MUSCATINE, Iowa–Though students graduate high school with many skills, starting post-secondary education still feels daunting. Reviewing data from county schools, Aligned Impact Muscatine County found that students who intend to enter a college or university, community college, or trade program sometimes encounter difficulties in doing so in the summer and melt away rather than following through with their plans. To reduce instances of summer melt and support all students in their educational goals, Aligned Impact Muscatine County started the Summer Melt Program in 2021.

The program met with positive results in its first two years. Claudia Artola, a student success facilitator with Aligned Impact Muscatine County, detailed: “Many students also mentioned that applying to college and having unresolved questions made things difficult and complicated and that this Summer Melt Program relieved that burden and made their post-secondary schooling after high school more comfortable. This is why we hope to keep this program around for years to come.”

Available to any students in Muscatine County ready to embark on their post-secondary education journeys, the Summer Melt Program mentors can help with all aspects of the process. From helping students apply to programs, to completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and scholarships, to filling out paperwork for enrollment, and even just talking through the transition from high school to college or career training, mentors have the lived experience and professional expertise needed to ease students into their futures.

Graphic courtesy of Aligned Impact of Muscatine County.

In its first two years, the Summer Melt Program has supported students measurably. Artola shared, “Last year, we were able to help around 25 students, and after all the efforts, we were able to access more than $28,000 via scholarships for students to use for their education.”

Any student who wants to participate in the Summer Melt Program can sign up throughout the summer. To schedule a meeting, students may scan the QR code on any of the Summer Melt flyers posted throughout the county, visit Aligned Impact Muscatine County’s website, or call their office at 563-284-2993.

Because entering post-secondary education and exploring possible career paths can seem like a lot for a young person to tackle, Artola wants to see many area youths check out the Summer Melt Program and see how it can benefit them and connect them with mentors and other students who understand their experiences: “We hope that it will assist students to not be frustrated or intimidated by college and will set them on a path to achieve their goals, as well as help other students learn about resources like these. We are hopeful that it will promote a strong community among students to help each other spread awareness about their resources.”