National Mentoring Month In Florida Starts On High Note

Six Mentored High School Students Selected to Receive Leaders for Life™ Fellowship Award

MIAMI, Jan. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At the beginning of National Mentoring Month, six mentored Florida high school student scholars were chosen as 2014 Take Stock in Children's Leaders for Life™ Fellows. Take Stock in Children is a statewide non-profit organization with a 19-year history of providing scholarships, mentors and hope for deserving, needs-based youth to help break the cycle of poverty. The Leaders for Life™ Fellowship program was created in partnership with the Asofsky Family Foundation and each award is valued at $40,000.  

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The 2014 Leaders for Life™ Fellows are Jorden Holland (Okaloosa County), Daniella Rossi (Indian River County), Jacquelynn Shelton (Pasco County), Kevin Tierney (Volusia County, and Jovani Hernandez and Lucero Torres (Desoto, Hardee and Highlands Counties). These highly motivated scholars were selected based on their demonstration of strong leadership skills, moral character and academic success and are six of thousands of Florida high school students currently being mentored through Take Stock in Children.

On January 8, the 2014 Leaders for Life™ Fellows were surprised in their schools with the announcement and will be officially awarded their fellowships during Take Stock in Children's leadership conference at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tallahassee, Florida on February 12, 2014.

Take Stock in Children's Leaders for Life™ Fellowship program provides financial resources, services and support needed to ensure student success throughout college. The Asofsky Family Foundation provides each fellow with a Macintosh laptop, as well as funds for textbooks, supplies, food, housing, transportation and other college-related expenses. As recipients of these fellowships, these scholars can excel in a university environment with resources that empower them to develop their full potential. Hernandez, Holland, Rossi, Shelton, Tierney and Torres join fifteen current Leaders for Life™ Fellows.

"Take Stock in Children's Leaders for Life™ Fellowship program is now in its fourth year," said Mark Asofsky of the Asofsky Family Foundation, "and each year, my family and the esteemed panel of judges are overwhelmed when we see the magnitude of accomplishments displayed by these students.  As they continue their educational journey, we are confident they will continue to lead by exemplary example" he concluded

"Take Stock in Children's high school dropout prevention and college attainment efforts contribute to the economic viability of Florida's communities," said Madeline Pumariega, Take Stock in Children President and CEO. "Our scholars boast an impressive 94 percent graduation rate. Guided on the path to success by our caring mentors, Take Stock in Children scholars overcome substantial obstacles and truly excel."

About Take Stock in Children
Take Stock in Children is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with a solid 18 year history of providing mentors, educational scholarships and hope for Florida's low-income and deserving youth. The organization has provided educational support and college scholarships for over 22,000 children in partnership with more than 800 public schools throughout the 67 counties in Florida. It is the only scholarship mentoring program that has attained a high school graduation rate of 94 percent in Florida. The program's multi-year commitment to students and their comprehensive program services begin in middle school and continue through high school graduation and into college. Special emphasis is placed on student accountability and specific measurable outcomes. Take Stock in Children students pledge to meet with their assigned mentor once a week, maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5, and remain drug and crime free. Upon successful high school graduation, in fulfillment of their contractual agreement, students are then awarded a college scholarship to any college, university or vocational school in the state of Florida. To learn more about Take Stock in Children, please call 888-322-4673 or visit www.takestockinchildren.org.

SOURCE Take Stock in Children