News Release
October 28, 2009
Links2GO Aims to Provide College Access and Success Resources
Indianapolis—Lumina Foundation for Education today unveiled a new KnowHow2GO (KH2GO) resource, Links2GO, which provides an array of tools and guides for students planning and preparing for college and adults who want to offer assistance for college-bound students.
Links2GO enables students in grades seven through 12 to choose their state and grade level and find specific college access and success resources that align with KH2GO's four steps: Be a pain, push yourself, find the right fit, and put your hands on some cash. The Links2GO tool also is a resource for mentors and caring adults for information about college planning and financing, and links to local and state organizations with resources on counseling, academics and financial aid.
Created in 2007 as a joint effort by the American Council on Education, Lumina Foundation and the Advertising Council, KH2GO involves a nationwide network of college access professionals who work together to connect underserved students and their families to information about financial aid and educate them about the actual steps they need to take to make their college dreams a reality. Over the past two years, the KH2GO initiative has evolved from a five-state, two-region national advertising campaign designed to raise awareness among low-income and first-generation students about preparing for college into a college-access and policy-advocacy movement with networks in 14 states.
"We know that students must be prepared academically, financially and socially or the path to college can be a very rocky one—if it is even taken at all," says Jamie P. Merisotis, president and chief executive officer of Lumina Foundation. "KH2GO and Links2GO work to address these barriers by connecting students and families to the tools, guides, and information that can help them achieve their college goals."
The college-going rate among certain segments of the population—especially low-income students, ethnic minorities, and first-generation students—continues to lag behind that of other population groups. Approximately 9 percent of low- income students complete college by age 24, compared to 75 percent of students from high-income families. KH2GO strives to help more low-income students, first-generation students, and others successfully navigate their path to college.
Lumina Foundation for Education is committed to enrolling and graduating more students from college—especially low-income students, students of color, first-generation students and adult learners. Our goal is to increase the percentage of Americans who hold high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by 2025. Lumina pursues this goal in three ways: by identifying and supporting effective practice, through public policy advocacy, and by using our communications and convening power to build public will for change.
For more information, contact Dianna L. Boyce, Communication Associate, Lumina Foundation for Education, at 317.951.5116.
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