• News - Take Stock signing - March, 2007
  • Monroe County schools

20 Students Being Inducted Into TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN

Twenty middle and high school students signed their scholarship contracts with TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN, offering each one “Scholarships, Mentors, and Hope.”  They were matched with their mentors at ceremonies held at schools across the Keys.  Pictured from left to right below - Key Largo Middle School, Sugarloaf Middle School and Marathon Middle School. (Click on pictures to enlarge)

“Most of these new scholarships were awarded to students who failed to qualify as 7th graders, but have not given up, and have met all the qualifications,” according to Jim Hall, Program Coordinator for Take Stock.  “These 20 hand-picked students are being given the ‘chance of a lifetime’ to further develop their skills and graduate from college.”   

Thanking the mentors, Hall continued, “We have the mentors, the students, and available scholarships; so, we were ready to sign more contracts!  It was very satisfying to give this opportunity to 20 more students.”    

Students signed contracts agreeing to keep their grades at the A, B, or C levels throughout high school, obey the code of student conduct, stay crime and drug free, and meet with their mentor once each week. All students with the desire, motivation, and potential to go to college and come from low-income families in Monroe County are awarded this scholarship opportunity.

TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN and the Monroe County Education Foundation promise to pay all tuition and student fees for a 4-year college education.  Students can attend any of Florida’s 28 community colleges for two years, followed by two more years at any of Florida’s 11 state universities.  They finish the program as proud university graduates with a Bachelor’s degree. Below is the presentation of a $30,000 check to the Monroe County Education Foundation in support of Take Stock In Children during the scholarship signings at Coral Shores High on March 14th.

Left to right: Randy Chaney – Monroe County Education Foundation, Allison Brewster – Ocean Reef Foundation. David Ritz – President, Ocean Reef Community Association, Dan Kratish – President, Monroe County Education Foundation, Jim Hall and Gina Hipson – Take Stock In Children, Randy Acevedo – Superintendent, Monroe County School District

Currently, Monroe County has 131 students already in college.  After these contract signings, a new record total of 391 scholarship contracts will have been awarded in our county since TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN started.

Each week our students meet with a mentor on school property and during school hours.  Mentors offer their mentees guidance, encouragement and support.  The mentor component of this program helps students develop their own problem-solving skills and personal values that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.  Mentors continue to be needed since no scholarships can be awarded unless the student can be matched with an enthusiastic volunteer mentor.  

To get involved as a mentor or donor, or for more information, contact Jim Hall, Program Coordinator at 305-293-1546 or Gina Hipson, Student Advocate, at 305-289-2480 ext. 55418