Ledger

Apparently the ads on TV pleading for mentors paid off.

University of Washington Tacoma is among 14 other universities in Washington partnering with AmeriCorps and Washington Campus Compact to institute a mentoring program for high school students.

The Reaching Out to Empower Students Retention project, ROUTES, dedicates itself to bridging the gap between first-generation potential college freshmen and students already in college.

ROUTES is based on the idea that encouragement from mentors will positively impact high school students. Mentors receive continual training, and the ROUTES staff offers advice and resources throughout the duration of mentorship.

Sheryl Bell is the program assistant for the ROUTES program. As the person who oversees the program during its first year, Bell helps recruit and train the mentors.

The whole endeavor is under the Department of Education umbrella and, according to Bell, the ROUTES program is one of many programs that have the same goal in mind -- the retention of at-risk students.

The program is currently coordinating with two schools, Mount Tahoma High School and Lincoln High School.

Students will stay on those school properties and the mentors will tutor at the schools’ convenience. ROUTES will continue to gain ground in March, with a potential break in April for the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

"We’re not sure if the school wants the students to be disturbed at that time, so we’re just going to be respectful," Bell said.

Right now the mentors will only visit the two schools. The program may extend to elementary schools someday, depending on the dropout levels per grade.

Although mentors were paired with students last week, the door won’t be closed on new sign-ups.

"The goal of the program is to get at least 15 [mentors] for the first year," said Bell. "I don’t want to close the door on anybody, because the experience that one person may have – we may want to utilize that."

Mentors may be eligible to use their volunteer hours toward an award from AmeriCorps and volunteering as a mentor may count toward the community service requirement for some majors at UWT.

Tutoring can also be a reward in itself.

"It’s just the ideal of reaching down and helping someone out," Bell said. "I’m kind of jealous; I never had that."