Hoosier students that participate in a scholarship program can thrive with the help of guidance. Statewide training sessions for mentors are designed to improve graduation rates.
Only about one in 10 students involved in the 21st Century Scholars program will graduate from college on time and just three in 10 will earn a degree at all according to information from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
The popular program offers income-eligible, high school grads paid tuition for four years at a state school, but the opportunity can also be overwhelming. Tracy Butler, of the Indiana Youth Institute’s mentor training outreach, says strengthening support around the transition period is crucial. Statewide mentor programs are adapting to help older students.
"Youth mentoring organizations are really extending their time that they are working with students in order to continue serving them in the post-secondary years," says Butler.
This week’s interactive training session is the last of a series provided by IYI, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis and the Starfish Initiative. Anyone interested in becoming a mentor can contact one of these organizations to get involved.
