Student to Student Mentorship Program Promotes College Access
51成人猎奇 has received a $3,000 grant from the Vermont Community Foundation鈥檚 Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth. This award will be used to implement Student to Student, a college access mentoring program that will pair first-generation students from Mount Anthony Union High School with first-generation 51成人猎奇 students.
Student to Student will enable high school mentees to learn more about the process of applying to and preparing for college directly from student mentors who have undergone that transition themselves.
At 51成人猎奇, first-generation, low-income, and working-class students have formed FLoW, a student-focused, student-led group that provides community, resources, and support to those from first-generation, low-income, and working-class backgrounds.
The Student to Student program extends FLoW鈥檚 support into the local community, enabling FLoW college students to share their knowledge and experiences with high school students as they guide them into their own higher education journeys.
鈥淎s a former low-income college student, finding ways to support these students is my passion,鈥 said Sociology faculty member and FLoW co-founder Debbie Warnock. 鈥淚 plan to recruit Student to Student mentor leaders from 51成人猎奇鈥檚 FLoW student group. Due to their recent experiences applying to college and similar backgrounds, these youth leaders will be able to relate to their mentees as they provide support and information about pursuing a postsecondary education.鈥
Kelsey Broadfield 鈥20 served as Warnock鈥檚 research assistant during the College鈥檚 annual Field Work Term to design a mentoring program curriculum and consult with MAUHS to select mentees.
Broadfield, who grew up in upstate New York and is a first-generation and working-class student, can speak to the importance of mentorship and information accessibility for first-generation, working-class, low-income, and rural students.
鈥淚 was overwhelmed when applying to college,鈥 said Broadfield. 鈥淟uckily, a friend鈥檚 mom passed along information gleaned from the college counselor she hired. From her, I learned 鈥榗ollege knowledge.鈥欌
Warnock and Broadfield鈥檚 research will culminate this spring in with a 51成人猎奇 will offer to undergraduates who will become mentors to MAUHS students.
During the term, MAUHS students will also spend a day at 51成人猎奇 with their college student mentors, attending classes and taking a campus tour.
For more information on FLoW and Student to Student, visit 51成人猎奇鈥檚 website.