Bloomfield College Hosts College Key Event for High School Students

A free New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling (NJACAC) College Key workshop for historically underrepresented, low income and first-generation high school students took place at the Bloomfield College campus on Saturday, February 26. The event was attended by nearly 50 high school sophomores and juniors, and their parents/guardians.

As part of the event, students participated in a tour of the Bloomfield College campus and attended workshops to prepare for the college application and admission process including College Essay Writing, College Applications 101, and Financial Aid. Attendees also engaged with a panel of College admission representatives from both in- and out-of-state public and private institutions, and a community college.

Parents and guardians benefited from presentations specifically geared to them, including that of Bloomfield College President Marcheta P. Evans who presented a special “Letting Go” workshop. The parent of six children, President Evans said, “Sometimes you have to let your child go for them to grow.”

Attendance at the College Key event also came with a special perk. All student attendees became eligible to apply for a NJACAC scholarship in their senior year. The scholarship range is $1,500-$2,000. Students who attend a NJACAC Camp College event are also eligible to apply for the scholarship.

The Tri-chairs of this year's highly successful College Key event were Bloomfield College’s Associate Director of Admission and Campus Visitation Mark Ruff, Assistant Dean of Student Life Julia Del Bagno, and St. Peter’s Prep Assistant Chair of Guidance and College Counseling Sarah Morissette, supported by Bloomfield’s team in the Office of Admission, as well as Amaryllis Bonilla of the Marketing Department.

College Key is an annual event organized by members of the NJACAC’s Inclusion, Access and Success Committee comprised mainly of school counselors and admission representatives. This was the third time Bloomfield College has hosted the workshop on its campus, including in 2019 and 2020. The 2021 event was held virtually.

NJACAC, the state’s affiliate of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), is comprised of 1,200+ professionals dedicated to the goal of helping students navigate the college application process to successfully transition from high school to college. NACAC is the only professional association whose members come from secondary schools, community-based organizations, colleges and universities.