Key West The Newspaper

MARATHON, FL, January 30, 2015 – On January 27^th the City of Marathon City Council proclaimed the month of January, 2015 National Mentoring Month. Take Stock in Children college success coach Katrina Wiatt and program coordinator Chuck Licis were on hand to accept the proclamation along with several students, mentors, and parents.  Currently, sixty-two volunteer mentors meet each week for at least thirty minutes with their Take Stock in Children scholar attending Marathon Middle High School.

“We have a wonderful team of mentors who help guide our scholars on the path towards college enrollment and ultimately college success. Our mentors are the cornerstone of our scholarship program,” explained Wiatt. “Our mentors invest their time and emotion into their Take Stock student. We are very thankful of the Marathon City Council for recognizing the importance of mentoring our children in our community.”

 

“Mentors make a difference!” added Chuck Licis. “Studies show that at-risk youth who are mentored are more likely to succeed in school and pursue a college degree or certificate, and we are very grateful to the Marathon community for supporting its children in this endeavor.”

 

Students in the Take Stock in Children program are mentored at least 30 minutes each week during the school day by a volunteer adult mentor. There is a continual need for volunteer mentors throughout the Keys. To mentor in Marathon or in the Lower or Upper Keys, you may contact Chuck Licis either by phone at 305-293-1546, or by email at [email protected] for more information.

 

About Take Stock in Children in Monroe.

 

This is the 15^th year for Take Stock in Monroe.  All middle and high school students who meet the income level criteria, and have the ability and motivation to attend and graduate from college are enrolled.

 

The present enrollment has reached 264 students in 10 middle and high schools across the county.  Each student has a dedicated mentor who meets the student once every week on the school campuses.

 

According to the College Board who administers the SAT tests, Take Stock scholars in Monroe had higher test results than the average of all test takers in both Monroe County and the entire state.

 

About Take Stock in Children (TSIC).

Students enrolled with TSIC are identified in middle and high school, they are paired with a mentor and sign a contract pledging to remain drug- and crime-free, as well as maintain high grades. All students that fulfill these obligations and successfully complete the Take Stock in Children program receive full tuition scholarships to a state college or university upon graduation. The organization is the largest non-profit purchaser of Florida Prepaid Foundation Scholarships.

 

An emphasis on student accountability and specific measurable outcomes distinguishes Take Stock in Children from any other statewide mentoring program. Grade point averages increase with the length of time a student spends in the program, proving that Take Stock in Children’s method works.

 

Clearly addressing the high school drop-out crisis and college attainment, Take Stock in Children continues to report an unparalleled high school graduation rate of 96 percent, with 87 percent enrolling in college. Those numbers are significantly higher than the Florida state averages for at-risk students. Take Stock in Children currently serves nearly 8,200 low-income and minority students in grades 6-12 throughout 67 counties in Florida.

 

For more information about Take Stock in Children, call 305-293-1546 or email[email protected]