(above) The Student/Partner Alliance, a Summit-based non profit, works to support high school students with tuition assistance and mentoring.
Chatham and Madison Residents Supporting Nearby Urban High School Students
A crowd of men and women from Chatham and Madison recently gathered to learn about Student/Partner Alliance (S/PA), a Summit-based non profit that supports motivated high school students at college preparatory high schools in New Jersey’s urban areas of Essex, Hudson and Union counties with tuition assistance and mentoring. The event was held at S/PA Board Member, Sweetie Pig Foundation Founder and President of the Board of Cornerstone Family Programs, Ann Stachenfeld’s home. Several experienced mentors shared stories about how influential the experience of mentoring has been for them with prospective volunteers. It was a great way to transition into National Volunteering Month and share the power of mentoring. Student/Partner Alliance has provided 2050 scholarships since 1993 and is always looking for new mentors to support our students.
About Student/Partner Alliance
The mission of Student/Partner Alliance (S/PA) is to support motivated high school students at private high schools in New Jersey’s urban areas of Essex, Hudson and Union counties with tuition assistance and mentoring to increase their chances for college admission and scholarships, and ultimately to lead successful and productive lives.
Research from mentor.org shows that mentors play a powerful role in providing young people with the tools to strive and thrive, to attend and engage in school, and to reduce or avoid risky behavior like drug use. In turn, these young people are:
55% more likely to be enrolled in college
81% more likely to report participating regularly in sports or extracurricular activities
78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.
More than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team.
Yet, the same research shows that one in three young people in our country will grow up without a mentor. Today, in our community there are so many young people who could benefit from having a mentor outside their family.
To learn more about the role mentoring plays in our community and to find volunteer opportunities with us visit studentpartneralliance.org. If you would like to learn more about our program, please contact Ann Kent at akent@studentpartneralliance.org.
Submitted by Ann Kent
