CC Futures News > Featured Story

Mentoring Group Helps Low-income Students

August 4, 2005, Exton Suburban Advertiser

by Alexis Grilli

Some of Chester County Futures mentors shown above holding awards they won at the organization’s annual year-end banquet.

CHESTER COUNTY---"We're operating from our offices as far a paperwork," said Catherine Mesaros, executive director, Chester County Futures, Inc (CCF). The real magic of the nine-year-old program, however, takes place in area classrooms.

CCF is an academic, mentoring and scholarship organization serving 151 low-income students from the county whose socio-economic plight places them at risk of dropping out of school. "These students are at risk for reasons beyond their control but have the academic wherewithal to get through high school and into college," said Mesaros. Students attend CCF programs in their own schools. The programs are held before school, during homeroom and after school. "We are welcomed within school districts," said Mesaros. "We're affecting the bottom line drop-out rate."

Despite the odds against them, 100 percent of those students enrolled in the Futures Program since 1996 have earned their high school diplomas. 83 percent went on to higher education. That is more than double the national 41 percent average for low-income students and 33 percent better than the 50 percent national average for all college students (US Department of Education, data issued in 2004).

"We have a super program and so much good is being done," said Mesaros. CCF currently serves: the Coatesville Area School District (1996), Kennett Consolidated School Districts (1996), Oxford School District (2001) and Phoenixville Area School District (2004).

Expansion into new school districts is based on serving the areas of greatest need first. Students are nominated to be in the program in eighth grade by their middle schools. "The counselors know who the students are that are working but are slipping, or are at risk of slipping," said Mesaros.

Mesaros commended the students in the program as being "very motivated." "One students speaks and writes five languages," said Mesaros. "Another one of our students just graduated from Coatesville and was chosen to give the commencement address."

CCF consists of intense programs, with one-on-one attention. The highly personalized program embellishes lessons taught in school. A program coordinator runs monthly, in-school meetings with topics selected by the students. In the past the center has held workshops on study skills, financial aid and success strategies.

The center, in a continuing effort to support their students academically, now offers a comprehensive SAT preparatory and tutoring program. CCF also focuses a lot of attention on post secondary education. Each year the program rents school buses and takes students to several colleges. "We do a lot for the students to help them have a vision of a college for themselves," said Mesaros.

Every year CCF takes its students on a trip to look at several colleges. This year's trip has been paid for by outside college sponsors. The students will be treated to breakfast and lunch and will visit four to six colleges.

"We're thrilled (about the sponsorship)," said Mesaros. "It makes a big difference." This year the program's ninth graders will be able to attend the trip.

In addition to programs, CCF provides each student with a personal support system. In their ninth or tenth grade year students are matched with an adult mentor. The mentor's role is to be a constant caring presence throughout high school and to build trust, offer support, listen and expose their student to new experiences.

"Mentors are a strong shoulder to help student through rough times," said Mesaros. Mentors agree to stay with their student throughout high school and their first year of college. They meet with their students, in person, at least once a month and have phone or email contact weekly.

Mentors range from recent college graduates to retirees. They come from diverse backgrounds, occupations and regions of the county. "We have mentors who are lawyers, teachers, bankers, bookkeepers and college administrators," said Mesaros.The common thread amongst the diverse group of mentors is their desire to give something back.

"Most of us can look back and see that there was a person who stepped up and helped us," said Mesaros. "That's the gift our mentors want to give back to the students." Support from the program does not end once a student graduates from high school. The program awards $6,000 scholarships to all graduating seniors. The scholarship stipend is placed in a fund and distributed to qualifying students once they enter post secondary education.

This year's graduating seniors also received laptops donated by Sungard SCT. Sponsorship money is raised through CCF's annual benefit night at The People's Light and Theatre Company, golf outing and scholarship challenge fund drive. In the nine years since CCF opened its doors, program enrollment has grown from the initial small group of 13 high school students in 1996, to 151 high school students expected for the fall 2006 school year. The growth of the program means that the need for mentors will continue to be very high.