Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc.
At the regular meeting of the Madison Kiwanis Club on Thursday, April 13, Gina Rutherford spoke to the club about the “Take Stock in Children” (TSIC) mentoring and scholarship program. Rutherford is the Program Coordinator for the Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc. The Foundation serves as the local administrator for the TSIC program.
TSIC is a statewide program that provides mentoring and scholarships for deserving students in Florida public schools. Since its inception in 1995, TSIC has enabled over 24,000 students to fulfill their dreams of a college education by granting more than $149 million in college scholarships. In order to participate in the program,
Every year the Kiwanis Club supports the Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc. The Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc. is the organization that locally administers the Take Stock in Children mentoring and scholarship program that provides college scholarships to deserving young people. Shown here is Jo Willis (left), former Program Coordinator for the Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education and Kiwanis Club member with Gina Rutherford (right), current Program Coordinator for the Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education.
students must sign a pledge of commitment to keep their grades up, stay away from drugs and crime, attend school regularly, meet with their mentor, and focus on achieving high school graduation and being college-ready. If they fulfill these requirements, they earn a college scholarship. The program begins early, with students entering in their eighth, ninth, or 10th grade years. Students must have a 3.0 grade point average, good attendance and no behavior problems. Students must be enrolled in a Florida public school, and there must be a financial need. Students in the program are paired with an adult mentor who helps guide the student and helps hold the student accountable for meeting the guidelines of the program.
According to Rutherford, there is a great need for mentors to work with students. Training is provided for mentors who must pass a simple background check. Mentors agree to meet with their student on a weekly basis, typically during lunch or some other time during the school day, on school grounds. Often these mentorships become lasting friendships that extend well beyond the high school years and into college and longer.
Anyone wishing more information about TSIC and how you can become a mentor to a deserving student, visit www.takestockinchildren.org. Interested persons can also call Gina Rutherford, Program Coordinator, at (850) 973-5718.