Highline’s Commitment to Student Success Beyond High School
A big part of preparing students for the future means creating opportunities for them to explore, dream, and plan for success.
This fall, Highline brought this vision to life by providing students and their families with various opportunities to explore pathways after high school. Whether considering community colleges, universities, apprenticeships, or direct career paths, we are dedicated to providing students with the guidance, connections, tools, resources and support they need to take the next step after graduation.
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Future Ready Fest: A Hub of Opportunity
Students and families from all grade levels explored the possibilities for life after high school at Future Ready Fest, featuring more than 60 colleges, career programs, and community partners. The event provided personalized support for financial aid, scholarships, and applications for college, apprenticeships, and career exploration for all ages.
For Dayene Avesca, a 12th-grade student at Highline High School, the event was all about discovering the tools she needs for her future. At Future Ready Fest, she was excited to explore the computer engineering industry and learn more about universities offering programs in that field.
"Future Ready means gaining the skills and necessary knowledge to go into your career." Dayene Avesca, 12th-grade student, Highline High School
The event featured workshops tailored for senior families, career exploration activities for middle and elementary school students, and a resource fair with options ranging from technical and community colleges to universities, trade programs, military, career pathways, and community resources—offering valuable guidance and opportunities for everyone.
“The aim is to encourage students and families to consider the wealth of opportunities available and identify the best fit for their future.” Sativah Jones, Assistant Director of College & Career Readiness
CollegeCON: Discovering Pathways to the Future
A few weeks later, CollegeCON offered another opportunity for students and their families to dive into the world of post-high school options. This event focused on helping students in grades 7-12.
CollegeCON featured workshops on topics like financial aid, scholarships, and college applications, helping families navigate the complex world of higher education. Students also had the chance to dive into career exploration workshops and hear firsthand from school counselors on how to map out their future paths.
One of the standout features of CollegeCON is the resource fair, where students and families meet directly with representatives from Washington colleges, career programs, and community organizations.
Ethan Mendoza, a 10th-grade student at Tyee High School, shared he was unsure about his future before CollegeCON.
"Future ready is being prepared and not just going straight into any job. Figuring out what I want to do with my life and figuring out a plan around that" Ethan Mendoza, 10th-grade student, Tyee High School
For Ethan, CollegeCON was the perfect opportunity to start exploring the many paths he could take after graduation.
For students like Penny Garcia, a 9th-grade student at Highline High School, CollegeCON was just as valuable, even at an earlier stage in her high school journey.
"I came to this event to get ahead of the game and figure out colleges, learn what my next steps are in terms of what courses to take in high school before I consider what colleges I go to," shared Penny.
Penny’s eagerness to plan ahead reflects our commitment to providing resources for students at all grade levels—whether they’re just starting high school or getting ready to graduate.
This year’s CollegeCON also provided special support for seniors. With one-on-one advice available from experts, seniors received personalized guidance on everything from financial aid to choosing the right college or career path.
Family-Centered, Future-Focused
Future Ready Fest and CollegeCON are designed to engage both students and families. Irene Salazar, a grandmother of a Highline High School senior, found the events valuable.
"This event helps him in finding his pathway to college, whether it be receiving a scholarship through football or going down the route to become an electrician. I also hope he learns how to use FAFSA to gain some help financially,” Irene shared. "Highline makes my grandson Future Ready. His counselor works with him a lot, so do his coaches and teachers, to make sure he's completing everything needed to graduate."
Irene’s experience highlights the personalized, community-centered approach we take to ensure every student is supported in their journey toward success.
“One of my favorite things is being able to see the parents and guardians engaged and helping them understand how they can best support their students through the various workshops," shared Brian Caylao, a college and career specialist at Highline High School.
Laying the Foundation Early
In addition to these events, all 1,300 8th-grade students across Highline visited the University of Washington over two days to explore the boundless opportunities available for their future.
“The goal of the visit is to show students that whatever their life after high school is, it is achievable! By experiencing a college campus firsthand and engaging with current students, these 8th-graders can start imagining their future and seeing what is possible for them." Sativah Jones, Assistant Director of College and Career Readiness
Students learned about college campus resources, participated in a college student panel, and attended hands-on academic program workshops, including the College of Engineering, UW Medicine, and WA Space Grant in Aerospace.
UW was selected as the partner for this event because of its outstanding record of graduating Highline alumni, ensuring that students saw a real-life example of what success could look like for them.
Preparing for the Future
At Highline, our Future Ready strategic plan goal calls us to ensure students explore possibilities and develop mindsets that prepare them for a changing future.
"Being Future Ready is ensuring that our students graduate prepared for what's next. That could be military, career, going straight to the workforce, or thinking about some entrepreneurship opportunities,” said Superintendent Ivan Duran.
Whether it’s discovering scholarships, learning about different career paths, or getting tips on financial aid, Future Ready Fest, CollegeCON and our college field trips are a few ways we support students in exploring, planning, and building a future that’s uniquely theirs.
As we look to the future, we remain committed to providing opportunities for students to discover their passions, explore their options, and achieve their dreams. Because at Highline, our goal is that every student is Future Ready.