NHHEAF Center for College Planning Opens in Exchange City

Concord, NH - Exchange City, a unique hands-on learning opportunity for middle and high school students, recently partnered with NH Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF) to open a Center for College Planning in the Portsmouth, NH facility.

Thursday, June 26th, the ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the Center for College Planning (CCP) office was held during the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours event. Exchange City is a life-size replica of a city, designed to mimic a New Hampshire community. The purpose of Exchange City is to educate students about how the individual role of business owners, employees, citizens and volunteers contribute to a vibrant community. Exchange City offers an opportunity for middle and high school students to apply a multitude of skills learned within the classroom to real-life situations.

While in Exchange City, students have the opportunity to “work” at the available businesses; paying bills, helping customers, managing employees and much more. The experience allows children to see how businesses function internally as well as affect the economy and the civic community. The CCP “staff” will have the responsibility of educating students about the education and skills required to obtain professional opportunities within the city. Over 15,000 New Hampshire students use the resources of Exchange City each year. “The Center for College Planning in Exchange City will give students insight into the skills and education required for success in today’s workforce,” said Tara Payne, Vice President, Corporate Communications at the Organizations. “Exchange City aligns perfectly with our mission of promoting higher education as the means to achieving personal, career and life goals.”

The actual Center for College Planning department is located in the corporate offices of the NHHEAF Network Organizations in Concord, NH. CCP is a free resource which provides college planning assistance to New Hampshire students and families. Expert CCP staff members are available to help students with all aspects of the college process including filling out financial aid forms, explaining the applications and finding college scholarship and funding sources. The counselors also travel statewide presenting to students from kindergarten to high school about the importance of a college education and promoting early college awareness.

To learn more about the resources at the NHHEAF Network Organizations’ Center for College Planning, log on to www.nhheaf.org or call 1-800-525-2577 x119.

The NHHEAF Network Organizations are comprised of four 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations that provide students and families with the resources and funding to pursue higher education aspirations. Funds generated by the Organizations make their charitable mission possible as student loan earnings are reinvested in programs and services that benefit citizens of New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.nhheaf.org.