EPHRATA — Planning for the future isn’t something freshmen in high school gravitate toward, but the four guidance counselors at Ephrata High School point them in the right direction to get their futures planned. Ephrata's 233 seniors and 246 juniors have had plenty of help from counselors, with about 30% moving on to college or vocational programs annually, according to district staff.

“We start as early as their freshman year,” said Laina Mitchell, one of four guidance counselors at the school. “It actually, technically, starts in eighth grade, but we really work with students their freshman year on their High School and Beyond plan.”  

Using specialized software, experience and conversation, the counselors encourage students to explore the career fields they may be interested in or have an aptitude for. Quizzes that help learners figure out their interests and talents help direct students toward classes at Ephrata High that could lead to careers. The main goal is to get students into one of the “three Es,” Mitchell said – employment, enrollment or enlistment.  

As students progress, they’re encouraged to fine-tune their future plans, she added, noting that it’s also okay for students to change their minds as they find new interests, discover things they don’t like about certain jobs or discover a new talent.  

The fall of senior year leads to serious conversations to make sure students have gotten the right courses during their time at Ephrata High. That planning also looks at scholarship opportunities, figuring out if the military is a good option or considering a trade or entering the workforce. The counselors work to get students prepared for those roles.  

“We really work with them to identify that post high school plan and how we can best meet them where they're at so if the plan is college, whether that's train, school, two, year four year, we talk about scholarships, we talk about college visits, we talk about how they'll pay for their future,” Mitchell said. “If the plan is enlisting, we try to make sure we've got folks coming on campus that will meet with those students so that they understand the different branches of military and where they might qualify. And if the plan is employment, then we really work with them to take classes that are within our CTE department so that they have those hands-on skills necessary for employment outside of high school.” 

Getting students connected with funding for their futures is part of the process as well, said Rhonda Hagy, another of the four counselors at Ephrata High. Conversations on the topic begin during junior year and include a Free Application for Federal Student Aid – FAFSA – workshop. Parents and students can come in and get help completing the standardized student aid application and applying for scholarships that their schoolwork and other experiences have qualified them for. Scholarship opportunities are plentiful if students apply for them, and the Ephrata community is very generous, she said.  

“Our Columbia Basin Foundation and Paul Lauzier Foundation are huge assets in helping our kids get the financial (aid) that they need beyond high school, so that they can keep going,” Hagy said.  

Both counselors said motivating students to put in those applications can be a challenge, but there’s an easy draw.  

“There’s no other job out there that you can put out maybe two hours' worth of work and get $2,000 that easily,” Hagy said.  

Quantifying the rewards with statements like that is a draw for students, they said. 

Columbia Basin Foundation executive director has previously told the Columbia Basin Foundation that the scholarship programs the organization offers are particularly rewarding and are well-funded by locals from throughout the Columbia Basin.  

Additional partners include Big Bend Community College, Hagy said. Staff from BBCC come into the school and help students with a variety of planning. That includes application letters, advice on what questions to ask about other schools, and other things a college employee has the skillset to help with.  

The counselors expressed appreciation for military recruiters who are regularly on campus to help students navigate the enlistment process and consider possible military careers.  

For those focused on college and university programs over trades or the military, there are ways to save money through programs like Running Start or College in the High School, the counselors said. It’s just a matter of students applying themselves during their time at Ephrata High School. Some can get as many as 45 college credits before they even get their diploma, they said. 

The counselors even help Tigers alumni if they come back looking for help.  

“We often have kids come back even after they’ve graduated and seek our help,” Mitchell said. “We are always open to – if something changes after high school – they are welcome to come in, and we’re there to support them and help them through whatever.”