2024
'I See Me' Program helps chart tech pathways for students
July 30, 2024
Encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to pursue STEM education is crucial, but many barriers keep those students from pursuing careers in that field. These barriers include lack of early exposure to science and technology in the classroom and limited resources within their schools. A lack of mentorship is another barrier that Adams 12 schools in Thornton, Colorado has sought to overcome by creating more gateways for their students.
The school’s “I See Me” program, which began in 2023, has taken peer mentorship to the next level: It aims to connect high school students with college mentors that are interested in the same area of study, but also who look and identify as they do. By seeing themselves in their mentors, students from historically marginalized groups gain a deeper understanding of career pathways in engineering and computer science and can connect on a deeper level when discussing their experiences.
More than 60 students took part in the program during the 2023-2024 school year. Throughout the year, students connected with industry professionals, developed self-efficacy, explored career options, and discussed and challenged their perceptions of themselves in the field. This program aims to help students grow, thrive, and give back as they enter college and prepares them to mentor future high school students themselves.
"The ‘I See Me’ program has exposed me to so much beyond the classroom. After seeing the college tours, I am excited to go to college and I feel confident in my major decision,” said one student. Students attending the event are either going directly to college or have one more year of high school left and will complete the second year of the “I See Me” program.
"Having a college peer mentor has been the biggest help. Since they are a few years ahead of me, they bring up things I never thought about and it is helping me visualize my future,” added another student.
A $2,500 grant from the Horace Mann Educators Foundation to the Five Star Education Foundation, the foundation supporting Adams12 Five Star Schools, helped to support the college mentors. Horace Mann agent Jerry Glunz nominated the school for the Horace Mann Educators Foundation’s EmpowerED grant program which awarded $2,500 grants to 10 nonprofit, education-related organizations countrywide. Glunz attended the graduation event.
“Hearing the impact the ‘I See Me’ program has had on these college mentors and high school students, and watching the success of the relationships built through the program is wonderful,” said Glunz. “These students are learning from each other and giving the gift of confidence in a future in college.”
Encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to pursue STEM education is crucial, but many barriers keep those students from pursuing careers in that field. These barriers include lack of early exposure to science and technology in the classroom and limited resources within their schools. A lack of mentorship is another barrier that Adams 12 schools in Thornton, Colorado has sought to overcome by creating more gateways for their students.
The school’s “I See Me” program, which began in 2023, has taken peer mentorship to the next level: It aims to connect high school students with college mentors that are interested in the same area of study, but also who look and identify as they do. By seeing themselves in their mentors, students from historically marginalized groups gain a deeper understanding of career pathways in engineering and computer science and can connect on a deeper level when discussing their experiences.
More than 60 students took part in the program during the 2023-2024 school year. Throughout the year, students connected with industry professionals, developed self-efficacy, explored career options, and discussed and challenged their perceptions of themselves in the field. This program aims to help students grow, thrive, and give back as they enter college and prepares them to mentor future high school students themselves.
"The ‘I See Me’ program has exposed me to so much beyond the classroom. After seeing the college tours, I am excited to go to college and I feel confident in my major decision,” said one student. Students attending the event are either going directly to college or have one more year of high school left and will complete the second year of the “I See Me” program.
"Having a college peer mentor has been the biggest help. Since they are a few years ahead of me, they bring up things I never thought about and it is helping me visualize my future,” added another student.
A $2,500 grant from the Horace Mann Educators Foundation to the Five Star Education Foundation, the foundation supporting Adams12 Five Star Schools, helped to support the college mentors. Horace Mann agent Jerry Glunz nominated the school for the Horace Mann Educators Foundation’s EmpowerED grant program which awarded $2,500 grants to 10 nonprofit, education-related organizations countrywide. Glunz attended the graduation event.
“Hearing the impact the ‘I See Me’ program has had on these college mentors and high school students, and watching the success of the relationships built through the program is wonderful,” said Glunz. “These students are learning from each other and giving the gift of confidence in a future in college.”