Mentorship workshops for at-risk students in Florida
c/o Eloquence Academy
Last month, Eloquence Academy hosted two mentorship workshops for 100 high school juniors and seniors at Take Stock in Children of Manatee County, Florida (TSIC)! The program was an extension of our previous workshops that we hosted for Take Stock in Children of Broward County in March of 2024.
Founded in 1995, TSIC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization using education to help low-income and at-risk students escape the vicious cycles of poverty. TSIC serves over 8,000 students, each of whom maintain an unweighted Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.8, qualify for government aid programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and have a total household income of less than $71,050 per year. All students receive a volunteer mentor, college success coach, need-based scholarship, and college transition and retention assistance.
c/o Eloquence Academy
While Eloquence Academy is a debate organization, we ultimately aim to prepare our students for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact. To this end, both workshops explored key ideas in the college application process: visiting and touring institutions, determining personal priorities and assessing fit, developing a balanced application list, understanding academic programs, utilizing the QuestBridge National College Match, and applying for both need-based and merit-based financial aid. Students worked with Mansi Arora, Director of Finance & Human Resources, and Kira Waldhalm, Director of the Eloquence Charitable Fund. Mansi and Kira attended the University of Florida and Middlebury College respectively, allowing students to form relationships and ask personalized questions to older mentors.
Based on responses collected by TSIC through their post-program survey, the results were energizing. 92% matriculated to a post-secondary institution, 73% intend to complete their degree, and 97% graduated from high school with an average GPA of 3.48—an 0.68 point improvement. As one participant wrote, “you did a great job! I would love to meet with Kira again.”
We are grateful to the TSIC team and Partnerships Program Coordinators Michael Higley and Densie McGirr and are proud of what their students accomplished. To get involved in one of our regional chapters, visit the link in our bio.
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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy offers debate classes, summer camps, workshops, tournaments, in-school programs, and online resources for 2,200+ students across 35 states and 15 countries. Ultimately, EA aims to prepare youth for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact through the transferable skills gained from debate. Follow EA on Instagram and YouTube at @eloquenceacademy.
