Students who are the first in their family to attend college are most commonly referred to as first generation (or 'First-Gen').  Be The First is a drop-in program for First-Gen students at MHS who are looking for more information and support to prepare for college. 

School Counselors have scheduled workshops, speakers, and will be available for individualized assistance throughout the school year.  

Be the First is a program to support students who are the first in their family to attend college.

Be the First will offer information on the various topics related to college as well as drop-in work sessions to assist students as they apply to college as well as scholarships and financial aid.

We want to empower our students so that they are confident in the next steps in their lives.

Date   Topic

1/22 Writing Effective College Essays

1/29         Guest Speaker, Lisette Ragno (County College of Morris)

2/5           Cash for College : Tackling Scholarships with Guest Speaker MEF

2/12         Stand Out with Summer Activities

2/26         EOF Information & Experiences (Caldwell University)

3/5           Preparing for the College Fair

3/12         Strengthen Your Organizational Skills and Time Management

3/19          Choosing Your Path with Career Assessments

3/26         Guest Speaker: Israel Delgado, Fairleigh Dickinson University

Be the First meetings will take place during lunch on Wednesdays. 

For more information your child can ask their School Counselor or email monica.tate@msdk12.net  

Members of Be the First have access to the Canvas classroom with additional information to help students be successful!

To close out the school year, we celebrated our seniors with a lunch from Macho Nacho to highlight their accomplishments as other members were able to participate and become inspired for the next step in their journey.  As well, one of our seniors was gifted a laptop to begin their college journey!

Joseph Dukes, from Caldwell University, shared with students at Be the First the benefits of the Education Opportunity Fund (EOF).  In addition to financial assistance, students accepted into EOF also receive additional academic and social emotional support.  Participating in a summer program before their freshman year at Caldwell, they develop an enhanced understanding of the campus, build rapport with peers through field trips, and work with their counselors to be successful.  In addition, Mrs. Pichardo and Mr. Kiernan shared their personal experiences as EOF students with the audience.

Chrissie Wetherbee shared insights tips and suggestions on the Morris Education Fund (MEF) scholarship application with students at Be the First.  MEF awarded over $300,000 in scholarships to the Class of 2024 and this year the application has expanded to include more scholarships.  Students learned how to prepare for scholarship applications and how to search for these opportunities.

On January 29th, Lisette Ragno spoke to the students of Be the First on the opportunities available at County College of Morris (CCM).  She shared how the different resources available support students, such as: transfer guidance to four year colleges, pursuing certifications, seeking employment as well as a space for students in high school to begin taking college courses (Challenger Program).  The conversation highlighted how students can maximize local resources.

First-Generation MHS Alumni were invited to a special luncheon to share their experiences, insights, and recommendations with Be the First students.  Thank you to Yenifer Escobar (Class of 2020) and Anderson Soriano Reyes (Class of 2024).  Some highlights from the program include:

1.      Stay on top of school assignments.  In college, professors will not reach out to you when work is missing.

2.      Both students prefer physical calendars to track all their school work.

3.      Study groups are a great method to build partnerships with other students and be prepared tests.

4.     Meet with your School Counselor when preparing the college applications.

5.     Both students highlighted that they got a jumpstart on the college essay in their English class and both encouraged students to show the essay to your School Counselor.

With November 1st deadlines looming, Be the First utilized the month of October to help seniors tackle their college applications, personal statements, and the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR).  

At the last "Get It Done" session, students were able to focus on their work with lunch provided by BTF.

Not only did students submit their applications, some returned to let us know of the admittances!

First-Generation MHS Alumni were invited to a special luncheon to share their experiences, insights, and recommendations with Be the First students.  Thank you to Nicole Ruiz (Class of 2023), Nicole Valencia (Class of 2023), Keydi Osorio (Class of 2022), and Andres Casanova (Class of 2021).  Some highlights from the program include:

1.       Seek out the help of the School Counselors when applying to college

2.       Build partnerships with your professors (as they can connect you to internships and jobs)

3.       Visit Professors during Office Hours

4.       Stay on top of reading assignments

5.       Get involved in clubs and student life!