TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN WELCOMES 70 NEW SCHOLARS

TSIC 2018 Contract Signing Ceremony at Key Largo School

The year is 2024. No, this isn’t the beginning of a new sci-fi movie or dire predictions. On the contrary, for a group of 26 deserving seventh graders who are signing their Take Stock in Children scholarship contracts this week, the year 2024 has new meaning and holds a more profound significance. This is the year they will earn access to their Florida Prepaid College Foundation tuition scholarship.

Across the county, Take Stock in Children Monroe is hosting contract signing ceremonies in five schools for the 70 new scholarship candidates. These new scholars are meeting their volunteer mentor and signing their scholarship agreement with their parent or guardian, the first step of the journey spanning middle and high school towards college and career readiness.

“We have a fantastic group of qualified candidates who are ready to join Take Stock in Children and work towards achieving their goal of a college education,” noted Monroe County Education Foundation president Bryan Green. “We are eager to welcome them into our program and provide them the opportunity to pursue their personal post-secondary pathway to a college or a career-technical education institution.”

Through college success coaching, workshops, college visits, and mentoring during middle and high school, Take Stock scholars are best prepared to enter college. Take Stock graduates who successfully complete the college and career readiness initiatives will earn access to a Florida Prepaid College Foundation tuition scholarship, which covers state tuition and local fees at any of the 12 Florida universities or 28 Florida colleges. The Florida Prepaid scholarship may also apply towards the tuition at many of the state’s career-technical education institutions.

“These 70 new scholars increase our total enrollment to 300 Take Stock scholars attending our Monroe County middle and high schools,” said Chuck Licis, TSIC Program Coordinator. “During the past 20 years, we have graduated 675 Take Stock high school graduates who are four times more likely to earn a college degree or career certificate than their peers nationwide.”

Mentoring is a key, vital component of the Take Stock in Children model. “Our mission is to accept all students from income-eligible families with the desire, motivation, and potential to go to college;” Licis said. “However, we cannot bring new students into the program unless we have a mentor ready to match.”

Licis explained that many new mentors have joined the Take Stock program providing the opportunity to this year’s cohort of Take Stock scholars to achieve their goal of earning a college degree or career certificate. However, there are eligible students who are still waiting to enter the program. “These students are eager to become Take Stock scholars, but we need a qualified, eligible mentor to give one hour a week of their time to make a life-time of difference in their lives.”

Who can be a mentor?  “Mentors are not tutors or counselors; rather they help Take Stock scholars learn how to problem solve. Mentors are caring, compassionate adults who help Take Stock scholars build self-confidence and learn self-advocacy skills,” program coordinator Chuck Licis explained. “Mentors are screened, trained, and supported throughout the process by a team of college success coaches.”

To learn more about Take Stock in Children Monroe County or if you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact the Take Stock in Children office at 305-293-1546 or by email at [email protected]. You are also encouraged to visit our website at http://www.monroecountyedfound.com.

Take Stock in Children Monroe is entering its 20th year in Monroe County of providing college scholarships to low-income students who meet the academic and income eligibility requirements. Take Stock scholars make a commitment to maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average, maintain good attendance and behavior, and meet weekly with a mentor.

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