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UPHigh (Uniting Potential with Experience for Higher Learning) is a one-of-a-kind mentoring program that offers the chance for a mentor to support and guide a new college student through four years of college.

A grant from the College Access Foundation has made it possible for 15 awardees of the 2009 Marcus Foster Scholarship to be matched with a mentor who will be their contact through four years of college from fall of 2009 to Spring of 2013. We are looking for dedicated individuals who feel inspired to give this gift of unfathomable value to a student who is very likely to be the first in her/his family to attend college.
A few reasons that may help you consider mentoring:
• It is estimated that only half of African American and Latino ninth graders graduate from high school, compared to 79% of Asian Americans and 72% of Whites (Civil Rights Project, 2005).

• Only 44% of students in Oakland public schools graduate from high school, whereas 74% of students graduate from high school nationally.

• While there has been an increase in first-generation college students, students are still less likely to persist and graduate from college (Choy; Nunez & Cuccaro-Alamin, 1998).
• It is estimated that first-generation students have a 71% higher rate of attrition that occurs within the first and second year compared to second-generation students (Ishitani, 2003).

• According to the U.S. Department of Education report, first generation students have family and background characteristics that are associated with risk of attrition, where more are likely to be from low-income families, have lower achievement, and have lower overall degree aspirations.

While we realize that we may not be able to address every reason that contributes to the high minority college attrition rate, we have decided to focus on two of the most damaging obstacles: financial need, and college guidance.
This is precisely where a MENTOR comes in. The mentor component is critical to help low-income, first generation students find their "footing" within these great institutions of higher learning.
We estimate that a new college student in today's world faces the following challenges or would need help in the following areas:
• Study habits
• Survival skills in college
• Test taking strategies
• Financial aid and scholarships
• Money management
• Career Exploration and career world information
• Managing the expectations of college
• Bolstering self-confidence
• Seeking out and utilizing college resources
• Stress management
• Leading a balanced life considering work, school, and other demands
• Time management
• Conflict management
• Maximizing relationships with professors
• Resisting negative peer culture and peers involved in heavy alcohol consumption and other drugs
• Searching for a job
• Writing a resume and cover letter
• Handling the challenges of being a first generation college student
• Lack of knowledgeable support system
• Inexperience navigating new social and cultural experiences and expectations

And this is just a few of possible issues a mentor might respond to for the wellbeing of a new college student. The Marcus Foster Education Fund needs 15 dedicated mentors who wish to contribute to a student in a mentor-mentee relationship of unfathomable value.
Mentor Requirements
• Must have a strong commitment to helping and working with youth
• Enthusiastic, approachable, open, sincere, friendly character
• This is a volunteer position, open to anyone, with the benefit being the relationship established between mentor and mentee as mentee goes through college
• Must have completed at least a bachelor's degree
• Must be willing to attend an UPHigh mentor training on May 21st, 2009.
• Must be willing to attend a mentor-mentee convention in June, this will be the first meeting between mentor and mentee
• Willing to make two contacts per month during school months to stay in contact with mentee, the mentor and mentee may decide to meet periodically or check-in more than this base amount
• Available by phone or email for mentee to contact if needed
• Mentor will write a short bio - this will help the mentee to select a mentor
• Mentor will complete a short survey quarterly so the mentor-mentee relationship can be evaluated
• Willing to continue the mentor-mentee relationship through four years of college

Mentor Benefits
• Chance to make a meaningful impact in a new college student's life that goes beyond monetary support
• Chance to support mentee in matriculating through college
• Become a part of Marcus Foster Education Fund's network of people dedicated to the idea that it takes a community to foster educational success
• Relaxed mentor program with few requirements beyond monthly contact with mentee
• Flexibility in mentor-mentee relationship: Mentor and mentee may schedule in-person meetings if desired periodically, or may maintain a phone/email based relationship

Mentee Requirements
• Recipient of the Marcus Foster Scholarship in 2009
• Must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in the first year of college, with the goal of 3.0 in the following years
• Must be willing to attend mentor-mentee convention in June, where you will meet your mentor
• Complete a pre-test at onset of program, and complete a post-test after every year of college
• Complete a short survey every six months to evaluate the effectiveness of the mentor-mentee relationship
• Willing to stay in contact with mentor for duration of college experience
• Open to communicating with mentor, and responsive to mentor efforts to touch base

Mentee Benefits

• Receive a dedicated volunteer mentor to help negotiate the complex world of college
• Support contact mentor available for all four years of college
• Chance to develop strong mentor-mentee relationship
• Receive help in establishing a career plan, and writing resumes and cover letters
• Increase chances of college graduation
• Be one of the few scholarship recipients in the nation that comes with an added mentorship component
• Mentor will be a confidential source of guidance and knowledge throughout college

If interested contact the Marcus Foster Education Fund at 510-835-0391, email LLamanna(at)marcusfoster.org or visit our website at www.marcusfoster.org