Grace Vazquez, interim assistant director of the Mount Saint Mary College’s HEOP and CSTEP, speaks to the students of NFA West about college life and opportunity programs.
Mount Saint Mary College’s Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) recently hosted a glimpse into life on a college campus for students at Newburgh Free Academy (NFA) West.
In addition to HEOP and CSTEP, the event was a collaboration with the Mount’s Office of Admissions and Lakeya Stukes, a school counselor at NFA West.
The Mount’s HEOP/CSTEP Leadership Council spoke to students about the importance of starting their high school career strong and shared their personal experiences as Mount students.
Grace Vazquez, interim assistant director of the Mount’s HEOP/CSTEP, spoke to students about these programs at the college and offered her advice for a successful high school career. Then the NFA students connected with Mount HEOP/CSTEP students before getting a tour of campus.
The Mount’s HEOP provides educational opportunities and support to traditionally underserved students who have strong academic potential, but would otherwise be excluded from higher education due to circumstances of academic and economic disadvantage.
CSTEP at the Mount works to increase the number of underrepresented students who possess strong academic and personal potential to pursue careers in mathematics, science, technology, health-related fields, or a licensed profession.