SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – When Michele Velez was a student in Seminole County, she knew she needed help to reach her goals. That’s where “Take Stock in Children” comes in, a non-profit organization that gives promising students with financial needs the tools to succeed through scholarships and mentorships.
“It gives so much to so many people, and seeing how I grew to the point where I can help others, I just think it’s an amazing program,” said Velez.
Our News 6 crew met with Velez at Lake Brantley High School Friday where she currently mentors freshman Maria Vazquez.
It’s a true full-circle moment for her. Velez graduated from Winter Springs High School in 2018 and went to Florida International University to study nursing. After earning her Bachelor of Science, she is back in Seminole County working as a Registered Nurse and volunteering as a mentor in the same program she credits her success.
“I was first-generation, so my parents didn’t necessarily have all the information,” said Velez. “It’s a whole relationship between family and mentorship to just help the student grow, and through Take Stock you build that connection and you bridge that gap.”
Jean Vansmith, the executive director of The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, says Take Stock offers promising students who have financial needs and other risk factors a chance to succeed.
“They’re paired with a volunteer mentor all four years of high school. They get college success coaching, FAFSA help, and then when they graduate, they’re given a two-year Florida pre-paid scholarship to be able to go to college.”
Some 97% of Take Stock program graduates complete high school, compared to 80% of their peers in Florida, according to their accountability report. About 90% enroll in college, compared to 30% of their peers.
“Many of these students wouldn’t be able to qualify for financial aid, so this program provides them a pathway to get those two years paid for. Many of our students do two-year degrees, like a nursing degree or other technical degree, and then they’re able to go on to high-paying careers and support their own families,” said Vansmith.
Vansmith says they have seen so much success in Seminole County that they have 107 students in the program now, and they continue to add more each year.
“The scholarship piece is what I think gets the students in the program in the 8th grade, but it’s really the relationship between the student and the mentor that helps them be successful,” said Vansmith.
Velez has plans to further her education by going back to school for additional training as a Nurse Anesthetist. She has also stayed in touch with her own mentor, Vicky Countess.
“I met Michele when she was in 9th grade, so she was very shy,” said Countess. “Through the years I’ve seen her come out of her shell. She has blossomed into the person she is today where she has become a nurse, four years of education with her BSN, graduating at 21. She now works at the ICU at a local hospital. Take Stock in Children I know has had a huge impact on all the hard work she has done.”
If you would like to learn more about the Take Stock in Children program in Seminole County or if you are interested in mentoring a scholar, head to the Take Stock in Children website.
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