Starting this month, local students and families hoping to get a boost toward securing a college education will have a valuable resource “just down the street.”
Simply by visiting inspirED’s new office (located at 4381 W. Green Oaks Blvd., Suite 100) during the day and evening, they can receive help with college planning, college applications, financial aid and more.
inspirED was established in 2014 by Higher Education Servicing Corporation (HESC), a private, non-profit student loan servicing agency that has worked persistently over the past 40-plus years to ensure that students across Texas have access to higher education by providing federal and private education loans, scholarship funds, and outreach services and programs.
“We’re focused on our mission: Inspiring students to achieve a higher education by promoting a college-going and career-focused culture through educational outreach activities, services, and community partnerships,” says Leslie Birdow, inspirED’s Director of Community Affairs. “And we’re here to help Arlington area students with anything they need to prepare for college, career or military.”
Today, inspirED provides high school and community-based GO Centers (college and career centers), college prep and financial aid presentations, high school counselor trainings, and special higher education events, including its annual Destination Success and College and Career Expo.
In addition, the staff of inspirED has also increased its involvement in various community groups and committees to expand its network of partners and find new opportunities for collaboration.
Partners include the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the Arlington, Mansfield, Fort Worth, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, and Kennedale Independent School Districts, the North Texas Regional P-16 Council, Dallas Baptist University, the Arlington Public Library, Commit!, and Smart Arlington.
The partners work with an inspirED staff that features Birdow and Outreach Coordinator Jessica Delmar, who team with a group of mentors from around the area to enhance local students’ opportunities to pursue higher education once their high school years have concluded.
Birdow previously worked for the Arlington and Weatherford Independent School Districts to empower and engage students so they graduate prepared for whatever they choose in life. She received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Texas and a master’s of education from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Delmar has been with inspirED since November 2018. Her previous work as a mentor in the local GO Centers is invaluable as she guides mentors to serve students and help them find successful paths post-graduation. Jessica obtained her associate of art in teaching from Tarrant County College and is pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Texas Wesleyan University.
Some 12 mentors – from the University of Texas at Arlington, Tarrant County College and Dallas Baptist University – assist the staff.
For more: inspiredoutreach.org.
