Higher Education, Higher Purpose NACCAP

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm talk with Dean Wilson, a multifaceted professional with a rich history across various sectors, including finance, real estate, ministry, and media. Dean reflects on his past, including his tenure at Westmont College and his triumphant battle with addiction. He shares powerful lessons on resilience, hope, and the divine grace that guided his path to recovery and self-discovery. Phil, Heidi, and Dean discuss the transformative power of suffering when it is met with faith and perseverance. 
Join us this week from the NACCAP annual conference at Westmont College to hear more about Dean’s journey and the power of authentic storytelling.
"God is with you. He's going to be with you, and he's got a plan and a purpose and a larger story. The tough news is, that on planet Earth, you're going to encounter suffering. Get ready. It's not a boogeyman behind every bush, but there is suffering. Everybody is looking for the good life, but they go, well, how can it be good? Or they think, well, these Christians are just all perfect. And so, therefore, there's this wonderful, good, abundant life that includes suffering available with God and the person of Jesus, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, amazing things can happen." -Dean Wilson [21:05]

What You Will Learn:
(01:49) Dean Wilson's college selection process 
(09:53) Good Life Television 
(14:28) Dean’s battle with alcohol addiction and his encounter with the mercy of God 
(17:47) The life-changing nature of suffering 
(22:08) The power of testimony
(25:13) Authenticity and the importance of going deep with God in times of suffering



Resources:
Visit our website: https://www.naccap.org
Email us: Office@naccap.org
Visit The NACCAP Annual Conference: https://naccapconference.org

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm talk with Dr. Marcus "Goodie" Goodloe, the keynote speaker for the upcoming NACCAP annual conference at Westmont College. From his roots in South Central Los Angeles to his esteemed academic and advisory roles, Dr. Goodloe brings a message of excellence and influence shaped by the teachings of Jesus. Phil, Heidi, and Dr. Goodloe explore the inspirational themes set to be unraveled at the conference, aiming to rekindle a passion for admissions professionals and educators.
Listen this week as Dr. Goodloe shares his vision for personal growth and leadership and the importance of aligning one’s character with the heart of God.
"I think insisting upon excellence should not just be about closing a deal or getting an applicant to sign on the dotted line. Insisting upon excellence should be about our recognition for who God has called us to be." -Dr. Marcus Goodloe [10:30]
What You Will Learn:
(01:07) Dr. Marcus Goodie Goodloe's background and role 
(08:01) Personal development and habits for success 
(10:30) Habits: Six Steps to the Art of Influence
(17:58) The unique role of faith institutions in reflecting the heart of God. 
(19:51) The power of storytelling in higher education and admissions. 
(22:41) NACCAP conference: an opportunity for reimagining and making a difference
(23:17) Leaving differently



Resources:
Visit our website: https://www.naccap.org
Email us: Office@naccap.org
Visit The NACCAP Annual Conference: https://naccapconference.org

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm delve into the critical world of college scholarships with scholarship strategist Monica Matthews. Revered as the "Scholarship Mom", Monica comes with a wealth of experience in helping parents and students secure college scholarships. She discusses her smart method for standing out in scholarship applications, which includes sharing personal details, marketing yourself, answering essay questions, reviewing guidelines, and getting trusted eyes to proofread your application. Monica emphasizes the importance of partnering with your student and offers advice on when to start applying for scholarships. 
Listen as Phil, Heidi, and Monica discuss the significance of scholarships in alleviating the financial burden on families pursuing higher education. 
“Partner with your student. And I like to say teamwork makes the dream work and it is so true. The reason is if you have a certain role, sit down with your student, have a certain role. First of all, you need to talk about expectations. This is how much money we have saved up or not saved up for college. This is how much money you need to try to win scholarships. This is a school that's more affordable to us. You know what your roles are. So if your student needs to win scholarships or try to win scholarships, parents can find the scholarships.” -Monica Matthews [15:45]
What You Will Learn:
(01:06) Monica Matthews' background and experience with college scholarships 
(05:01) SMART method for applying for scholarships 
(10:46) How to access Monica Matthews' resources and website 
(13:41) Unique scholarships such as duck calling, Doodle for Google, and duct tape scholarships 
(15:40) How parents can partner with their students in the scholarship process 

