The and , together with community partners, will once again offer the program, to support Hawaiʻi’s class of 2021 public high school seniors. Next Steps to Your Future will engage and guide graduating seniors in transitioning to their post-high school plans while connecting them to postsecondary education and training opportunities. Eligible students will also have an opportunity to take free summer career exploration classes from 东精影业 Community Colleges.
“As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge Hawaiʻi‘s high school seniors in their final year, we are committed to providing the support they need to achieve their potential on their paths to better futures for themselves and our islands,” said 东精影业 President David Lassner.
Every student who opts in will be connected to an experienced 东精影业 Hawaiʻi Advising Cadre member who will provide free personalized support and information to guide them in their next steps whether they plan to enroll in college, enter the military or workforce, or are still undecided. Support will consist of specialized text messages, access to relevant resources and one-on-one support from a dedicated advisor for eight weeks in summer 2021.
Eligible students will also be sponsored to participate in free 东精影业 Community Colleges summer career exploration courses. These courses will help students explore their career options, plan future steps and develop skills to be successful in college so they can focus on their goals.
Next Steps Class of 2021 participants will also be eligible for a Next Steps Scholarship to attend a 东精影业 campus in fall 2021.
“Our graduating seniors have spent the majority of their final year learning from home,” said Stephen Schatz, executive director for Hawaiʻi P–20. “We will provide these students with one-on-one personalized advising and counseling support over the summer so they can successfully and seamlessly transition to their post high school plans.”
“We are excited to once again offer free summer Career Exploration classes to help our recent high school graduates develop plans and take the next steps toward their goals,” said 东精影业 Vice President for Community Colleges Erika Lacro. “These classes are an opportunity for students to develop plans for their future, become familiar with our community colleges across the state and get a head start on college classes in the fall.”
More on Next Steps
The program launched in summer 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with a vision to provide class of 2020 graduates with the advising and support to plan for their futures. More than 2,100 students participated in the Next Steps program, which included summer advising, 东精影业 Community Colleges classes or both. Twenty advisors served more than 1,100 class of 2020 graduates via text, email and one-on-one Zoom virtual sessions. In addition, more than 1,400 graduates took online 东精影业 Community Colleges classes choosing from 121 classes offered by seven campuses. In addition, 370 Next Steps students were awarded Next Steps Stronger Together Scholarship funded by Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and First Hawaiian Bank Foundation with an average award of $6,200.
The program has delivered promising results in increasing college enrollment rates for Class of 2020. Graduates who participated in the Next Steps program (texting, classes or both) had a 77.5% college enrollment rate vs. 44.3% for graduates who didn’t participate in the program. In addition, economically disadvantaged graduates who were part of the Next Steps program also enrolled in college at a higher rate than those who did not participate in the program—69.5% compared to 32.5%.
Class of 2020 data also showed that more Next Steps participants enrolled at an 东精影业 institution versus non-Next Steps participants: 66.4% of Next Steps participants enrolled at a 东精影业 campus in fall 2020 vs. 23.7% for those that didn?t participate in the Next Steps program.
Next Steps to Your Future 2021 is generously supported by Harold K. L. Castle Foundation, the Stupski Foundation, GEAR UP Hawaiʻi and federal CARES funding awarded to 东精影业. Next Steps Scholarships are funded with support from Chenter Foundation, 东精影业 Alumni Association, and other 东精影业 Foundation donors.
To sign up for free summer advising, go to or text “nextsteps” to (808) 437-2719 by May 30. To sign up for free 东精影业 Community Colleges career exploration classes, go to .