Copyright The Associated Press
Mississippi Free Press (AP) — Clarksdale High School Graduation Coach Tre’Shawn Malone exited the front doors of the high school and escorted two senior students to a 17-foot truck parked in the bus loop. As they approached the Get2College Mobile Unit, an outside TV monitor played YouTube videos about college. Malone verified that the team was ready and then sent one student into the back of the unit. The second stepped on the custom mat and climbed the stairs into the front of the vehicle. Inside, Daniela Griffin had closed the wall that creates two private offices and sat down on a stool in the walkway while the student took a seat on the other side of a foldout table. Within minutes, she had pulled up the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and was mirroring it on the screen above the desk. “I don’t think they realize until after they step out that, ‘Oh, I was in an appointment in there,’ because it really is a homey space, a very comfortable space for individuals to get on and be serviced,” Griffin told the Mississippi Free Press on Oct. 2. The Get2College Mobile Center brings free college and career planning services directly to students and families across the state, with a particular focus on the Mississippi Delta. The unit began operations on Oct. 1 and will initially serve students in Carroll, Coahoma, Holmes, Tallahatchie, Tunica and Quitman counties — rural and underserved areas that have traditionally faced barriers to college admission. “Transportation is a huge barrier here for a lot of our families that we service out in the Delta, so us being able to go to them is (important),” Griffin said. The vehicle, built on a commercial truck chassis, is the fourth Get2College center in the state. There are permanent centers in Jackson, Ocean Springs and Southaven. Like the brick-and-mortar centers, the mobile unit assists with college applications, FAFSA completion, financial aid, and college entrance exam testing. Counselors also help students with applying for specific grants, institutional aid, and private scholarships. Two full-time Get2College counselors staff the unit, which includes private counseling spaces, state-of-the-art technology, a Wi-Fi connection and a kitchenette. “In most schools we go to, there is only one school counselor for ninth through 12th grade,” Griffin said. “So imagine a 12th grader who is really adamant about going to college, but unfortunately, that counselor assigned to everyone may not have the time and space to assist students in the college planning process.” Clarksdale High School has two counselors serving 167 senior students. Malone said his office does need help providing services to students, but it also helps when students hear about the need for college preparation from another person. “Trying to target all of those, we really do need some help,” he told the Mississippi Free Press on Oct. 7. “What I have noticed is our students see the individuals who work here every day,” Malone added. “And I won’t say they get tired of us not necessarily drilling college or careers into them, but having someone else come in and talk to them and provide support with maybe a different approach, helps them. It makes them want to actually listen.” Students may schedule appointments with the mobile center when it is in their area and receive the assistance needed. Griffin said the unit can be parked at church events, apartment complexes and football games. The unit has also been invited to Family Day by the Mississippi Department of Corrections. “We are definitely just kind of closing the gap on college attainment with a lot of the communities and counties that we are serving out in the Delta,” Griffin said. The mobile unit’s ability to be in communities outside of school hours is a significant benefit. Malone said that many parents have indicated they are unable to attend events during the school day. In response, they have arranged for the truck to return for an evening event. “I informed Ms. Griffin and Mr. Williams of that issue because the FAFSA cannot be done at all without parents,” Malone said. “So Get2College’s willingness to come here after hours to provide support … I really do appreciate their willingness to provide support at any time and any day.” The National College Attainment Network ranked Mississippi first in the nation in FAFSA completion for the class of 2025. Its data shows that 71.2% of those graduates completed the federal student aid application, more than 11% above the national average. Mississippi achieved the rating despite a late launch of the FAFSA application, which was delayed by changes to the application. After the FAFSA went live, several students still reported glitches and technical issues, with many delaying decisions about college while waiting for their application results. The 2026-27 FAFSA application opened on Sept. 27, the earliest launch in program history. Griffin hopes the state can remain on top. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck effort,” Griffin said. “You can’t always lean on the counselor to do that work themselves. Those students need way more than that one person pulling the load.” ___
