President’s Update: Exciting Start to 2012
IACAC is off to an exciting start in 2012. I want to thank all of the committee chairs and committee members who are working hard to ensure that our upcoming events are meaningful for all attendees. District Seminar registration is open and I am extremely grateful to Professional Development Directors, Frank DuBois and Meghan Cooley, for their diligence and creativity in planning these events. Their committees have been energetic and are excited for the upcoming workshops.
I am excited that our next Executive Board meeting will be held in conjunction with our Government Relations Committee’s advocacy visits in Springfield. On Wednesday, March 14th, we will be meeting at the University of Illinois-Springfield and then on March 15th we will head to the capitol to meet with our state representatives and senators and hopefully Governor Quinn. Please consider joining us for one or both of these days.
President-Elect, Todd Burrell, and his conference planning committee have also been eagerly organizing what promises to be another educational and entertaining Annual Conference. Registration is now open and I am pleased that the schedule and descriptions of the sessions (PDF) are already published, earlier than ever, so you are able to plan ahead.
New for IACAC this year is our support of the New York Times College Life Fair. Felice Nudelman, Executive Director of Education for The New York Times Company, and Jacques Steinberg, Senior Editor at The New York Times and creator of the college admissions blog, The Choice, have been spearheading this collaboration with ingenuity and creativity.
This fair proves to be a unique experience for students in that it incorporates a traditional college fair, in addition to an exhibition that will allow sophomores and juniors to witness “a day in the life” of a college student. Alongside all of this will be a spotlight stage that will feature speakers to enlighten teens and parents on the topics that go along with searching for and applying to college.
In order for IACAC to support this program, I am asking for your help. If you work at a high school, please encourage your students to attend this fair and/or consider busing them to this event. Fliers will be coming out shortly for you to share with your students. If you work for a college, please consider exhibiting. In addition, we will need volunteers as greeters, “counselors on call,” hospitality hosts and speakers. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email or by phone at (708) 948-0331.
It is a thrill to be the President of IACAC. This organization’s members are dynamic, intelligent and passionate about helping students navigate the complexities of college admissions. I am proud to serve this year and I thank you for all that you do for the students of Illinois and IACAC!
Laura Docherty
IACAC President
Fenwick High School
