Sweetwater High School College and Career Advisor Receives Award for Helping Rural Students Succeed After Graduation
Recognition part of national effort to place dedicated advisors in rural high schools to help students develop a path to achieve career success and economic stability
ABILENE, Texas (July 24, 2024) – Following a statewide nomination and selection process, Sweetwater High School college and career advisor Ruthann Campbell was awarded the 2024 Advisor of the Year by rootEd Texas for her exemplary efforts to help high school students in rural communities develop and achieve strong plans for life after graduation.
rootEd Texas is a collaborative effort among national organization rootEd Alliance and local partners Region 1 Education Service Center, Education to Employment Partners, Kilgore College, and Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas. The effort is designed to boost long-term outcomes for all students in rural communities by placing dedicated college and career advisors, called rootEd Advisors, in rural high schools to provide students with individualized support to develop a path to achieve career success and economic stability. During the 2024-2025 school year, rootEd Texas will serve students at 47 participating high schools.
At Sweetwater High School, Campbell tailored her advising to address the goals and circumstances of all 92 senior students. To do so, Campbell met with students every day, supporting them to identify career paths that best fit their interests, as well as apply for and secure financial aid to help them pay for their post-graduation plans. She also coordinated opportunities for students to learn from local industry partners. Finally, she engaged students’ families, and ultimately, helped encourage a culture of continuing education and training following graduation that has overflowed to the community.
“The school has enveloped Ruthann Campbell as one of their own,” said Julia Rodriguez-Arreola, a regional partner for rootEd Texas who nominated Campbell for the award. “Students feel motivated and supported, and parents and families have their questions answered and fears eased. Through impacting individual student's lives, she is changing an entire community.”
As a result of her efforts, at Sweetwater High School:
- Students graduated with a strong plan for the future. All students graduated with a plan to achieve career access after graduation, and 100 percent graduated with a financial plan. Ninety-five percent of students also submitted at least one postsecondary application.
- Students explored workforce opportunities. Ninety-eight percent of students graduated having completed a career exposure opportunity, such as job shadowing.
- Students completed critical forms to unlock financial aid. Eighty-nine percent of students completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is significantly higher than the statewide completion rate. According to the National College Attainment Network, as of July 2024, about 55 percent of all Texas students in the Class of 2024 completed the form.
These efforts lift up not only students, but their families, communities, and local workforces.
“Ruthann views advising as much more than helping a student find a job or enroll into a school. She understands the importance of bringing employers, institutions of higher education, community resources and the high school to the table and together helping students be successful,” said Rodriguez-Arreola.
Additionally, Campbell’s efforts extended to those who graduated early due to external obstacles. Advisors typically have a hard time engaging these students once they leave the school because the students no longer have an obligation to participate in the program. However, Ruthann didn't let that deter her, inviting several early graduates to the grand opening of the Sweetwater Workforce Center to help them set up accounts that could help them find employment.
In addition to awarding the Advisor of the Year, rootEd Texas recognized Emily Bueno, an advisor at Bishop High School, and Scott Riggins, an advisor at Rule, Eula and Clyde high schools, with “Rookie of the Year” awards. The awards honor a first-year advisor who demonstrated excellence.
The awards were announced during a special ceremony during rootEd Texas’s statewide advisor training, which brought together rootEd Advisors, regional partners and other partners.
Collectively, rootEd Advisors across the state delivered incredible support to students. Among the highlights from the last year, college enrollment among students who attended schools participating in rootEd Texas increased by over 25 percent. Eighty-one percent of rootEd Texas students are on a pathway to family-sustaining wage, compared to 41 percent of all working 21- to 24-year-olds currently earning a family-sustaining wage.
“The incredible passion, knowledge, and creativity that rootEd Advisors bring to their students every day shifts mindsets about what is possible following their graduation—and helps turn those ideas into plans through help with applications, financial aid, and other concrete steps,” said Noa Meyer, board chair for rootEd Alliance. “We are especially impressed with Ruthann, Emily, and Scott, and congratulate them on their well-deserved recognition.”
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About rootEd Alliance
Every student should graduate high school on a path to achieve career success and economic stability. rootEd Alliance places dedicated college and career advisors in rural high schools to work with all students to define and plan their futures, whether through a college degree, work-based learning, or military service. Launched in 2018 and now operating in Missouri, Texas, and Idaho, 183 rootEd advisors have served 40,000 students at 192 high schools. rootEd Alliance is made possible by a group of philanthropists and family and founder-led businesses, convened by BDT & MSD Partners. For more information, please visit: https://rootEdAlliance.org.