Every year, we select one graduate to be named our Outstanding Senior. This year, Xiomara Martinez from Sumner High School is not only receiving the title, she's also being awarded a 4-year scholarship from HEF! Click her picture (above) to watch her receive the scholarship upgrade!
Xiomara is the first in her family to attend college, is in the Top 10 percent of her class, has devoted 100 hours to community service and as the oldest sibling helps out a lot at home.
She is also a member of the National Honor Society and translates for Spanish-speaking families in the main office at her high school.
After graduation, Xiomara is heading to the University of South Florida to study Criminal Justice.
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Scholarship Surprises
for Seniors!
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High school graduation is just a few weeks away and we are so proud of the 73 seniors in our Take Stock in Children mentoring program who are making big plans for the next steps in their educational journeys.
When mentees committed to our program several years ago, they pledged to work hard, maintain good grades and regularly meet with their mentors and HEF college success coaches. Now, they're graduating with a 2-year college scholarship!
This year, we had a very special SURPRISE for some of our seniors... their scholarships are being upgraded to cover all four years of their college tuitions!
2 + 2 Scholarship Recipients
Click on the student's picture to watch as the surprise is revealed!
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Marie Kolombia
Wharton High
University of South Florida
Biomedical Science
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Jennifer Lopez
Strawberry Crest High
University of South Florida
Psychology
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Jean Pinckney
Hillsborough High
Johns Hopkins University
Pre-Medical Track
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4-Year FSU Scholarship Recipient |
Jordan McKenzie
Newsome High
Florida State University
Political Science/ Business Law
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Congratulate the Graduates in our Senior Spotlights on Social Media
HEF has been shining a spotlight on all our graduating mentees on HEF's social media pages. Check out the posts and share your well wishes with these amazing students as they pursue their dreams of a college education. We know they will continue to accomplish great things and their futures will be bright!
Also, if your mentee is a senior and you are planning on attending their graduation ceremony, please take pictures and send them our way. We would love to feature you on our social media platforms!
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Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May in the United States since 1949. While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health.
Watch the videos below with your mentee and discuss how sleep & diet can affect mental health.
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How the Food You Eat Affects Your Brain Health
Your brain is like a machine that needs specific materials to function well. Watch the video below with your mentee and discuss what was learned, and how you think your current diet is affecting your mental health.
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What Would Happen If You Didn't Sleep?
In the United States, it’s estimated that 30 percent of adults and 66 percent of adolescents are regularly sleep-deprived.
Watch this video with your mentee and have a conversation about your current sleeping habits & how they can improve.
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Your College Cares
It’s normal for students to feel anxious when starting school for the first time, and we all need to ask for help sometimes. Local college and community partners developed the “Your College Cares” website to build a safe space for college students looking for mental health resources in Tampa Bay. Whether that’s an article or campus link, they are there to lessen the stigma toward college mental health.
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Mentor of the Month
Kimberly Jefferson
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How did you become involved with mentoring through Hillsborough Education Foundation?
Mentoring is something I had always done informally. I was in the process of searching for a way to give back locally, while also working to start a nonprofit mentoring organization. When watching the news one day, I saw a brief mention of the program. I went online to learn more and thought it would be awesome to have an impact on a young person’s educational journey. I reached out and the rest is history.
What has been the most rewarding part of mentoring?
The most rewarding part of mentoring has been seeing my mentee work hard to overcome challenges she had in school. Knowing that I was able to motivate and encourage her to keep pushing forward gives me great joy.
What do you believe is the key to being a quality mentor?
I believe the key to being a quality mentor is commitment. I feel if you sign up for something that you should stand firm in doing all of the things that you are required to do. That means supporting, being available, holding yourself accountable, being inspirational and influential.
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When you are not working with students, how do you prefer to spend your free time?
When not working with students, I am working with students! I also mentor girls through my nonprofit organization, Pretty with Purpose, Inc. When I do have those rare free moments, I try to spend time with family, reading, listening to music, singing, journaling and meditating.
What do you hope your mentee will learn from you?
I hope that my mentee has learned from me the value in supporting others, that hard work pays off, that there are no limits to what you can accomplish, and that you are enough in every way.
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Mentor Survey
As always, one of the most important things we do at the end of the year is to get your feedback. Hearing back from our mentors helps us tremendously as we prepare for the upcoming school year, as well as gives us a clearer picture of what we can be doing better. As our eyes and ears, your opinions are invaluable to us!
Please take the time to take this brief survey about your experiences as a mentor this past year, your plans regarding the upcoming school year, and suggestions for the Take Stock in Children team. The survey should take about 8-10 minutes.
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Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to the Take Stock in Children program – we could not do it without you! If you don’t have a chance to complete the survey, one of our TSIC team members will reach out to you in July to talk about your interest in mentoring in the fall and any feedback you might have for us. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. |
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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States.
The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. As of 2019, there were about 22.9 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the United States.
AAPI Heritage Month 2022 will take place from Sunday, May 1 to Tuesday, May 31.
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Hillsborough Cambridge Schools Set To Expand With School Board Vote
At their April 19th meeting, Hillsborough County School Board members voted to expand Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) programs countywide.
“Since the fall of 2020, Sumner High School has been the only Cambridge AICE high school program in Hillsborough County Public Schools,” according to a school district report prepared for school board consideration. “The Cambridge expansion will begin in the fall of 2022 with the addition of 13 high schools and one additional middle school. This will allow additional students to take advantage of Cambridge Lower Secondary, Pre-AICE and AICE courses.”
The Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) was first awarded in 1997 and has since become popular with a range of schools in different parts of the world. It encompasses the ‘gold standard’ Cambridge International AS and A Level qualifications and offers students the opportunity to tailor their studies to their individual interests, abilities and future plans within an international curriculum framework.
Source: OspreyObserver
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Click the name of your assigned College Success Coach to email them. |
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Director of TSIC
(813) 574-0271
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Mentor Coordinator
(813) 574-0272
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College Success Coach
(813) 574-0264
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College Success Coach
(813) 574-0269
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College Success Coach
(813) 574-0267
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Last day of school
End of the 4th Quarter
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For more detailed information about the events occurring in Hillsborough County Public Schools, click the link below:
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TSIC Mentor &
Student Resource Portal
To access grade-specific road maps, virtual mentoring ideas, mentor toolkits, information on colleges & careers, and more resources click the buttons below!
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