Selby Scholar Retention Mentoring Program
With the Selby Foundation recognizing that maintaining their GPA is one of the top reasons for students losing their college scholarship eligibility, the Foundation piloted earlier this year its Selby Scholar Retention Mentoring program. The Selby Scholar program has been historically strict on GPA requirements, and this initiative recognizes that many times students have had to overcome tremendous challenges in their lives. Providing a mentor to them can make a real difference in helping them through their academic challenges and preserving their financial aid.
Each student that applies must complete a GPA Recovery and Student Success Plan that allows them to stay in the GPA Recovery pool as long as they need, and as long as they are making progress toward a 3.0 GPA. Two such students, Mikaela Ballesteros and Jakob Silver, both Selby Scholars, were mentored by community leaders Barbara Zdravecky and John Annis. They met with their mentors on a bi-weekly or weekly basis throughout the school semester. Both students have recovered their GPAs and are continuing this Fall Semester at their respective colleges and universities. This academic year, three students will participate in the program.
Selby Scholar “Final Push for Bright(er) Futures” Initiative
In an effort to help area students maximize their access to state-funded scholarships through the Bright Futures program, the Foundation also launched this year an initiative to offer free resources to qualifying students that entitles them to ACT test registration (a $50 value) and Revolution Prep’s ACT Small Group Course (a $499 value) to prepare for upcoming tests. On average, students who participate in this program see an increase of one point on the ACT.Raising a Bright Futures award level from “Medallion” to “Academic” can result in savings of approximately $12,000 over four years of college.
In 2021 the program drew students from DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota Counties. In addition to Selby Scholar students, the Foundation worked closely with area youth-serving organizations to ensure students had access to this opportunity:
- Links2Success (DeSoto County)
- Take Stock in Children (DeSoto, Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota Counties)
- Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties
- UnidosNow (Sarasota and Manatee Counties)
A recent Riverview High School graduate, Nicholas Coelho, was selected as a Selby Scholar and took advantage of this opportunity to help him access additional financial aid. Nicholas credits the program for helping to keep him accountable, providing him with practice resources, teaching him strategies for taking the ACT and showing him how to deal with dilemmas on the test.
Should you wish to learn more about how these innovative programs are helping area students to succeed, please contact Molly Swift, at mswift@selbyfdn.org or 941-957-0442.