HOPE School Counselor Kristie Richardson enjoys the rewarding challenge of helping future first generation high school graduates apply for college. To accomplish this, Ms. Richardson travels to HOPE Learning Centers throughout the Denver Metro and outlying areas, teaching middle and high school students how to create an Individual Career and Academic Plan, better known as ICAP.
ICAP is a student roadmap to success. As its name implies, it is all about career, education and the individual. At Hope Online, students are guided by Ms. Richardson and classroom mentors in exploring their individual interests, aptitude, experiences and career options to prepare for their own distinct future achievements.
Among the growing number of HOPE college applicants is Alex, a student from Action Learning Academy in Aurora. He and his classmates are learning a lot about themselves through ICAP.
The sequential milestones that students meet as they complete their individual plans keep them on a path toward continued education following high school graduation.

After taking an interest and skills assessment at CollegeinColorado.org, the official organization and website affiliated with ICAP, Alex realized that his ability to organize, as well as his sense of responsibility and outgoing personality, could be useful in a career. As part of his ICAP exploration, Alex is writing a resume which requires stating a specific career objective, an item not quite so easy as he anticipated. Thoughtfully developing his resume will help Alex further assess if he has the background and passion to become a talent agent – one of his interests – or if his character strengths and aptitude are better suited for a different career path.
“They are just beginning to embrace thinking about college,” shares Action Learning Academy Manager Rose Bunton about her students. “I took our ...