“Changing the world one child at a time” is the motto of Take Stock In Children and in celebration of National Mentor Month, the Alachua County Public School Foundation, Inc. let their Take Stock In Children mentors know they think the world of them.

Take Stock In Children is an incentive scholarship and mentoring program administered locally through the Alachua County Public Schools Foundation, Inc.  It is a comprehensive program that helps selected middle and high school students succeed by providing college scholarships, volunteer mentors, early intervention and long-term support.

Scholars enrolled in the program meet with their mentors weekly in order to ensure the scholar’s dedication to their long-term goal of successfully graduating from high school and subsequently receiving a four-year college tuition scholarship.

Approximately 70 mentors attended the luncheon, all of whom received a personal thank-you note written to them from the scholars they are mentoring.

Foundation Board member and luncheon sponsor Cox Communications representative Rick Mulligan expressed his thanks to all of the mentors during his welcome.

"What you may not realize is just how critical your role is in creating that positive change and just how much all of us in the community appreciate you," Mulligan said.  "by sharing you time and life experiences with our students, you truly are the ones who are changing the world one child at a time and we think the world of you!"

Leslie Hahn and Melissa Stauble addressed the group with ideas for helping Take Stock in Children scholars find success once they enter college.  Hahn is the Assistant Director of the New Student Programs at the University of Florida who coordinates the Florida Opportunity Scholars Mentoring Program, an initiative to ensure first-generation students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds have the resources they need to be academically successful at UF.

Stauble is a third-year student at UF majoring in journalism.  she has been a Florida Opportunity Scholar mentor for two years and works with many students similar to the Take Stock in Children scholars.  Both speakers shared information about working with this population and ways to help them find academic success now and in college.

Interested volunteer mentors and scholarship sponsors may contact the Take Stock in Children program coordinator Tanya Blakely at 352/955-7246 or at blakeleytj@sbac.edu.