Higher Education, Higher Purpose

By NACCAP

In today's ever-changing college admissions landscape, we're here to provide you with the latest insights and guidance. Whether you're a concerned parent, an eager student, a dedicated school counselo... more

· Education

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FAQs about Higher Education, Higher Purpose:

How many episodes does Higher Education, Higher Purpose have?

The podcast currently has 27 episodes available.

Higher Education, Higher Purpose episodes:

October 21, 2024 NACCAP Board Spotlight: Mike Harper, Trinity Academy (KS)
In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm sit down with Mike Harper, Director of Vocational Guidance at Trinity Academy. Mike shares his insights on guiding high school students in discovering their vocations and the value of Christian higher education. With nearly a decade of experience at Trinity, Mike emphasizes the importance of helping students understand themselves and their place in God's kingdom, viewing them as "wet cement" that needs shaping during their formative years.
Listen as Phil, Heidi, and Mike discuss the challenges of serving in a college-going culture, where 94% of students pursue higher education, highlighting the need for instilling a love for learning and critical thinking that aligns with faith.
Quote:
"I want high school students to understand themselves well and see how they fit into God's kingdom. It's hard at the high school level because you're still kind of discovering yourself. You're not quite sure exactly what that looks like. I think college does a lot to solidify that. I think about them being wet cement. I tell that's what they are, they're wet cement.” -Mike Harper [04:57]
What You Will Learn:
(00:00) Intro
(00:37) Meet Mike Harper
(01:55) Mike's Role at Trinity Academy
(04:17) Helping Students Discover Vocations
(05:56) The Impact of Relationships on Faith
(09:12) Leadership and Service in Education
(15:17) The Importance of Christian Higher Education
(21:03) Conclusion and Thanks

Resources:
Visit our website: https://www.naccap.org
Email us: [email protected]
Visit The NACCAP Annual Conference: https://naccapconference.org
...more
22min
October 03, 2024 NACCAP Board Spotlight: Dr. Mildred Similton, Hickory Grove Christian School
In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm sit down with Dr. Mildred Similton, the Administrator for Student Services at Hickory Grove Christian School. Dr. Similton shares her unique faith journey and how a transformative experience in her young adult life led her to a profound commitment to Christian education. She outlines her engagement with NACCAP, the enriching professional development opportunities, and the powerful sense of community she found in the organization.
Join us this week as Phil, Heidi, and Dr. Similton discuss how to best support students, prepare them for college, and the significant role of faith in Christian education.
Quote:
"I think the work that we do as Christian education professionals is impactful. The hard part is that we don't always see the end product of what the Lord is doing, but he's certainly doing it and he's working it out. I think just staying encouraged and staying in there with our young people, with our families, because the struggles are real for them.” -Dr. Mildred Similton [19:20]
What You Will Learn:
(00:00) Introducing Dr. Similton and Her Role in Education
(02:02) The Journey from Theater Kid to NACCAP Board Member
(04:22) Psychology to Christian Education
(09:04) Finding Community and Purpose in Christian Education
(12:03) Faith Journey from Childhood to Adulthood
(14:39) Faith and Professional Development in Christian Education
Resources:
Visit our website: https://www.naccap.org
Email us: [email protected]
Visit The NACCAP Annual Conference: https://naccapconference.org
...more
21min
September 26, 2024 NACCAP Board Spotlight: Dr. Anthony Turner, Charleston Southern University
In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm sit down with Dr. Anthony Turner, a prominent figure in the field of enrollment management. Dr. Turner shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a leading voice in Christian higher education. Phil, Heidi, and Dr. Turner discuss the vital importance of networking, data-driven decision-making, and maintaining a work-life balance.
Join us this week to gain insights into the enrollment industry's current landscape, the importance of building a supportive team culture, and the profound impact of Christian higher education.
Quote:
"If I hold my team to the same standards that scripture holds us to, and I challenge my team to hold me to those same standards, then we're operating at a level that's not just what CSU wants, but what God expects of us.” -Dr. Anthony Turner [14:25]
What You Will Learn:
(00:00) Meet Dr. Anthony Turner: Enrollment Leader at Charleston Southern
(02:17) Growing Up with Deaf Parents and Finding Faith
(05:53) From High School Dropout to Enrollment Leadership Success
(08:24) Dr. Anthony Turner's Journey in Higher Education and NACCAP
(11:20) Encouragement and Accountability in Christian Higher Education Enrollment
(17:50) Balancing Family and Professional Life in Higher Education

Resources:
Visit our website: https://www.naccap.org
Email us: [email protected]
Visit The NACCAP Annual Conference: https://naccapconference.org
...more
24min
March 19, 2024 NACCAP Conference 2024 Preview: Part 2
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: [email protected]
Visit The NACCAP Annual Conference: https://naccapconference.org
...more
27min
March 05, 2024 NACCAP Conference 2024 Preview
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: [email protected]
Visit The NACCAP Annual Conference: https://naccapconference.org
...more
26min
January 19, 2024 How 2 Win Scholarships
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: [email protected]
Connect with Find Your Christian College: FindYourChristianCollege.com
Monica’s website: how2winscholarships.com
...more
22min
January 05, 2024 NACCAP: 2023 in Review
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: [email protected]
Visit The NACCAP Annual Conference: https://naccapconference.org
Connect with Find Your Christian College: FindYourChristianCollege.com

...more
25min
December 15, 2023 Vocational Discipleship
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: [email protected]
Visit The NACCAP Annual Conference: https://naccapconference.org
Connect with Find Your Christian College: FindYourChristianCollege.com
...more
31min
September 04, 2023FAFSA Changes with Ed Recker
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: [email protected]
Connect with Find Your Christian College: FindYourChristianCollege.com
...more
29min
August 28, 2023NACCAP K-12 Membership Benefits: Janet Pargeter
In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast, host Phil Cook speaks with Janet Pargeter, a retired guidance counselor with 22 years of experience. Janet shares her insights on the importance of networking and building relationships with other counselors to share knowledge and experiences, as well as to provide support and encouragement. She also discusses the benefits of being a NAACAP member, including access to the counselor certification program, fly and drive-ins, Christian college fairs, and the counselor boot camp. Janet offers advice to admissions representatives on building strong relationships with students and parents.
“Having relationships with other counselors and gleaning from them their knowledge and experiences in guidance counseling is what makes us good at our jobs. Not only is it invigorating but it breathes life and gives us value and worth, self-worth, it does all of that. But that's why I call it our superpower because I think it's what creates in us the ability to keep doing what we're doing.” - Janet Pargeter [02:55]

What You Will Learn:
[00:47] Janet's background and experience in NAACAP
[04:30] Encouragement for new counselors and the value of mentoring
[18:32] Overview of the Council Certification Program
[23:40] Introduction to the Counselor Boot Camp
[27:44] Christian college fairs
[31:59] Building relationships and communicating effectively
[33:37] Promoting Christian higher ed
[34:49] Janet's Impact on Christian Education and Ministry

Resources:
Visit our website: naccap.org
Email us: [email protected]
Connect with Find Your Christian College: FindYourChristianCollege.com
...more
36min

FAQs about Higher Education, Higher Purpose:

How many episodes does Higher Education, Higher Purpose have?

The podcast currently has 27 episodes available.