St. Joseph offers college prep workshop for all northern Utah students

OGDEN — On April 12, students from across northern Utah will descend on the Saint Joseph Catholic High School campus for the 2nd Annual College Prep Workshop.

"We have offered this workshop in the past, but this is the first time we are offering it to the entire community," said Principal Patrick Lambert.

Last year’s College Prep Workshop drew great interest from within the Saint Joseph community, "but we had so many requests to open this to the entire community, we decided to go for it," Lambert said.

The workshop consists of lectures on the ACT and SAT exams; college funding (including student loans, financial aid, grants and scholarships); resumes, essays and letters of recommendation; and other college-related information. Representatives from various universities in Utah will give presentations and information.

Each student who attends will receive a binder full of college preparation material, including checklists for what needs to be accomplished each year of high school. Students often bring their parents to the workshop; this is encouraged because the material can benefit the whole family.

"We are really excited to be offering this to the broader community. It is a great resource and we wanted to share what we had learned with students from around the Ogden area," said Joanna Wheelton, president of Saint Joseph Catholic Schools. "We have been working for some time now with the local parishes and elementary schools. We have reached out to St. Olaf in Bountiful and to many of the junior high schools in the Ogden area. Boy Scout troops and confirmation class groups are also being included."

More than 1,650 kids attend CCD religious education classes in northern Utah, and "the Saint Joseph resources are community resources," Lambert said. "The best thing we can provide our children is a quality education. This College Prep Workshop is intended to educate our community on how they can get the most out of their college experience."

The College Prep Workshop is open and free to the community, but space is limited. To register for the April 12 workshop or for information, contact Cindy at 801-394-1515 or cfjell@stjosephutah.com.