Hats Off to 2024 Graduates and the Incredible Counselors and Professionals Behind Them & Stay Cool and Collected with Our Summer FAFSA Support

Published by: Ashley Terry, Ed.D.

June 2024

Hey there, amazing DCAN community!

We are bursting with pride and excitement as we give a huge shoutout to the counselors and professionals who have made it their mission to support our incredible students. And speaking of incredible students, let's extend our heartfelt congratulations to the class of 2024! Your remarkable hard work and academic achievements have truly shone through, especially during this challenging FAFSA year. Seriously, navigating those FAFSA changes was no small feat—it’s like you’ve been solving the Rubik’s Cube of financial aid!

A massive thank you goes out to those who continue to believe in the Detroit College Access Network (DCAN) and its mission by participating in all our programming and professional development. Your dedication and partnership are the fuel that keeps our rocket soaring to new heights. We couldn’t do it without you, and honestly, why would we want to? Working together with such passionate and committed individuals makes everything we do worthwhile.

In the meantime, as we dive into the sunny summer months, we want you to know that DCAN and our awesome partners are here to support our amazing students and families. Whether you’re soaking up the sun or chilling in the shade, remember that we have your back with some fantastic resources through our Summer STEP program and more Summer NET exposure visits. In case you forgot (or got a little too caught up in your summer plans), these programs are tailor-made for students who might be unsure about their post-high school path or who need a smooth transition into their postsecondary adventures. Think of it as their GPS for navigating the journey ahead.

So, if you’re scratching your head wondering what’s next, or if you’re just looking for a seamless way to step into the next chapter of your students' educational journey, these programs are perfect for them. We promise to make it as fun and stress-free as possible, with plenty of laughs and learning along the way with our amazing STEP coaches.

As we move forward, know that we are committed to providing you and your schools with the best possible information to boost postsecondary attainment. Whether it’s through our workshops, skilled trade visits, or the ever-popular FAFSA Cafés (where we serve knowledge instead of lattes), we are here to support you every step of the way. Speaking of lattes, we have got some exciting news to share! DCAN, alongside our amazing partners at Capital One, Mainstay, and the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), are back at it again, hosting more FAFSA Cafés to ensure that no student or family gets left behind. That’s right, we’re here to serve up some seriously helpful financial aid support—no barista skills required! And the good news doesn’t stop there! Please continue to follow us throughout the summer as we roll out even more support across the city and region.

Stay connected with us and continue to learn more about resources and summer support opportunities by following DCAN on social media outlets Facebook, and Instagram. Please be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

Here’s to more success, more achievements, and many more moments of laughter and learning. Thank you for being part of the DCAN family. We are in this together, and with you by our side, the future looks brighter than ever and to a summer of growth, exploration, and a whole lot of DCAN support. We cannot wait to see you all succeed and enjoy the ride!

Signing off with sunny smiles,

Ashley Terry, Ed.D.

Deputy Director, DCAN