Joyce Ivy Foundation Hosts Eighth Annual College Admissions Symposium, Announces New Location for Friday Event

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, February 8, 2019 — The Joyce Ivy Foundation will hold the eighth annual Joyce Ivy College Admissions Symposium (JCAS) on May 17-18 in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Participation will be free of charge for school counselors, community-based organization leaders, and female high school sophomores and juniors due to the support of the Joyce Ivy Foundation and its donors. Advance registration is required.

The two-day program will feature interactive college admissions and financial aid workshops designed for education professionals, students, and families. Sessions on Friday, May 17 will be offered for high school counselors and community-based organization leaders to learn about highly selective admissions, need-based financial aid, and to share best practices in a collaborative setting. Sessions on Saturday, May 18, are designed to help talented female high school sophomores, juniors, and their families learn more about admission to highly selective colleges and the process of applying for financial aid.

“One of our key objectives for JCAS 2019 is to reduce barriers to attendance as much as possible,” said Allison Jegla, Director of the 2019 Symposium and Vice President for Program Development at the Joyce Ivy Foundation. “To this end, we are partnering with University Prep Schools and The Detroit College Access Network (DCAN) to host the Friday Counselor event in Detroit, which we hope will open a new attendee demographic. Additionally, DCAN has graciously agreed to transport students from Detroit to Ann Arbor for Saturday’s event. We are grateful for these partnerships and hope that the result will allow even more attendees to participate in JCAS 2019.”

Symposium workshops will be led by admissions and financial aid officers from a sampling of the country’s most selective colleges and universities, as well as experienced college counselors. Returning faculty members include representatives from Princeton University, Amherst College, Wellesley College, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Pennsylvania, among others.

“New to JCAS this year is a scholarship panel for both days of the event,” said Jegla. “Representatives from organizations such as the Coca Cola Scholars Program, Morehead-Cain, Stamps Family Charitable Foundation, Office of Scholar Programs at WUSTL, and Robertson Scholars Program will speak about merit scholarships with enrichment programing. Simultaneously sources of financial aid and powerful alumni networks, these programs can have an immeasurable impact on students as they select a university.”

“We are thrilled about our new partnerships and location for this year’s JCAS event,” said Brittany Knight, Executive Director of the Joyce Ivy Foundation. “We are hopeful that barriers to attendance will be reduced and participants will leave feeling more empowered in the college application process. We are grateful to University Prep Schools, DCAN, our supporters, and donors who allow JCAS to remain free of charge for every participant.”

“JCAS helped me understand the college admissions world and my experience as a Summer Scholar helped me realize what college meant to me,” noted Alejandra Gonzalez, 2019 Summer Scholar and Mary Vandewiele Leadership Award Recipient. “After Summer College, I looked back at my JCAS notes and knew where I belonged and what I had to offer colleges – I was ready to apply! Without JCAS and my experience as a Summer Scholar, my chances of getting into or even applying my dream school wouldn’t have existed.”

Counselors and community-based organization leaders interested in attending JCAS on Friday, May 17, and female high school sophomores and juniors interested in attending the program on Saturday, May 18, may register on the Joyce Ivy Foundation website beginning on Tuesday, February 19, at www.joyceivyfoundation.org. Capacity is limited, and early registration is encouraged. With space limitations in mind, students are asked to select a single guardian to join them. Additional information about prior session content, as well as details for JCAS 2019, can be found here.