Resources:
Visit our website: https://www.naccap.org
Email us: Office@naccap.org
Connect with Find Your Christian College: FindYourChristianCollege.com
Monica’s website: how2winscholarships.com

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast, we reflect on the NACCAP organization's achievements in 2023 and outline our plans for 2024. We discuss successful events, the launch of Wednesday webinars, and the amazing addition of Janet Pargeter to our team. We talk about the importance of research in Christian education and the continuation of NACCAP's primary research projects. We also announce our upcoming conference at Westmont College and the launch of ChristianGradSchools.com. Listen as we speak with Dr. Molly Smith and discuss the valuable contributions of retiring members.
“We're looking because there is a higher calling for what we're doing and a higher calling for what each of you is doing. So we commend you today, we encourage you today, we pray for you today, we are here to serve you and support your work in any way that we can. We're excited about 2024 and we thank you for listening today.” -Phil Cook [24:19]

What You Will Learn:
(01:06) The success and significance of college fairs
(03:44) 2023 Annual Conference 
(06:50) K-12 Membership 
(09:58) The Conference at Westmont 
(10:20) Spring College Fairs
(12:25) Announcement of the launch of ChristianGradSchools.com 
(20:11) Research Projects 
(21:24) Annual Benchmarking Study Explanation 




Resources:
Visit our website: https://www.naccap.org
Email us: Office@naccap.org
Visit The NACCAP Annual Conference: https://naccapconference.org
Connect with Find Your Christian College: FindYourChristianCollege.com

NACCAP: 2023 in Review
In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast, we speak with Tami Peterson, former teacher, counselor, administrator, and director of college advising. With decades of experience in the field of education, Tami is the founder and CEO of Life Architects Coaching, where she provides coaching services to Christian secondary schools, universities, and working professionals. She shares her passion for vocational discipleship, helping young people discover their calling, and equipping them for their God-given purpose. Listen as we explore college admissions, career paths, and vocational discipleship.
“An area that has surprised me in the work that I'm doing is that it's important for adults not to believe that they are one and done, or that they have arrived. They are continuing to learn and I think that that's part of authenticity. We don't have it all together, even though we have it more together than we did when we were 17. If we are still growing and learning about God and his world, we're changing every day ourselves and we're growing into who God really is and who he has created us to be.  We have to continue to do the deep work.” -Tami Peterson [13:21]
What You Will Learn:
[00:30] Intro
[04:58] Tami's experience in the field of education
[12:59] Discernment and Authenticity 
[16:12] What type of community do you want to be a part of?
[21:21] Seeking and saving that which is lost 
[27:10] Helping students find their path 
[29:26] Contact Tami



Resources:
Visit our website: https://www.naccap.org
Email us: Office@naccap.org
Visit The NACCAP Annual Conference: https://naccapconference.org
Connect with Find Your Christian College: FindYourChristianCollege.com

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast, host Phil Cook speaks with Ed Recker, Director of High School Relationship Management with Sallie Mae. Ed discusses the changes happening with the FAFSA and why it is undergoing significant changes to simplify the application process and integrate it with the IRS to automatically retrieve tax information. Ed shares why it is important to apply for an FSA ID, which acts as an electronic signature for federal financial aid documents. He encourages families to extend grace and patience to colleges and universities as they navigate the new FAFSA process and emphasizes the importance of searching for scholarships and leveraging resources to make higher education more affordable.
“Look under every rock. Start early and start often. Work with the resources you have. There are a lot of folks around who are willing to help you not only find those scholarships but really hone and refine those applications and those essays to make it the best you can, to be able to obtain as much free money as you can.” - Ed Recker [22:46]
What You Will Learn:
[03:54] Purpose of FAFSA changes: simplification and integration with IRS[09:22] Steps to take before filing FAFSA: obtain FSA ID[10:55] Advice for families as schools transition to new FAFSA process[12:37] Be patient and extend grace during the new process[20:38] Look for scholarships everywhere, start early, and apply often.[26:00] Understanding new language in financial aid [28:00] Importance of utilizing high school counselors and universities

Resources:
Visit our website: naccap.org 
Email us: Office@naccap.org
Connect with Find Your Christian College: FindYourChristianCollege.com