Press Release: iMentor Launches Program Year with New Partner Schools, Enhanced College Preparatory Support
Leading Mentoring Organization Will Reach 2,400 NYC Youth in 2011-2012 and Adds Three New Partner Schools and College Readiness Programs
New York, NY (November 7, 2011) – iMentor, a leading youth mentoring organization, today announced the addition of three new partner schools to its New York City program, as well as the launch of two new programs that focus on college success and provide clear benchmarks for successful mentoring relationships.
As the 2011-2012 school year gets underway, iMentor’s newest programs and partner schools will ensure that iMentor’s high school students in underserved communities are prepared to reach their full potential in their academic careers.
The new partner schools are the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) NYC College Prep Program in Harlem; Williamsburg Prep in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; and Secondary School for Law (SSL) based in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The addition of these partner schools enables iMentor to work with an additional 500 students. This year, iMentor is on track to reach a total of 2,400 New York – based high school students.
“We’re excited to welcome these three schools, along with hundreds of their students, to the iMentor network and launch our two new programs to support college readiness for New York area students,” said Mike O’Brien, CEO of iMentor. “The addition of these programs is enhancing our proven mentoring model, which continues to have a positive impact on our community. We are excited to provide more mentors to help a greater number of high school students achieve high school and college success.”
iMentor’s two new college success programs, focusing on readiness and success, further strengthen iMentor’s robust high-school graduation and college preparatory programs. These programs are urgently needed, as almost half of low-income students who enroll in college will not re-enroll in the second year. Additionally, almost one-third of low-income students who are accepted to college will change their college plans during the summer when they do not have access to their high school college counseling program.
iMentor’s College Ready Program, for 9th-12th graders, provides mentors with the tools to build their mentees’ academic and social skills to succeed in high school and plan for a strong transition to college, with the aim of increasing graduation rates and helping students create clearly outlined paths to college success. The College Success Program, for 11th graders-first year college students, provides mentoring during the critical time that links college application, enrollment, and transition, helping students not just begin a college career but also persist to graduation.
This year, iMentor’s New York City program will match students from underserved communities in New York City with mentors who volunteer their time. iMentor provides every student in a partnering school with one-on-one support from a caring adult. Mentors serve as motivators, advisors, early warning systems, and college coaches—and 100% of iMentor’s mentors are college graduates.
The results have been impressive – iMentor mentees are more likely to graduate high school and enroll in college than New York City averages. In New York State, only 23% of high school students graduated ready for college or careers in 2009. During the 2009-2010 program year, 83% of iMentor’s students in New York City graduated from high school compared to a citywide graduation rate of 63%. Additionally, 67% of mentees enrolled in college.
iMentor is currently recruiting male mentors to be matched with a student in Februdary. For additional information and to become a mentor, please visit www.imentor.org.
