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Mentored Students To Take On College

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 30, 2008

From middle school to their senior year, these select students have been mentored and monitored.

Their grades, attendance and behavior have drawn close scrutiny.

Now they're ready to graduate from high school and take advantage of the four-year college scholarships they have labored to earn.

The students from Take Stock in Children were recently recognized during the Pasco Education Foundation's Excellence in Academics banquet.

Most of the soon-to-be graduates were selected as early as the seventh grade based on their self-motivation and desire to succeed despite economic disadvantages at home. To become part of the program, they signed a legal document pledging to live up to the many Take Stock in Children requirements.

The graduating scholars are: Trisha Evensen, student advocate; Tamara Simunovic, Gulf High; Selina Mullenax and Frank Beaulieu, International Baccalaureate program, Land O' Lakes High; Jake Bennett, Land O' Lakes High; Michael Shaw Jr., Kaleb Rupe and Allison Bowhall, Ridgewood High; Kelvin Justiniano and Angelica Martinez, Wesley Chapel High; James Wigfall, Brittni Hensley, Mike Hanks and Cory Dimke, J.W. Mitchell High; Samantha Pollard, River Ridge High; and Brittany Pope, Pasco High.

Take Stock in Children was founded in 1995 in response to the need for a scholarship program that provided more than just financial assistance to recipients. A public-private partnership, this school-based mentoring organization has positively affected the lives of more than 13,500 children, a news release states.

Scholarships are purchased through the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, which provides matching funds to double the impact of scholarship donations to Take Stock in Children.

"Take Stock in Children is the only statewide scholarship program in Florida to provide trained, dedicated mentors representing every segment of society who mentor their students weekly from middle school through high school graduation," the release said.

To learn more, go to www.pascoeducationfoundation.org or call program coordinator Rosanne Heyser at (813) 794-2134.

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