Cape mentors facilitate college process

Papers lie strewn across the large, round table as Mona Schwartz and Taylor Harris cross items off their list.

They trade light-hearted banter before they buckle down for the serious work – discussing grades and finishing paperwork for college scholarships.

Cape Henlopen High School student Taylor Harris said she met Schwartz, her mentor, in a resume and job-application writing course.  "She was a cool person, laid back.  I decided to take her on," Taylor said.  They started with SAT practice early in the year, then worked on resumes, college applications and now scholarship applications, Taylor said.

Janae Taylor said her mentor, Joanne Tramposch, threatened to embarrass any student who did not finish the homework.  "This lady from New York is not about to embarrass me in my class," she said, laughing.

Students in Cape Henlopen High School's mentoring program request their mentors.  This year, there are 25 students and 8 mentors in the program.

Tramposch said the program could use more mentors.

Schwartz said, "This is one way to give back to our community."  Many students in the district live in single-parent homes where the focus is on survival, she said.  "Many kids in our community need help and guidance, someone to help take on the college research, so they don’t get lost," she said.

Schwartz said there are so many students in the district who could benefit from a mentor's guidance, community members should be lined up at the door to help.

Helping students stay focused

Janae, who will attend Wesley College in the fall, said Tramposch asked her what she wanted to get out of the program.  "I needed some guidance.  I knew she's keep me on track," Janae said.

Schwartz keeps a list of deadlines – including when her mentees need to make phone calls, have applications completed and have packages ready for the mail.  Her students receive a copy, too, she said, and it helps them stay on track.

The students text and call their mentors during the week in between weekly meetings when they need additional help.

Junior Sammy Mohr said working with his mentor, Chris Beagle, helps him stay focused as he looks for colleges.  Sammy said high school guidance counselor Terry Sutton, who coordinates the mentoring program, asked if he wanted to join.

Student Molly Martin met Beagle at Challenge Day last fall.  "When I heard about the mentoring program, I knew he'd be great," said Molly.

"We clicked immediately," she said, and she signed up for mentoring for the extra support.  "It's academically supportive, but includes a lot of support otherwise," she said.

Mentors provide students with people to reach out to, if they can't or don't want to talk to people at home, said Molly.  "It's a big stress reliever, and we connect to people in the community and become involved in the community," she said.

The mentoring program is part of the high school's positive-behavior support program.

Cape Principal Brian Donahue said, "When kids can make a connection with adults that have been out there in the real world, and when they see the community come from outside into our building, that sends a powerful message."

More meaningful connections with caring adults give students a greater chance to succeed, said Donahue.

Mentors help students stay focused on the big goals – a successful high school career and entry into college or work afterwards, Donahue said.  Mentors also help students develop more choices for their post-high school lives, he said.

"This lets our kids focus on what's important – their future," said Donahue.  It also diminishes the effects of peer pressure and social networking problems, he said.

Karlene Hazzard said working with Tramposch has been very helpful to her.  "She's helped me with college and applications, so I can have a future," she said.

Bethany Flowers also works with Tramposch.  "She's kept pushing me so I get the applications in on time.  She's also helping me try to find a job," she said.

Beagle, who has worked in marketing and real estate for more than a dozen years, has been mentoring since early this year.  He said he and his mentees talk about everything – sports, school, life and family.  "If they get half as much out of it as we do, we are accomplishing something," he said.

For more information or to volunteer to mentor, contact Cape guidance counselor Terry Sutton at 302-645-7711.