m thrilled to get more involved in MACAC with the Communication Committee. The programming offered to counselors via MACAC has helped me grow my skills! Camp College, put on by the IAS Committee, has to be my favorite thing I have done during my time in Admissions. Connecting with high school students to provide them with support and mentorship is the best part of my job, and Camp College allowed me to do that on a much deeper level! I also loved getting to know other counselors through ACI– the professional development was fantastic and has helped empower me in my career.
Outside of work, I enjoy reading, watching far too much Summer House on Bravo, and spending time with my loved ones. I also consider myself a playlist connoisseur; I have over 150+ I've created. All this to say, if you need a book recommendation, an Instagram takeover, or a fun playlist, I’m your gal!
Minnesota Education Fairs In Review
Minnesota Education Fairs In Review
MEFs are college fairs held in mid-fall and spring throughout Minnesota at high schools and other venues. They are a result of the collaborative work of MACAC, public and private post-secondary schools, and high schools. Take a look at this fall's numbers—another busy season in the books!
Grants and Development Committee: NACAC Professional Development Grant Recipients 2024
Grants and Development Committee: NACAC Professional Development Grant Recipients 2024
The Grants & Development Committee is committed to providing members and partners with access to professional development opportunities that will support their professional growth.
For those who have attended NACAC, there is much to enjoy from the experience. For two MACAC members, the event was uniquely special. Amanda Peters from Bemidji State University and Melinda Vogel with Robbinsdale Armstrong were the MACAC Professional Development grant recipients to attend NACAC.
Melinda shared some highlights of her experience, specifically referencing the value of the sessions she attended. “One of my favorites was the session ‘Recommendation Letters: Bias, Inequity, and What You Can Do About It.’” Melinda expressed her takeaways, stating, “It is important to me to grapple with how we can genuinely advocate for students and avoid bias in our letters. I brought back ideas for improving our school profile and letters of recommendation.”
She also mentioned, “The session "One Year Later: How Are We Advising Students in the Race‐Conscious Post‐SCOTUS World?" sparked some important conversations as well.”
Vogel expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to connect with colleagues about changes and the evolution of the college admissions field and her fellow MN admissions colleagues sharing that, “I had some delicious tacos in LA with other counselors from Minnesota.”
If you are interested in attending NACAC or other events with a professional development grant, please see the website for more information.
Are there events, committees, and/or individual members that you would like to see featured in future newsletters? Contact the Communication Committee to share your ideas! Email: comms@mn-acac.org.
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