Sessions & Speakers

College Fair - Colleges in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Pennsylvania.

Wisconsin

• University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
• University of Wisconsin - Madison
• University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
• University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
• University of Wisconsin – Platteville
• University of Wisconsin – Parkside
• University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
• University of Wisconsin – Stout
• University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
• Marquette University
• Cardinal Stritch University
• Marian University
• Lawrence University
• Viterbo University
• Concordia University Wisconsin
• Milwaukee Area Technical College
• Northland College
• St. Norbert College
• Lakeland College
• Edgewood College
• Alverno College
• Ripon College
• Mount Mary College
• Columbia College of Nursing
• Milwaukee School of Engineering
• ITT Technical Institute - Germantown
• Silver Lake College of the Holy Family
• Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
• Waukesha County Technical College
• Wisconsin Air National Guard

Minnesota

• University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
• University of Minnesota - Morris
• University of Minnesota Rochester
• Bethany Lutheran College
• Hamline University

Ohio

• Lourdes University

Indiana

• Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
• Ball State University

Illinois

• DePaul University
• George Williams College of Aurora University
• Eastern Illinois University

Iowa

• Drake University
• Ashford University

Kansas

• University of Kansas

Pennsylvania

• University of Scranton

This is the final list of colleges that will be in attendance.

Opening Session and IIG Scholarships 101! Jumpstart to Success

Presented by: Kim Stezala, The Scholarship Lady℠

Are you wondering if you are scholarship material? Do you want a competitive edge as you apply for private scholarships? This introductory session delivers street smart advice on how to approach the scholarship process like a pro. Families will get the facts, learn the best scholarship tactics and review the six most common mistakes. Bring your burning questions and The Scholarship Lady will answer them! Students at every grade level will gain a competitive edge as they head back to school with a jumpstart toward scholarship success. Note: We will focus on non-athletic scholarships.

Kimberly Stezala, The Scholarship Lady℠, has devoted nearly fifteen years to helping students achieve their educational goals. She was founder of Wisconsin’s first online scholarship search engine and director of a precollege program. Her professional experiences have granted her an insiders view of the scholarship world and her goal is to connect the people who have the money with the people who need the money.

Ms. Stezala shares her straightforward and savvy advice as owner and blogger at www.scholarshipstreet.com and author of Scholarships 101: The Real-World Guide to Getting Cash for College. She has been a guest speaker at the National Scholarship Providers Association, the National College Access Network and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Most recently, she appeared on Fox 6 Wakeup News and WTMJ-4’s Morning Blend talk show.

Beyond scholarships, she is the President of Stezala Consulting, LLC, a company that helps education, community and charitable organizations to create, improve and expand their programs.

Session IA and IIC ACT Test Prep

Presented by: Fred Silver, North Shore Tutoring

This session will focus on crucial questions parents and students often have relative to the ACT test, including when to take the test and how to prepare for it. The workshop will also cover the nature and format of the test itself and identify the major differences between the ACT and SAT.

The session will be led by Fred Silver of North Shore Tutoring who has worked individually over the past 20 years with more than 2,000 students helping them prepare for the ACT and SAT. Mr. Silver has conducted more than 100 ACT workshops combined for University School of Milwaukee, as well as the Nicolet, Whitefish Bay, Homestead, Shorewood, Cedarburg, and Wauwatosa school districts.

The session will begin with a Question & Answer format, so parents and students are urged to come prepared with specific questions they would like to see addressed.

Session IB Public, Private, or Technical - What is the Right Fit for You?

Presented by: Katie Christenson - University of Wisconsin HELP; Molly Videl - Director of Outreach, Wisconsin Association for Independent Colleges and Universities; Wisconsin’s Private, Non-Profit Colleges; Jeannie Bynum - Manager West Allis Campus, Milwaukee Area Technical College

Do you prefer public or private, large or small, or maybe a technical school is for you. These are all choices you have to make when considering college. An expert panel will discuss the distinct differences between public, private and technical schools.

Session IC and IIB College Essay Writing

Presented by: Gia P. Euler-Plath - Admission Counselor and African American Recruiter, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Latrice Harris-Collins - Admissions Counselor/Multicultural Outreach, Marquette University

Tips and secrets for writing strong application essays and submitting applications that will get you noticed. Learn how to make your college application and essay a strong representation of all your best qualities and achievements.

Session IE and IIIA How to Get Financial Aid to Work for You

Presented by: Brad Baldridge, CFP®, Baldridge College Solutions, LLC

This session will go beyond the basics and provide useful information on the financial aid process and how it all works! We will discuss:

• Sources of Financial Aid
• When & how to apply for aid
• Strategies to get the maximum amount of aid
• Best practices when filling out the FAFSA
• What you should and should NOT do before applying for aid
• Why parents of juniors and sophomores need to plan ahead

Brad Baldridge is a College Funding Consultant specializing in late stage college funding planning. He provides customized planning using the latest financial aid, tax, cash flow and academic strategies to help reduce a family’s college expenses. Brad provides a combination of strategies that may save a family a significant amount of money per child over the four years of college.

