Our Blog
Getting the Most Out of Your Year End Giving
By: Laura Marx, 518 ElevatED, President & CEO It is proven that giving back to the community boosts your happiness, health, and sense of well-being. As we close out the year and people are thinking about making charitable gifts, it is helpful to know what you...
What First-Generation College Students Need to Know
By Laura Marx, 518 ElevatED President and CEO November 8 marked the 57th anniversary of the signing of the 1965 Higher Education Act, which has helped millions of first-generation students persist to degree completion. And 2022 coincides with the Pell grant's 50th...
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about FAFSA
Last weekend, as part of my long to-do list, there was one task I was avoiding, the dreaded FAFSA. Even though I have filled it out before, it felt a little overwhelming. When that happens, I find the best thing to do is to dive in. Since I figured there must be...
Three Tips for a Successful Semester: Advice From a College Student
By Laura Marx, President/CEO, 518 ElevatED As I was sitting in my office one afternoon this past August, I was excited to see Derick’s smiling face. We talked for a few minutes about the work he had been doing over the summer and what he was enjoying most during his...
Students Need Mentors Now, More Than Ever Before
By Jenyce Moses Aondona 518 ElevatED Alumna and Board Member As a 2001 graduate of Albany High School, and an alumna of 518 ElevatED, I can attest first-hand that mentoring can provide life-changing connections that influence students’ lives at home, work, and in...