Right: The Clifton Campus of Columbia State Community College recently hosted "Senior Summit 2009" for approximately 200 high school seniors from Collinwood, Frank Hughes, and Wayne County High Schools. The goal of the program was to expose the students to higher education opportunities and to excite and inform them about their future. Speakers from Columbia State Community College, Freed-Hardeman University, Martin Methodist College, Middle Tennessee State University, Northwest Shoals Community College, Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation, Tennessee Technology Center at Crump, Tennessee Technology Center at Hohenwald, The Institute for Hair Design, and the University of Tennessee at Martin discussed the college application and admissions process, educational opportunities available at each institution, and financial aid and scholarship opportunities. The sponsors and participating institutions attempted to convey the message that higher education is becoming increasingly important to compete and succeed in a global, knowledge-based economy and that a skilled workforce is essential to supporting economic growth in Wayne County and throughout the state. This event was sponsored by the Wayne County Gear-Up program, CCA - South Central, and Columbia State Community College.