A free college planning event next week will offer guidance to homeschool families and students at small private schools who may not have access to traditional college prep resources.
Set for 2 p.m. on April 8 in the public lounge at Daviess County Public Library, the event will cover choosing a college, planning campus visits, and navigating financial aid. Space is limited.
The event is being organized by Katie Ballard, a retired academic advisor and career counselor at Owensboro Community & Technical College, in partnership with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA).
“During my 22 years at OCTC, several home school families would reach out to me for assistance with navigating the college admissions and financial aid process,” Ballard said. “I always enjoyed assisting our home school families and felt this would be a way I could volunteer in an area I am passionate about.”
Joining Ballard are two representatives from KHEAA: Casi Benedict, the statewide community outreach director, and Brandi Forker, the outreach counselor for Northwestern Kentucky. Together, they’ll offer a range of tools and advice for families beginning the college journey.
Ballard said homeschool families can face unique challenges when preparing for college, such as unfamiliarity with timelines for applications and scholarships or a lack of awareness about available resources.
“Understanding the many options for college to include public/private universities as well as the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) can be overwhelming,” Ballard said.
The event will introduce families to the KHEAA website and provide print materials full of step-by-step information. Ballard will also provide information and support for the college search and admissions process in general, from the perspective of a college advisor and a parent.
The event will include a question-and-answer session and take-home materials. Organizers plan to gauge interest for future workshops tailored to specific high school grade levels.
For those unable to attend, flyers and contact information will be left with library staff for follow-up support.
