Mamou High School Principal Liz Chatelaine accepted a $5,000 check from Centurylink Representative Robin Young last Thursday at the school. (Gazette photo by Brianna Shiver)
By: ELIZABETH WEST
Associate Editor
Out of 1,000 applications, Mamou High School became one of the 314 schools across the nation chosen by Centurylink to accept a $5,000 grant, and the school’s principal Liz Chatelaine has big plans for how the money will be spent.
Chatelaine said, “We want to add a virtual college and career center to our school library so that we can better prepare our students for life after high school.”
For students who plan to enter the workforce straight out of high school, the virtual college and career center will be used to educate them on writing resumes as well as presenting them with the materials needed to prepare a resume and cover letter.
Chatelaine said, “I would like for every senior to be able to graduate with a resume already done.”
The school’s principal would also like to see the center provide necessary information to college bound students that maybe they are unable to receive at home.
“We would like to have iPads in the career center for students to check out what different colleges have to offer and what is required on their part to apply to a college,” said Chatelaine. “Students will be able to spend time in the center filling out forms, like FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).”
The goal is to have the center resemble that of a college student center, and she is even hoping to have a coffee shop for the students to enjoy.
Chatelaine said, “We are very appreciative to Centurylink for picking us to receive this grant money because this is going to allow us to provide a student with more than just a diploma when they graduate. We will be able to expose them to the opportunities that are available to them whether they are college bound or looking to enter the workforce after graduation.”