College guides help area students plan future

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- Recent college graduates are returning to the area to help guide current students into a successful future.

The AmeriCorps Ohio Guide Program, ran through the Muskingum County Community Foundation’s Scholarship Central, ensures that high school students have the necessary resources and information to make educated decisions about their post-secondary plans.

“They help students be able to find a way beyond high school graduation to go on to college. Not just with high school graduates but also people throughout the community that may need to find scholarships for college or may need help with resume building, financial aid, anything related to that,” said Heather Sands-Davis director of educational services at the community foundation.

The guide program is 11 months long. Guides receive a living stipend and an education award at the end of their service. The award can be used to pay off existing student loans or to use toward graduate school.

But for college guide, Abby Lutz, the program is a way to give back to her community.

“I think that’s really important around here,” said Lutz. “I think it’s a very important thing to do especially for teens in the community that are going away to college and maybe that don’t know what exactly it is that they’re doing, I didn’t know, I’m a first generation college student and so to be able to give back is real exciting.”

Lutz is one of three new college guides that started Tuesday.

The foundation is still looking for one more recent college graduate to fill the fourth guide position. For more information, or to apply call (740) 453-5192.