Shaunique Robbins is in her first year at the University of Florida studying to become a physical therapist on a full scholarship. The 19-year-old didn’t letter in a sport or finish her academic career at the top of her class at William R. Boone High School in Orlando. Rather, she was hand-selected in middle school by Take Stock in Children to receive a scholarship providing she met with a mentor and signed a contract stating she’d maintain a 2.5 GPA and remain drug and alcohol-free.

Take Stock in Children’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty for low-income, academically-qualified students by providing opportunities for a post-secondary education. “I learned about the program and it was a great opportunity,” said Robbins, the first person in her family to go to college. “Without this, college wouldn’t have been possible.”

For 20 years, Take Stock in Children (TSIC) has used mentoring efforts to help more than 24,000 youths realize their academic potential. The statewide organization strategically pairs its students with mentors who help guide them, introducing them to experiences and concepts they may not have had a chance to explore otherwise. The program also motivates students to stay in school with the promise of a four-year scholarship. And that deal can certainly pay off, as it has for Robbins!

The organization has helped to increase the rate of Florida children who achieve academic success. For example, according to TSIC’s statewide data, 96% of its students graduate from high school, 87% enter college, and 59% graduate with a college degree. According to the organization, a comparison group (which did not include TSIC efforts) resulted in 57% of at-risk students graduating from high school and just 28% of those children entering college. The organization is also the largest purchaser of Florida Prepaid Scholarships, having purchased nearly $150 million in scholarships to send students to college.

While TSIC is often run through a county’s school district, in Orange County the program is run through Valencia College, a multi-campus school in Orlando.  The educational institution’s volunteer arm, Valencia Promise, works with students at both Memorial and Howard middle schools and 15 Orange County high schools. “Since the inception of the program at Valencia College, the mission has been to stop the cycle of poverty,” said Elisha Gonzalez Bonnewitz, executive director of Valencia Promise. “The biggest impact has been to assist underserved, first-generational students with their successful completion of high school, and matriculation to college followed by graduation.” Starting in 2008 with just 50 students, Valencia’s TSIC program has grown to serving 234 students with more than 500 mentors recruited. “The students’ challenges are exhausting and, at times, difficult to overcome,” Gonzalez Bonnewitz explained. “I am proud of our students’ incremental successes and look forward to having them come back to share their story and, eventually, mentor the next generation. Our students’ life maps are challenging and our commitment is to invest in the promise.”

With two mentors between 7^th and 9^th grade, Robbins only dreamt of becoming a family law attorney. That is, until her third mentor, Winter Garden-based designer Shanna Bender, gave her the chance to meet with and shadow some of the best attorneys in the state. “It might be cliché but I’ve learned through the program that with the right support, you can accomplish anything,” Robbins said. “She’s driven me to do my best.” Robbins was the first mentee paired with Bender through TSIC, a connection that remains tight several years after their contract ended. “We do stuff outside of the program like a yoga class or lunch,” Robbins said.  “Even though she’s not technically my mentor anymore, we still get together!”

Bender, a longtime mentor with multiple organizations, remembers how closed off Robbins was during their first few meetings. “As adults, we sometimes forget how to talk with kids,” she said. “With Shaunique, we began playing basketball and she opened up. We just needed to be more organic.” Bender is impressed with TSIC’s mentoring model and its impact on the community. She sees this organization as a way to bridge the gap between students who come from disadvantaged situations and often work to provide additional income for their families and their more fortunate peers.

“They really focus on the kids that can be glossed over,” Bender declared. “The reality is: if it wasn’t for these types of programs, they would miss out on the conversations and opportunities that expand their professional growth.” The experience impacted her so greatly that she now requires her 8-person staff to volunteer at least 40 hours annually at a cause that speaks to them. “We all have a responsibility in the community to help grow these incredible kids,” Bender said. “We have an obligation to teach them compassion and how to discover their passions.”

Take Stock in Children, through Valencia Promise, is always looking for new volunteers who can commit to meeting with a student on a weekly basis for a least one year and possibly through the student’s duration in the program. Locally, the organization has raised more than $4.5 million for scholarships through donations, grants, and other sponsorships. For more information and mentorship applications, visit  ValenciaCollege.edu/Valencia-Promise and/or TakeStockInChildren.org.