PROGRAM PUTS EARLY FOCUS ON COLLEGE.

Byline: Daily News

LANCASTER -- Instilling children with the desire to someday attend college is the goal of a new program offered this summer by Antelope Valley College.

AVC will host 1,000 fourth- and fifth-graders and their parents Aug. 11 at a series of workshops called "I'm Going to College."

"We realize that the concept of students attending college begins at a young age," said Nikia Knight, AVC program specialist. "What we're trying to do is help create more of a college-going culture in the Antelope Valley by reaching kids and parents in elementary school."

The workshops will focus on such topics as preparing for and entering college, financing it and exploring areas of study.

Guests will be treated to lunch and will have the opportunity to participate in a number of outdoor activities arranged by participants including the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster, Lowe's, the Girl Scouts and the campus Police Department and Fire Technology Program.

Lowe's will present children with "tools for school" backpacks containing notebooks, pens, pencils and calculators.

It isn't too soon to have youngsters thinking about college because their decision will determine what classes they take as early as junior high school, said Michelle Hernandez, director of student activities and community outreach.

Parents who will have children in the fourth or fifth grade in the coming school year are invited to the event. Reservations are required and can be made by calling [phone].

Special accommodations for the disabled can be made by calling [phone] (voice) or [phone] (TDD) before Aug. 8.