UNR MEDIA ADVISORY:
More than 80 students from Hug High School will be paired with community mentors in the All Students College Educated in Nevada Today (ASCENT) mentor program Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 30.
“We appreciate the continued support in mentoring Hug High School students,” said Hug Campus Principal Andrew Kelly. “The ASCENT program is helping our students reach their goal of going to college.”
ASCENT is a partner program with the University of Nevada, Reno and Hug High School. Volunteer mentors commit up to one hour a month with a high school mentee for three years, discussing college aspirations and offering guidance on college applications, financial goals, and scholarship and career opportunities. The program, based on a model started by the Gates Foundation in Seattle, began at Hug High School in 2007.
Many of the students will be the first in their families to attend a university. Activities throughout the academic school year include an application and Financial Aid workshop, a college shadowing day, a holiday party, a student panel, mentor/mentee meetings and an end-of-year celebration.
The number of Hug graduates continuing on to postsecondary education nearly tripled last year due in part to the generous investment of time from mentors throughout the community and the University. These efforts have not gone unnoticed, and on Aug. 12, Harrah’s Foundation presented an $80,000 scholarship grant to Hug High School. Hug High ASCENT graduates who attend a Nevada college or university may qualify for up to $20,000 in educational assistance over a four-year period.
Refreshments and goodie-bag items will be provided by the match-up event sponsors, Harrah’s Foundation and the Office of the Associate Vice President at the University.
For more information about the program or the Harrah’s Foundation scholarship, visit www.unr.edu/ascent.
