Area high school students and their parents are invited to learn about opportunities available at state colleges, state universities, and UMass at “Go Public” on Thursday, October 18 at Haverhill High School in the auditorium, 137 Monument St., Haverhill.  Free and open to the public, the program is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The program will feature a panel of students currently enrolled in the state’s public higher education system who will share their experiences followed by breakout sessions on financial aid and career planning.  It is one of four “Go Public” events being held across the state this fall.  Admissions representatives will be available to answer questions as well.

State Representative Brian Dempsey, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, and a proud graduate of UMass Lowell, will host the event and UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan, Salem State University President Patricia Meservey, and Northern Essex Community College President Lane Glenn will all be available to answer questions.   Richard Freeland, higher education commissioner, will also attend.

“We’re launching ‘Go Public’ at a time when many of our campuses are seeing record enrollment gains,” said  Richard M. Freeland.  “Our goal with this effort is to make sure that we communicate with prospective students about what it takes to get ready for college, so that they can be successful once they arrive on campus.  And we also want them to get excited about the wide range of opportunities they’ll find at our public institutions—everything from study abroad opportunities to training for 21st century careers.”

For more information, please visit www.mass.edu/gopublic or contact Ernie Greenslade, director of public relations, Northern Essex Community College, 978 556-3862 or egreenslade@necc.mass.edu.