DHS Shows College Readiness Film

DAYTON - Navigating the world of higher educa- tion can be overwhelming and frightening enough on its own.

Add to that the challenge of being a first generation college student with no pa- rental knowledge to draw from and the whole experi- ence can become a venture into the dark.

Dayton High School Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Under- graduate Programs (GEAR UP) Site Supervisor Spring LaMere knows how difficult preparing for college is. That is why LaMere and Dayton High School Principal Andy Maheras decided to bring the award-winning documen- tary "First Generation" to the Liberty Theater in Dayton for local students and families to learn from and enjoy.

LaMere said she, Maheras and one other teacher attending the GEAR UP west conference at Washington State University saw the documentary somewhat by chance during the conference and thought it was fantastic.

The film will be screened for free at 6 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Liberty Theater. La- Mere said there will be hors d'oeuvres before the film from 5 to 6 p.m. in the theater annex for parents.

The first screening will be during the day on Dec. 10 for Dayton and Waitsburg juniors and seniors.

The challenge many stu- dents face, LaMere said, is how hypothetical everything surrounding college can seem.

"Five years of talking to students about loans and grants, it's still so abstract," LaMere said.

LaMere said she hopes juniors, seniors and their guardians will attend the screening, as well as anyone interested in learning more about higher education.

Filmmakers were hands- off for the film, narrated by Blair Underwood, as they followed students during the course of three years of college, observing and record- ing misnomers about the process of higher education like how students can pay for school, LaMere said.

LaMere said there were moments in the film that made her cringe, like listening to students talk about loans like the debt would be no big deal to take on after graduation.

"This is the only film I've ever seen done like this," La- Mere said.

The 95-minute documentary explores college access problems first generation students face, a press release from co-director Jaye Fend- erson said.

"First Generation tells the story of four high school students - an inner city athlete, a small town waitress, a Samoan warrior dancer and the daughter of migrant field workers - who set out to break the cycle of pov- erty and bring hope to their families and communities by pursing a college educa- tion," according to the press release.

The film received Best Documentary and Best Soundtrack awards from the 2012 Idyllwild Interna- tional Festival of Cinema and Special Jury Award from the 2011 Napa Valley Film Festival.

The screening cost, $400 for two showings, is being paid by WSU GEAR UP. WSU GEAR UP is funded by a Department of Education grant.

"Yes, you can go to col- lege," LaMere said. "Do not let something like finances be a barrier."

For more information about the film, visit firstgen- erationfilm.com or contact LaMere at slamere@earlyoutreach. wsu.edu or 509- 382-2522.