FORT PIERCE – The IRSC Foundation is now accepting applications for its Take Stock in Children (TSIC) Scholarship Program. The Take Stock in Children program helps at-risk, low-income students succeed by providing them with college scholarships, volunteer mentors and long-term support to help them transition from high school to college. Since 1997, the Foundation has awarded more than 1,091 Take Stock in Children scholarships to deserving ninth-graders. This academic year they hope to provide at least 40 students with the same opportunity. The deadline to apply for the scholarships is Jan. 8, 2021.

Take Stock in Children applicants must be attending Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, or St. Lucie County public high schools. Selected students are required to maintain good grades, behavior, and attendance, remain drug and crime free and graduate from high school. Parents must agree to support the educational goals of the student, allow students to meet with a volunteer mentor and maintain good communication with the TSIC staff.

“The Take Stock in Children program is truly transformative for our student scholars and their families,” explained Ann Decker, Executive Director of the IRSC Foundation. “The program is uniquely centered on helping our students successfully navigate the path from high school all the way to college completion. Tuition assistance removes a key barrier to post-secondary educational attainment, but the program does not stop there — we focus on developing the whole person.”

The Take Stock in Children scholarship provides each recipient with a Florida Prepaid Tuition Scholarship, which provides tuition for two years for 60 Associate Degree-level credits at IRSC and two years of tuition for 60 Bachelor’s Degree-level credits at IRSC or another public state college in Florida. Beyond financial assistance, each student receives a mentor and college success coach. The volunteer mentors work with the scholars to provide encouragement and help each student see and reach their full potential. The college success coach helps design a success plan to guide the scholars through high school and helps with the transition into college.

To learn more about the Take Stock in Children Scholarship opportunity for 9th-grade students, including eligibility, requirements and how to begin the application, visit www.irscfoundation.org/tsic. Questions may be directed to Betty Saffioti, Program Director at bsaffiot@irsc.edu or by phone at 772-462-7252. The Foundation is also looking for individuals interested in empowering our student scholars by serving as a TSIC mentor.