The Collegiate Challenge Program

Program Overview  The SBISD Collegiate Challenge Mentor Program engages community members as mentors to assist high school juniors and seniors with career exploration and the college and scholarship application process to make higher education a reality. In 2007, the program earned the prestigious designation of being a Texas High School Exemplar Program, and received a $42,500 grant to expand the program to all SBISD high schools.

The Model

The Collegiate Challenge Mentor Program model pairs a community partner with a group of juniors and seniors from an SBISD high school who need help to fulfill their dreams of college enrollment. Some are first generation, low income or minority students. Others just respond better to an adult outside their family circle to listen to them and help them plan.

The community partner and the campus appoint a Mentor Coordinator to serve as the liaison for communications, programming and planning between the school and the partner group. Students self-select for the program with parent permission. Programming kicks off with get-to-know you activities for mentors and students, and a calendar of suggested activities, speakers, and college visits assure productive weekly meetings.

The SBISD Community Relations Department provides training, support and Mentor U events throughout the year.

The Mentors

Mentors commit to a one-school year time frame and agree to meet with their student once-per-week, on campus. Most programs meet during the evening, either on Mondays or Thursdays. Depending upon the campus, there may be flexibility to meet during the day as well. Typically, weekly sessions last approximately 1.5 hours.

The Results

Since its inception in 2000, nearly 750 students have attained the goal of college enrollment as a result of Collegiate Challenge. In 2010, approximately 100 students participated. They gained admission to nearly 75 universities and earned over $2 million in scholarships!
 

Getting Started

For more information about how you can become a Collegiate Challenge Mentor help a young adult fulfill the dream of college enrollment, please call us at 713-251-2468 or email us at mentor@springbranchisd.com.