Bambu College Crew helps students through college application process

GREEN BAY – College application season has come, and many high school students who are thinking about college may have some questions and concerns about the process.

Maiv Passion Foundation’s Bambu College Crew is a new program where high school students and parents can get their questions answered and receive help with the overall college application process.

Maiv Passion Foundation is a nonprofit organization in Green Bay created by Mai Nu Vang to make more opportunities and support the Hmong youth community.

“I want this to become a pillar for the community and become an organization that people recognize and want to invest in as they see their family and loved ones being supported and provide opportunities and unique experiences,” said Vang.

Through this organization Vang has been able to create several programs, events and activities to help the Hmong community grow, including becoming the first Hmong dance group to perform for the NFL when they performed at the Draft in April.

When asked what inspired her to create the Bambu College Crew program, Vang stated “I want to be a resource in the community and be a bridge for people who have questions — to be that bridge and be the positive light for people around me”.

The program will be led by their volunteer leader and recently college graduate Hailey Yang.

“Hailey is the first of her family to go to college and wanted to help fill that gap and be someone there for others who had the questions she had when applying for college” said Vang.

The program will offer help to parents and students to find and apply to colleges, navigate financial aid, essays, grants, scholarships, and offer personalized sessions for one on one help.

The program will also have people coming in from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) admissions staff and UW-Green Bay finance staff to talk about and help with those specific fields in the college application process.

“This program is something I would love to continue to provide for the community. Grow the community and our highschoolers and to help be a part of their journey. How can they go from public education to higher education and take that step forward and elevate our Hmong youth,” said Vang.

The program is open to any students of all ages who are thinking about going to college and will be held on Thursdays for the duration of six weeks from November to December (except holidays). Program meetings will be held at Bambu Dessert Drinks in Green Bay from 5-7 p.m.

Participants will also get a loyalty discount card from Bambu Dessert and Drinks and can turn them in to win prizes.

Students do not have to go to every meeting, but if they go to at least one, they will get a one-day college tour from local colleges UW-Green Bay or NWTC.

Students who are interested can preregister at the Maiv Passion Foundation Facebook page, or at forms.gle/ZskfbP8rnjxjb58MA.