SEMESTER 1 EDITION | FALL 2020
Welcome Take Stock Class of 2024! These 25 motivated freshmen joined our Seminole County Take Stock program. Virtual meetings with mentors, skill-building workshops, and the support of a College Success Coach will keep these students on track for high school success. These scholars will all be first generation college students and they will receive a 2-year Florida Prepaid Scholarship when they graduate high school. Congratulations students and welcome to Team Take Stock!
Student Spotlight
Barry Brown, III - Senior, Lyman High School
“Take Stock in Children has helped in ways not even imaginable. The program leaders have helped put me in a position to do nothing but succeed by asking the best out of me. My mentor and I have always shared laughs and talk about basketball and academic scholarships. He has pointed me in the direction of success by giving me opportunities again and again. I truly appreciate it.”
Meet Barry - a 12th grader who attends Lyman High School's Academy of Engineering. He's a 4-year member of the school's basketball team - Go Greyhounds! Barry plans to pursue a computer science degree and is currently working on college applications for University of Florida, University of Central Florida and Florida International University. Mentor Bob Goldman shares that Barry is self-motivated, dedicated and energized in both his schooling and athletics. This mentor-mentee pair clearly hold each other in high esteem as Barry credits his mentor for leading him in the right direction. Thanks to the support of his mentor and Take Stock in Children, Barry is ready and excited to start his college journey. We eagerly await Barry's College Decision Day announcement to use his Take Stock scholarship!
Mentor Spotlight
Debbie Heald - Take Stock Mentor
“I serve as a mentor because I see a need for our youth to have positive perspectives in setting goals for their future and I am hopefully able to get to contribute to those positive perspectives and goals. I would encourage those who feel compelled to guide our youth to please become a mentor. It's an incredibly rewarding feeling to know that you are making a difference in someone's future.” 
Debbie Heald has served as a Take Stock mentor at Lake Mary High School since 2017. Mentoring is a family business in the Heald household as Debbie's husband Michael also mentors with Take Stock. Debbie saw firsthand how fulfilling and rewarding the work was to him and wanted to make a difference for a deserving student.

Debbie describes her mentee Ava as close to perfect. She credits her student for being a hard worker who is conscientous about her studies. Together they have worked on time management, organization and using a daily planner to help keep Ava on track. Debbie is proud of her mentee's accomplishments and knows the sky is the limit for her as she prepares to graduate high school and pursue her dream of a college education with the Take Stock in Children scholarship. Thank you Debbie for sharing your positive perspectives and changing a life as a dedicated Take Stock mentor!
Alumni Spotlight
Raquel Aurora Toro
University of Central Florida
Raquel's advice to current TSIC students: "Attend the workshops and ask plenty of questions. Additionally, having good communication with your mentor is invaluable because they have a lot of knowledge and experience they are willing to share. A single opportunity might be a defining moment in your future!"
After graduating from Seminole High School in 2012, Raquel headed to UNF to study psychology. Raquel soon realized it was not the right fit and transferred home to SSC and ultimately UCF. Raquel quickly got involved at all levels of UCF by moving into on-campus housing, participating in student involvement and achieving student leadership positions. She also made life long memories with friends and enjoyed the fun of college football games. Raquel completed her bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2017. Raquel was selected for the Counselor Education master's program School Counseling track at UCF and graduated with both her master's degree and Career Counseling Graduate certificate in 2019. Raquel doesn't feel her education is finished just yet and eventually hopes to complete a doctoral degree in counseling or education. She currently works at UCF supporting and serving our next generation of students find their own career goals and paths.

Raquel credits Take Stock for encouraging her to seek college and career readiness as an underrepresented first-generation college student. Having a mentor throughout high school made her feel important and heard. Raquel continues to stay in contact with her mentor and invited her to share in her Master's graduation celebration. Take Stock's investment in providing deserving low-income students with mentors and scholarships creates hope for a brighter future. We look forward to seeing what Raquel achieves next!
CHANGE A LIFE!
We're always looking for mentors to join us in guiding our students through our program and high school! Fall semester mentor meetings are being held virtually. Just 30 minutes a week is all it takes to provide a student with support, guidance, and encouragement. Contact Beth Arigo or call 407-320-0301 to learn how you can change a deserving student's life as a dedicated Take Stock mentor!  
Our Mission
Take Stock in Children, Inc. is a nonprofit organization, transforming Florida one student at a time. Our mission is to break the cycle of poverty for low-income, academically qualified students by providing opportunities for a post-secondary education. We offer college scholarships to students, provide caring volunteer mentors, and instill hope for a better life. 

The Foundation for SCPS mission is to improve student achievement in Seminole County Public Schools by: raising and distributing funds and in-kind donations; fostering involvement in schools by business and the community; and providing recognition and rewards for outstanding contributions to, and performance within, the school system.
Changing Lives with Scholarships, Mentors & Hope!