Sophie Vogel is dedicated to helping students on the path to the postsecondary world. photo by Baxter Stein
The Future Center welcomes Sophie Vogel as a new addition to the TJ family.
In her short time here at TJ, college counselor Sophie Vogel has already significantly impacted the lives of many students. Through her hard work and determination, Vogel has made sure that seniors can graduate with a weight lifted off their shoulders, knowing they can go to college and afford it, too.
Vogel was born in the golden state of California. It was here that she earned her bachelor’s degree in education at the University of California Santa Cruz. She continued her education at the University of San Diego where she obtained a master’s degree. Now, she is a doctoral student at the University of Redlands, pursuing a doctorate in education. While in college, Vogel had a life changing time and found that she had a passion for education. When reflecting on her college experience, she expressed, “I recognized that I was very fortunate and others were not. So, I wanted to make sure that students who are not so fortunate are able to access a similar experience.” After coming to this realization, Vogel became determined to provide all students with the option of going to college and allowing them access to countless opportunities.
While searching for an internship that would utilize her skills, Vogel came across an internship for the Denver Scholarship Foundation which soon turned into a temporary position. The stars aligned when she was promoted to a permanent position here at TJ where her presence is highly appreciated. Every day, Vogel applies her expertise and her passion for helping others in order to guide seniors who might feel lost and not sure what their next steps may be.
Before arriving at TJ, Vogel worked at four other high schools outside of Colorado as a college advisor. However, Vogel believes that her time in the Spartan community has topped them all, voicing, “Thomas Jefferson’s integration with the Future Center is really unique and stands out compared to other schools I’ve worked at.” Her personal relationships with the students go beyond just a job; she cares about each kid and wants to see them all succeed. Without Vogel, many seniors would struggle to find scholarships and not know how to navigate through the college and scholarship application process.
The future center provides services such as financial aid, scholarship applications, and college application support. It is important for seniors not to procrastinate and to take advantage of the services the future center provides. Vogel is excited to welcome a new baby to her family this March. However, this means that seniors need to make their way over to the future center as soon as possible. In Vogel’s absence, the Director of DSF will provide coverage for the Future Center. Then, in April, a temporary college counselor will fill the position full-time. While some students may be conflicted about going to college and uncertain about what college can do for them, Vogel believes, “…it’s important for students to pursue higher education in any form they are interested in because receiving a post-secondary education supports the public good.” The Future Center is a useful, friendly environment, and with Vogel being the College Advisor, students can only benefit from visiting it.
