April 27, 2017

Spring SEC College Tour Draws Big Crowds in Southern California

San Diego school counselors listen to presentations from Southeastern Conference universities.

By: Bryant Welbourne
SECU (Twitter: @TheSECU)

More than 220 high school students and 100 school counselors attended the 2017 Spring SEC College Tour last week in Southern California. The event included stops in San Diego, Pasadena and Irvine.

“The quality of students coming from this region is amazing,” said Naron Remillard, Director of Student Recruitment at Mississippi State University. “They are well-prepared academically and willing to travel for the opportunities that SEC universities have to offer.”

In each city, the college fair provided a time for high school students and their parents to visit with SEC admissions representatives. Students and parents also heard individual presentations from each conference university in breakout sessions. The school counselor breakfasts centered around brief presentations on SEC institutions.

“We learned so much about these universities that have top-tier research programs that are accepting California students,” said Becky Mertel, College and Career Guidance Specialist at Westlake High School in Westlake, Calif.

One of the highlights of the school counselor breakfast is the SEC Roll Call. During this time, admissions representatives talk about their respective university’s traditions and lead cheers.

“The school spirit shown during the roll call was second to none,” said Mertel.

The SEC College Tour is part of SECU, the academic initiative of the Southeastern Conference. SECU serves as the primary mechanism through which the collaborative academic endeavors and achievements of SEC universities are promoted and advanced. Dates and locations for the Fall SEC College Tour, which focuses on counselor events, will be announced soon.