Each year thousands of families attend Brad’s FREE workshop and listen to his radio show, "Taming the High Cost of College!" to learn how to save time, save money and reduce stress in the college planning process. He is a co-author of a book written to educate business owners on financial topics. His articles have also appeared in newsletters for local affiliates and business owner groups.

Brad is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and a member of the local and national chapters of the Financial Planning Association. Brad received his Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin Platteville in 1990.

www.BaldridgeCollegeSolutions.com

Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Baldridge Wealth Management and Baldridge College Solutions are affiliated. Cambridge and the Baldridge companies are not affiliated. Registered branch located at 10521 W. Layton Avenue, Suite 200, Greenfield, WI 53228.

Session IE Plan Ahead to Get Ahead --- Starting Now!

Presented by: Robin Jasinski - School Counselor, West Bend East High School; Carla Olle - College Counselor, Brookfield Academy

College preparation starts long belong you visit a school or fill out an application. Learn how to prepare yourself for college while still in High School!

Session IF Exploring College Majors

Presented by: Chandar Robertson - College Access Advisor, Great Lakes Higher Education

This session will show students how to connect what they currently enjoy with a college major and what they might do in the future.

Session IIA Beyond Financial Aid! More Great Strategies to Reduce Your College Costs!

Presented by: Brad Baldridge, CFP®, Baldridge College Solutions, LLC

This session offers many tips and techniques that may save you thousands of dollars even if your family does not qualify for need-based financial aid. You will learn:

• How to use tax planning so the IRS can help pay for your college expenses
• How to reduce your out-of-pocket college expenses
• Great strategies to use in your freshman, sophomore and junior years
• How to maximize the aid from the colleges
• How to attend a private college for less

Brad Baldridge is a College Funding Consultant specializing in late stage college funding planning. He provides customized planning using the latest financial aid, tax, cash flow and academic strategies to help reduce a family’s college expenses. Brad provides a combination of strategies that may save a family a significant amount of money per child over the four years of college.

Each year thousands of families attend Brad’s FREE workshop and listen to his radio show, "Taming the High Cost of College!" to learn how to save time, save money and reduce stress in the college planning process. He is a co-author of a book written to educate business owners on financial topics. His articles have also appeared in newsletters for local affiliates and business owner groups.

Brad is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and a member of the local and national chapters of the Financial Planning Association. Brad received his Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin Platteville in 1990.

www.BaldridgeCollegeSolutions.com

Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Baldridge Wealth Management and Baldridge College Solutions are affiliated. Cambridge and the Baldridge companies are not affiliated. Registered branch located at 10521 W. Layton Avenue, Suite 200, Greenfield, WI 53228.

Session IID How to Make the Most of Your Campus Visit

Presented by: Sarah Blake - Assistant Director/Office of Undergraduate Admissions Cardinal Stritch University

Researching college websites is a great way to start checking out what schools have to offer. But how do you decide which school is the right "fit" for you? That’s where the importance of a campus visit comes in. Campus visits provide the opportunity for incoming students to get a good "feel" of what that school has to offer. During this session, admission counselors from both private and public universities will talk about how to schedule your visit, what questions to ask, the best time to schedule, how to prepare ahead of time and other ways to make the most of your campus visit!

Session IIE What Every Parent Needs to Know About Getting Their Kid Into College

Presented by: Chandar Robertson - College Access Advisor, Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation

• Explains what parents can do to help their children prepare for college at every grade level.
• Topics include setting expectations, preparing academically, researching and applying to colleges and financial aid.

Session IIF and IIIB Learning How to Apply for Financial Aid

Presented by: Kari Gribble - Director of Financial Aid, Edgewood College

This program will start at the beginning and show you the basics of what financial aid is and how to apply for it. No matter what you think you know about aid, this session will teach you how to make it work for you. Topics will include:

• The financial aid application process
• The federal grant and loan programs
• How to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Session IIIIC Navigating through the Admission Process for First Generation Students

Presented by: Joel Buschmann - Assistant Director of Transfer/International Recruitment Admissions and New Student Services, University of Wisconsin (Parkside)

This session will assist first generation students and their families on all the important steps to starting college. Presenters will discuss how students can choose a school that is the right fit, the application process, academic preparation and how to apply for scholarships/financial aid. Great session for those who feel overwhelmed with the whole college admission process.

Session IIID Freshman Year & Beyond: What to expect during college (everything you want to know, but are afraid to ask!)

Presented by: Students from local colleges, universities & technical schools

A panel of real college students will talk about the mysterious world of college. The classes, the studying, the ways to get involved, and even the ability to study in another country!

Session IIIE Finding the Right College for You

Presented by: Chandar Roberston - College Access Advisor, Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation

This session helps students think about what characteristics of a college are important to them to ensure they find an environment that sets them up for success.

Session IIIF Social Media, You & Your College Search

Presented by: Eric Wagner - Associate Director of Admissions, St. Norbert College

In this session we will review the ways prospective students may engage with universities and their current students through social media. Along with discussing how social media can help a student during the college search we will also cover rules students should follow when interacting with colleges online.