INK! hosted incoming Take Stock in Children® scholars, families, and mentors to kickoff the new school year
On Monday, August 7, the Take Stock in Children-St. Johns County community gathered for a 2023-2024 School Year Kickoff event at the Evelyn Hamblen Center. Families and volunteer mentors learned about services our local Take Stock staff will offer during the new school year.
INK! serves as the lead agency in St. Johns County for the statewide Take Stock in Children® program. Since 1998, over 300 local students have participated in the mentoring and scholarship program, typically starting in eighth grade. Take Stock in Children® (TSIC) was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Florida that provides a unique opportunity for deserving, low-income youth to escape the cycle of poverty through education. Through TSIC, INK! offers underserved students one-on-one support through caring volunteer mentors, professional college success services, the opportunity to earn a college scholarship, and hope for success in college, career, and life.
2023-2024 School Year Kickoff
At the Kickoff, Mike Michel, INK!’s Take Stock College Success Coach, spoke to students and families about internships, career certifications, and participating in extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities, and part-time work as students build their resumes for college applications. He discussed multiple new internship opportunities for juniors, as well as the Ready To Work online certification program available to students.
Rising Take Stock Senior, Jun, spoke to attendees about his summer internship at local high-tech manufacturing company Carlisle Interconnect Technologies. Mr. Michel worked with Carlisle IT to craft a summer internship program specifically for two TSIC-SJC students. During the internship, Jun learned ways in which his interest in STEM subjects are applied in the workplace, while experiencing team work in a professional setting.
Don’t Stop Moving Forward Despite Challenges You May Face
During the Kickoff event, Volunteer Take Stock mentor, Phil Smith, shared his experiences working with multiple Take Stock students. Mr. Smith has served as a Take Stock mentor since 2019. Smith explained that he discusses resiliency with his students. “We all stub our toe and make mistakes or go through difficulties,” Smith advised. “Don’t let that stop you from moving forward.”
TSIC Program Coordinator, Jim Wheeler, reviewed points of emphasis for students and their parents/guardians. He discussed the importance of getting off to a good start academically, school attendance, behavior, meeting requirements for Take Stock students, and how to utilize the Take Stock staff to help with a variety of issues.
Take Stock in Children Applications Accepted October 2023 and January 2024
During the 2023-24 school year, there will be two open application periods for students and families to apply for entry into the Take Stock in Children®-St. Johns County program. During October 2023, INK! will accept applications from 9th grade students attending St. Johns County public high schools. In January 2024, INK! will accept applications from 8th grade students attending St. Johns County public middle schools and K-8 academies.
