Our mission is to empower students, serve families, and inspire greatness. We know that applying to college can be overwhelming, which is why we strive to make this process enjoyable for families. We navigate the complex, multi-year process by working one-on-one with students as early as their freshman year of high school. But it’s not just about getting into college. At the core of everything we do is a passion for helping young people find their future.
Class 101 Lexington is full of college planning experts who love helping students on the path to higher education. We all became a part of the Class 101 family because we want to make a difference in a young person’s life. Our various backgrounds aid us in doing this. Get to know each member of our team here.
Tom Pabin
Franchise Owner
Tom is the founder and owner of Class 101. His career as a business owner and college/financial planner has spanned over two decades. In that time, he has helped students and families save millions of dollars on higher education. In Kentucky, Tom has worked with learners from over 70 high schools conducting financial aid workshops, on-on-one college planning, ACT/SAT prep classes, and facilitating visits to universities across the country. Working with students across 16 states and providing direct consultation with over 20 high schools, he’s helped more that 2,200 students find their way to college and significantly improved their scores on over 6,000 tests. In his spare time, Tom enjoys traveling and being involved with his sons’ basketball teams. He is husband to Christie and father of two boys, Matthew and Thomas.Betsy Filchak
Franchise Owner
Betsy is the co-owner of the Class 101 Lexington location. Betsy comes to college planning after a full career in public education. She has mastered how to tap students’ potential with tailored tactics, thanks to her varied background. Her favorite part of her work is a tie between helping families realize the financial feasibility of college and the summer campus tour down South. Betsy lives in downtown Lexington. Her own children flew the nest for excellent college experiences and are the poster children for “do what you love”. Betsy’s favorite use of free weekends is trips to destinations such as Charleston, South Carolina and Chicago (both great college towns).
Owners
Tom Pabin
Betsy Filchak
Phone
(859) 277-2371
Address
2039 Regency Road Ste. 8, Lexington, KY 40503
Because of Class 101… wow, I really don’t think I can put it into words. I’m headed to my dream school. I have a resume that I’m proud of. I got my ACT score up. I’ve experienced the impact that positive affirmation can have on an overscheduled and under slept teenager. I understand the research process to find a school that fits for me. I’m not going to fall into the never-ending pit of despair that is student debt. I’m ready for whatever happens next.
I truly am.
Taylor Galavotti - High Point U
My family couldn’t have figured it all out without Betsy, our college planner. She was there for every moment and was a true support system throughout the entire process. She watched me grow and is now a part of our family.
Lauren Weiss - U of Cincinnati
This is the second time my family has worked with Class 101. With my college planner’s help, I was able to improve my grades and write an amazing essay while abroad in Frankfurt, Germany. This made the distance between the two of us negligible, even before social distancing measures were put in place! Without Class 101, I would have been lost within the endless information required for applying to college. Thank you for making this difficult transition year so much more bearable!
Kai Oddo - Centre College
