Paying for College Virtual Event
Paying for College: Important Tips and Strategies
It’s never too early! This free informational webinar is designed for parents and students with questions about how to pay for college. Join college readiness experts Shakia Kirksey and Samira Ford, from OnTrack Plus, and Career Girls host, Lorena King, who share their experience and expertise on financing a college education. The conversation includes tips and strategies to reduce college costs and information on grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid that students in any grade can use to lower the cost of attending a post-secondary institution.
Our Speakers
Samira Ford
OnTrack Coordinator
Samira has worked in out-of-school programming in Philadelphia for the past 12 years. Through this work, she has seen many students struggle to understand what is expected of them in the college preparation process. It is her intention to be a resource for all students and teach them the access points, tips, and tricks of preparing for college. She is passionate about making a difference in their futures through OnTrack. Samira received a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Production from Temple University, and a Master’s of Education from Villanova University.
Shakia Kirksey
Assistant Director of Operations, OnTrack Plus
Shakia has worked in college access for the past nine years. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill, and a Master’s of Education in Urban Education from Temple University. As a first-generation, low-income, college graduate; Shakia understands the difficulty of preparing for, attending, and completing a post-secondary education. Through both professional and personal experience, Shakia aspires to help students envision their futures by motivating and equipping them with the confidence and knowledge necessary for life beyond high school.
Lorena King
Host
Lorena King is a Live Events Producer working in a large Tech Company in Silicon Valley. She is passionate about education, equality and her Latinx heritage. She graduated at the top of her class with a B.A. in Multimedia Communications from Academy of Art University. She is a U.S. Army veteran and her career has led to work in production, media, government and tech. Lorena is in the process of establishing a non-profit organization, offering scholarships and mentoring to women and people of color.