Mayor Proclaims Nov. 4-7 College Application Week

Earlier this week, Mayor Dave Drotzmann and Hermiston High School staff gathered to proclaim Nov. 4-7 to be College Application Week.

The proclamation, ready by Drotzmann, outlined the importance of obtaining a college education. According to the U.S. Department of Education, people with a bachelor’s degree earn more than those with just a high school degree. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor show that employees with at least a two-year degree have a significantly lower unemployment rate than those without a college background.

During College Application Week, students are encouraged to fill out at least one college application. Hermiston High School will have laptops available during the week for students to fill out applications.

The week is designed to help the state of Oregon achieve the 40-40-20 goal set forth by the Oregon Legislature in 2011. The Legislature passed Senate Bill 253 which set an ambitious goal that by 2025, 40 percent of adult Oregonians have a bachelor’s degree or higher, 40 percent have an associate’s degree or other postsecondary credential, and the remaining 20 percent will hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.