Hug ASCENT mentee and Harrah’s scholarship recipient wants to inspire others

University of Nevada, Reno 18-year-old freshman and nursing major Charel Elwell never gave up on her dream to attend college, even after she became pregnant before her junior year in high school at Hug.

“I took the whole year off,” Elwell explained. “I took PLATO classes (online), came back my senior year, got help from my ASCENT mentor and graduated with my class. ASCENT gave me the extra push and inspiration to finish school and go to college.”

The ASCENT mentoring program, a partnership of Hug High and the University of Nevada, Reno, assists students in reaching their goal of obtaining a college education by pairing University and community mentors with high school mentees.An initial training session for those interested in serving as mentors will be held at Hug at 1:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 4. At 3:30 p.m., mentors will be matched with students.

ASCENT, which stands for All Students College Educated in Nevada Today, has gone through several changes in the last year. Monika Mala, a Nevada graduate, has recently been hired as the ASCENT coordinator and is housed at Hug. Harrah’s Foundation has awarded another $20,000, in addition to the original scholarship grant of $80,000, to qualified ASCENT graduates, eligible to receive a one-time amount from $500 to $1,500 toward college. These scholarships have already been awarded to more than 30 ASCENT students, including Elwell, who received an ASCENT scholarship for $500 and four other scholarships.

Mentors commit up to three hours a month with their high school mentees, discussing college aspirations and offering guidance on college applications, financial goals and scholarship and career opportunities. Many of the students will be the first in their families to attend a university.

“My mentor has some doctors in her family, so she gave me nursing tips, proofread essays and reminded me of deadlines,” Elwell said. “I had challenges to get here, but I now want to give a girl going through a similar situation the inspiration to do what I’m doing, to not give up because there are so many girls who do.”

On Friday, Elwell will be paired with a Hug High sophomore who has also had a baby in high school.

Those interested in becoming a mentor are encouraged to complete an application online at https://forms.unr.edu/ascent/ . For more information about the ASCENT program, visit www.unr.edu/ascent or contact Mala at monikam@unr.edu or 775-327-5643.

Hug High School, through Nevada A.S.C.E.N.T., aims to send more students to college!

Hug High School, through Nevada A.S.C.E.N.T., aims to send more students to college!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009: September 30, 2009 will be a special day for many students on the Hug High School Campus! That is the day that current sophomores in high school will be partnered with community mentors through the Nevada A.S.C.E.N.T. (All Students College Educated in Nevada Today) program. A.S.C.E.N.T., the creation of UNR President, Dr. Milt Glick, and Hug High School Principal, Andrew Kelly is focused on providing students with the support they need to make it to college.

A.S.C.E.N.T. seeks to partner current 10th graders at Hug with members of the community who want to make a difference by mentoring a student from 10th grade through graduation….and helping them through the investment of time to make it to college. The challenge, as each year has come and gone is the recruitment and retention of interested community members in making this program fly!

Currently Hug High School has 139 sophomores who have a 2.75 GPA or higher. Education Options Specialist, Joseph Garton commented, “What we desperately need is one adult from our community to step up for each student who wants to chase the dream of college!” “Mentors can help the school community make the dream a reality.”

Principal Andrew Kelly, of Hug High School, expressed a great deal of thanks to the University of Nevada, Reno, “Dr. Fabienne McPhail Naples, the Associate Vice President of Student Success Services has been amazing! She and her staff have totally embraced this program, provided ongoing support for mentors, and developed a dedicated website to support mentors and students as they transition to the University of Nevada, Reno.”

Nevada A.S.C.E.N.T. website is: http://www.unr.edu/ascent/

“I truly hope that many people from our community will see this announcement and go to the UNR website to sign up,” Principal, Andrew Kelly stated, “It’s imperative that we come together as a community to help WCSD meet its’ goal of graduating ALL kids college and career ready.”

For more information about Nevada A.S.C.E.N.T. contact:
Joseph Garton at Hug High School at (775) 327-5989 or jgarton@washoe.k12.nv.us
Andrew Kelly, Campus Principal at (775) 327-5601 or akelly@washoe.k12.nv.us

ASCENT mentor program seeks more volunteers - Free training program prepares mentors to assist students toward college

The University’s ASCENT (All Students College Educated in Nevada Today) mentor program needs more volunteers for this year’s match-up. A free training seminar is offered on Tuesday, Sept. 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Great Room on the Fourth Floor of the Joe Crowley Student Union. The mentor/mentee match-up event will follow a few weeks later at Hug High School on Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 1:30 until 3 p.m.

Volunteer mentors are paired with a high school student from Hug High and commit one to three hours a month with their high school mentee, discussing college aspirations and offering guidance on college applications, financial goals, and scholarship and career opportunities. Many of the students will be the first in their families to attend a university.

Those interested are encouraged to complete an application and attend the mentor training seminar on Tuesday. Applications are found at https://forms.unr.edu/ascent; RSVP to Angi Brasil at 784-6307 or abrasil@unr.edu by Sept. 4.

The number of Hug graduates continuing on to postsecondary education nearly tripled last year due 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 may qualify for up to $20,000 in educational assistance over a four-year period.

Mentor training will be a great time for old and new mentors to interact and meet each other. A mentor panel as well as workshops on how to communicate with a mentee and how to get them college-ready will give everyone the opportunity to learn about different areas of the program.

ASCENT activities throughout the academic school year include an application and FAFSA workshop, a college shadowing day, a holiday party, a student panel, mentor/mentee meetings and an end-of-year celebration.

For more information about the ASCENT program, visit www.unr.edu/ascent or contact Ellen Houston, counselor coordinator at the Center for Student Cultural Diversity, at ehouston@unr.edu or 775-784-4936.