The Pokagon Fund is pointing to its role in helping Harbor Country area high school graduates go to college. Director Janet Cocciarelli tells WSJM News the fund has contributed more than $2.7 million to area scholarships since its inception. At the same time, the number of New Buffalo High School grads who go to college has gone p from 32% in 2008 to more than 90% today. In River Valley, that number has gone from 42% to 83%. Cocciarelli tells us, in addition to backing scholarships, the Pokagon Fund has contributed heavily to class field trips to colleges for high school students. She notes the importance of helping young people pay for post-secondary is constantly growing, as the cost of college has gone up 1,120% since 1978.
