Ben Buell is an AmeriCorps member who is serving as a college adviser with the Virginia College Advising Corps.
“I assist low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students with the college admissions and financial aid process. Virginia College Advising Corps has long been a vital community partner at my rural Virginia high school. Many of the students that I work with do not have familial exposure to higher education.
As college advisers, we strive to promote a college-going culture at our schools. Our hope is that students at our sites will begin to view college as a priority. In the ten plus years at William Monroe High School, the program has dramatically increased the college attendance rate for graduating seniors. Many of these students attend four and two-year colleges with significant scholarships that we help them obtain as part of our annual financial aid workshop series.
While my service term with AmeriCorps only lasts two years, I am proud to be one of many college advisers who have made a lasting contribution to this community.”