The importance of higher education and how to pay for it is the message the Ohio Board of Regents wants to spread to high school sophomores and juniors.

Wednesday, February 21, 2001

The importance of higher education and how to pay for it is the message the Ohio Board of Regents wants to spread to high school sophomores and juniors.

To carry this message, the board has decided to take the show on the road and make stops in Ohio communities aboard the "Ohio Success Express" bus.

On Tuesday, Ironton High School became the first stop the bus has made in southeastern Ohio since its January 10 kick-off in Columbus.

The bus is a customized lime green motor coach featuring murals designed by students that reflect their definition of success.

Traveling with the bus are staff members from the board. With their tag line, "Higher Learning = Higher Earning," the board hopes to change a few minds about seeking out a higher education.

The state is not only pushing the concept of going to college, but is also giving students an idea of where to look for help in financing their schooling.

The students met in the IHS auditorium, listening to brief presentations given by both the board staffers and local community leaders. After the presentations, the students broke into small group sessions with educators and staffers. In the group sessions, students were afforded the opportunity to ask questions about college financing and learn different places they may look for help in paying for their education.

College funding, said board staffers, is a major topic among most high school students and their families. Marlie Ford, a junior at IHS said she plans on attending college and there has been discussion at her house on how to finance her education.

"My parents have talked about loans and scholarships," Ford said, adding that the program gave her ideas about where to look for college grants, scholarships and loans.